Despite the current rise in COVID-19 cases in Texas, the Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a Thursday statement that returning to school in the fall would be “safe.
Texas plans to send children back to school in August with not mask or testing for COVID-19 requirements. “On Thursday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 2,947 individuals had been hospitalized with the infection, the highest number in a week”
The Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) say returning to school without proper coronavirus mitigation protocols would place both students and teachers in danger.
“Texas AFT says a big ‘Hell No’ to what looks like a return to normal in August,” said Texas AFT President Zeph Capo in a Thursday statement. “We are not in normal times. We won’t sacrifice our members and students for politics.”
“It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this fall,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement released Thursday. “But there will also be flexibility for families with health concerns so that their children can be educated remotely, if the parent so chooses.”
