The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released a new Public Health Planning Guidance document for the 2020-21 school year. While ATPE is still analyzing the guidance, it appears fairly similar to the previously released "draft" public health guidance, which was seemingly posted by mistake last month on the agency's website.

Notably, TEA's press release on the guidance released today states that all students, teachers, staff, and visitors coming to campus must be screened before being allowed on campus. Additionally, Governor Greg Abbott's statewide mask order will require that masks are worn while in school buildings, with certain exceptions as outlined in the governor's order. However, it is clear that TEA's nine-page guidance issued today, much like its "draft" predecessor, continues to place most responsibility on local school districts for coming up with their own plans for dealing with COVID-19.

As previously reported, ATPE has released Recommended Health and Safety Guidelines for a return to school and factors that local and state decision-makers should consider. Read a press statement from ATPE about the July 7 guidance document released by TEA.

Stay tuned to our Teach the Vote blog for more detailed analysis on the public health guidance coming soon from ATPE's lobbyists, and visit ATPE’s COVID-19 FAQ and Resources page for other news and updates.