Texas Education Agency Announces Updates to Public Health Guidance; TEA Also Provides Updates to COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ

On March 2, 2021, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34 which addresses the statewide wearing of face coverings (i.e., masks), which takes effect March 10, 2021. TEA’s authority to implement operational requirements for public schools remains in effect (e.g., TEA’s Public Health Guidance). 

TEA Statement on SY 2020-21 Enrollment in Texas Public Schools

“In October 2020, the Texas Education Agency conducted an intermediary data collection to better understand enrollment trends in Texas public schools year-over-year.  
 
“While overall, three percent fewer students are enrolled in public education in Texas so far this school year (SY 2020-21), the majority of that reduction is represented by early education, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten, which are optional enrollment grades. Enrollment in grades for which school attendance is mandatory (grades 1-12) has dropped by one percent. 
 

TEA Announces Pre-K Learning Solution to Support Texas Schools with In-Person and Remote Instruction

AUSTIN, Texas – November 19, 2020 – The Texas Education Agency today announced the next set of instructional materials – a full suite of resources and tools for prekindergarten – that will be made available to school systems through the Texas Home Learning 3.0 (THL 3.0) initiative. Like other THL 3.0 offerings, these instructional materials are optional, customized for Texas, and aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)—the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. 

TEA Announces Additional Innovative Learning Solutions for K-12 English and Spanish, and K-5 Science to Support Schools Across Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – October 5, 2020 – The Texas Education Agency today announced the next set of instructional materials – covering K-12 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), K-5 Spanish Language Arts and Reading (SLAR), and K-5 Science – that will be made available to school systems through the Texas Home Learning 3.0 (THL 3.0) initiative. Like other THL 3.0 offerings, these instructional materials are optional, digitized, customized for Texas, and aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)—the state standards for what students should know and be able to do.