Some districts, such as Austin Independent School District, have attempted longer remote learning periods during the holidays. “I could see the kids being disengaged from it, missing the things they love,” he said. “The masking exception that we (have), we have school districts around the state that conveniently enough, it happens that the entire student athlete population has a medical illness that prevents them from wearing a mask when they’re participating in activities,” Escott said in mid-December. Earlier this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics put out new guidelines recommending students participating in indoor sports wear face masks. Teachers’ unions have been pushed to their limits, but have risen to the occasion as best as possible to fight for the safety of their communities. Teachers’ unions have been pushed to their limits, but have risen to the occasion as best as possible to fight for the safety of their communities. Guidelines by Texas’ University Interscholastic League, which oversees school extracurricular academic and athletic contests, requires masks for spectators and for students who are not actively participating in competition or at practice. ", Jamey Harrison, the UIL’s deputy executive director, said participation in sports and other extracurricular activities is a valuable experience particularly “in a year that students are facing challenges and mental health challenges that they’ve never faced before.”. On Jan. 19, Dallas County Health and Human Services said there had been 7,310 COVID-19 cases in school-aged children and staff reported from 674 k-12 schools … Gray had in recent weeks battled COVID-19, inspiring students from Lindale, Brownsboro and Mineola schools to rally in support, raising money to help with medical expenses. Abbott and Texas Republicans often soak up the blame for the state’s most draconian policies. Abbott begins the process by forcing the “reopening” of the state. Click here! Texas may be flying blind as it prepares to reopen schools because there has been a huge drop in COVID-19 testing even as the number of confirmed cases … Melissa B. Taboada is an Austin-based freelance writer. But we know that concessions and protections for working families will not be dispensed “from on high” by Abbott, the TEA, school districts, or administrators looking out for their own careers and corporate profits. Those guidelines include masks for … The organization said school administrators must consider the mounting evidence regarding COVID-19 in children and adolescents, including the role they may play in transmitting the infection. In late October, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Division of Emergency Management rolled out free COVID-19 rapid testing for students and teachers. But advocates say districts and families must weigh the increasing number of students nationwide who are fighting mental health issues associated with the pandemic and said students should continue to play. While the death rate among children remains less than 1%, an increasing number of children are requiring hospitalization, Tan said. This set of reports provides an overview of COVID-19 cases in public schools in Texas. COVID has exacerbated the class struggle in schools nationwide, especially in states with openly hostile policies such as Texas. Players put on hand sanitizer each time they step off court and the playing ball is sanitized and swapped out multiple times during a game. As you are aware, there have been an abundance of school closures across Texas. Weekly state data ending Dec. 20 showed 4,406 new confirmed COVID-19 cases among students in Texas schools, bringing the cumulative number of … Last Updated: 01/15/2020. COVID has exacerbated the class struggle in schools nationwide, especially in states with openly hostile policies such as Texas. Coronavirus Texas school district expands COVID-19 rapid testing. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Guidance The Texas Education Agency (TEA) continues to work with the Office of the Governor, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to coordinate and plan the state’s response to COVID-19. TEA previously directed all school districts to submit information about COVID-19 cases going back to the start of the school year. Weekly state … There have been 4,519 documented cases of COVID-19 in Texas public schools since the start of the 2020-21 school year, according to new state data released by the Texas … To add insult to injury, superintendents and school boards are weaponizing social justice language to force vulnerable children into classrooms. Despite the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine, it will be months before it’s widely available to everyone in the public. AUSTIN, Texas — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Texas continues to fall from record highs as the state nears the end of what has been its deadliest month of the pandemic. The Texas Vaccine Provider Data (.csv) contains the underlying data currently displayed on the main dashboard. Public screening and antibody collection sites are available statewide, in-person, and at drive-thru locations. At the same time, school … Abbott’s latest executive order puts profit over human lives in complete disregard for working people. Texas Schools Health, Safety, & Discipline COVID-19 Support: Instructional Continuity Framework The agency has developed an Instructional Continuity Framework that consists of the phases outlined below, each of which has a series of supporting planning categories. TEA will link to the data from TEA’s COVID-19 website. In Colorado, the state’s high school sports and activities association earlier this month was pushing back winter high school sports, including basketball, wrestling and hockey, by at least one month. Information for parents, teachers, and students about the plans for in-person and online learning from local school districts, colleges, and universities in Central Texas during the COVID … Interested in joining? Cumulative positive staff cases: 44,662. Krista Stubbs’ older daughter, a ninth grader, plays volleyball and basketball for a private school in El Paso, a virus hot spot in the nation. “Just like when we play basketball on the court, it’s a team effort off the court, too, to stay safe.”. While teachers’ unions have fought tirelessly to protect their communities from COVID, administrators are routinely buckling at the slightest pressure. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. HOUSTON, Texas — It’s back to school this week for districts across the Houston area after a lengthy holiday break. If you have feedback or a tip related to this story, email editors@texastribune.org. 1st and 4th Weeks Enrollment Data Surveys to be submitted by September 14 and October 5, 2020 COVID Case Report – Online Web Form The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is supporting the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in conducting a statewide weekly data collection of positive COVID-19 cases in schools. Texas is one of 49 states currently in what the CDC calls “unchecked community spread” and in the “highest risk.” The state is currently ranked 3rd in the country for most deaths and most cases. State agencies and local districts ‘pass the buck,’ feign ignorance. He joined a team in second grade, and playing became part of his daily routine. The state has the power to undertake decisive action in times of emergency if they want. TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COVID-19 DATA. Statewide COVID-19 school closures. Positive Staff Cases Reported (1/3-1/10): 7863. He also called on school districts to suspend or postpone extracurricular activities, particularly those for which masks cannot be worn and distance cannot be maintained. “By and large, that is where we are seeing disease spread,” he said. Several public school advocacy groups, superintendents, business leaders, and Texas legislators have asked the Texas Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, to hold schools harmless from student attendance losses due to COVID-19 and fund them at 100% attendance for the remaining 18 weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. Welcome to the COVID-19 support page for district waivers, finance, and grants. Beginning next week, it will include data by school district. Not only has SAISD reneged on their own guidelines, they have continued admitting students. For dozens of Texas families whose loved ones worked in schools and died of COVID-19 in recent months, the grieving period comes with a barrage … About. Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates. As a small child, he routinely shot hoops with his dad in the driveway. Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? It’s up to local districts, however, to determine whether students must wear them while playing. A new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was recently detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness. The COVID-19 crisis has created an unprecedented need for contact tracing across the country, requiring thousands of people to learn key skills quickly. When we fight together, we win! As Texas faces 20,000 new cases of COVID every day, Abbott stated that he is not planning on implementing another desperately needed quarantine to stop the spread. Students wear masks while on the bench or not actively playing and many are not riding on buses to the games. At the same time, school districts are retaliating against teachers — especially union organizers — who speak out against their dangerous policies. AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Education Agency has announced COVID-19 safety guidelines for students returning to school for the upcoming school year. The program aims to curb the spread of the virus in schools. 26 August 2020. AUSTIN, Texas — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Texas continues to fall from record highs as the state nears the end of what has been its deadliest month of the pandemic. DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The 13 traditional public school districts in Dallas County are now working on changing their re-opening plans in order to comply with the new order Dallas County Health and Human Services issued Thursday afternoon. The University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium. As the state far surpasses the previous peak’s numbers from this summer, schools continue to remain open. These are the places students go when they start to feel sick on campus. Expected number of COVID-19 cases arriving at school. by Melissa B. Taboada Eanes ISD has administered approximately 200 of its 1,960 BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen tests to district staff thus far. FAQs. “With the positivity data we're seeing, and the impact on hospitalization admissions and our ICUs, it's time to scale back the risk,” Escott said last week. This financial support will help students, parents and teachers overcome the challenges presented by remote learning as we continue working to bridge the digital divide," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jane Nelson. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. This data will be updated weekly on Thursdays. Use data from the Texas Health and Human Service Commission to reliably track Coronavirus cases in Texas schools. “Teachers are getting sick, some of the students are getting sick and trying to do these indoor sports is only going to increase the risk for more people getting sick from this,” Tan said. Second, science shows that while children experience milder COVID symptoms, they are still likely to asymptomatically spread the disease to family members. View Texas COVID … If left unchecked, many districts will continue forcing students back into classrooms “for the economy,” i.e., so that their parents can go back to work for disaster-profiteering corporations. Texas Public School Cases - Updated Weekly (Last Updated: 1/08/2020) Public schools are required to report positive COVID-19 cases on school campuses. The school has a series of COVID-19 safety protocols in place, but Gindele says new data provided on the HHSC website adds an extra layer of reassurance for parents. In this same executive order, he authorized public schools to operate by the “minimum standard health protocols found in guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).” TEA is the Texas state body in charge of public schools. THE TEXAS TELEGRAM (Austin, US) Schools around North Texas are turning to technology to help them keep their campus COVID-19 free. Municipal governments, looking out for local business profits, claim they have no authority to defy Abbott’s orders. Players aren’t wearing masks but are breathing heavily and are able to produce smaller droplets that stay in the air longer, Tan said, increasing the risk of transmitting the virus to others. The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) has been closely monitoring the status of COVID-19, which changes daily. Students have been isolated from their friends, school environments and teachers, who serve as support systems, contributing to feelings of hopelessness, Dr. Kia Carter, the Cook Children’s Medical Center's co-medical director of psychiatry, told the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services earlier this month. In San Antonio, struggling students were forced back into schools the same week the city reached a 9.4 percent COVID positivity rate. Districts in turn gave this authority to principals, who instructed teachers to make lists of students who they would recommend forcing to return to school in person. Last Updated: 01/15/2020. The job qualifications for contact tracing positions differ throughout the country and the world, with some new positions open to individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent. Volleyball just wrapped up its season and basketball is underway. He started the year with the period for the basketball class meeting online. The effect has been predictably devastating, especially to vulnerable working-class communities, as COVID cases continue to surge. LINDALE, Texas (KLTV) - Travis Gray, Lindale High School’s head athletic trainer, has died. "It’s been a large part of my life.”. Westwood High School head basketball coach Brad Hastings speaks to his team during a time out at game. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Eanes Independent School District announced 138 of its most vulnerable employees received a COVID-19 … When the coronavirus hit, shutting down schools and sports in the spring, Kipper couldn't imagine not playing his senior year. If schools are suddenly so concerned about struggling students, then the solution is to “bridge the digital divide” by providing free, high-quality internet service and devices to working-class children. In reality, risking people’s lives for profit has been a bipartisan consensus. The fallout of COVID, and the ultimate response of communities to reckless disaster profiteering and forced “reopenings,” remains to be seen. Schools will not be allowed to return to in-person instruction before Labor Day. These same students and their families have the least access to healthcare, meaning that they are the most vulnerable if they contract COVID. San Antonio schools have also completely ignored their own thresholds for restricting in-person attendance as COVID cases rise. Our Team. Thus the “buck” gets passed down between levels of administrators who often place their own careers ahead of community safety. East Texas school district announces plans to administer COVID vaccine to staff Superintendent Wilcox added that though the vaccine is not mandatory for staff members, he mentioned there is enthusiasm among employees about the prospect of receiving it, considering many are at increased risk of a potentially severe case of the virus. It is clear that school districts have no intent to follow their own “reopening” guidelines. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulatory guidance regarding the handling, storage, labeling, transportation, and proper disposal for schools using COVID … More. Commentary: As COVID kills Blacks and Latinos, Texas shutters health equity office By Octavio N. Martinez Jr., For the Express-News Jan. 24, 2021 “School safety” has suddenly disappeared from the agenda of Texas officials. Colleges. “Working closely with districts across the state, we are doing all we can to help Texas students have the school experiences they need and deserve,” Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement. To help schools plan for in-person instruction and ongoing operations during COVID-19: K-12 Mitigation Toolkit pdf icon pdf icon [2 MB, 36 pages] Get Ready for In-Person Learning. The American Federation of Teachers is providing a new tool to find and report COVID-19 cases by school … The report states 4,851 students tested positive while 1,912 staff tested positive for the week ending Jan. 17, for a … Organized in branches across the country, our mission is to link the everyday struggles of oppressed and exploited people to the fight for a new world. Cumulative positive student cases: 74,277. The report states 4,851 students tested positive while 1,912 staff tested positive for the week ending Jan. 17, for a … K-12. “I tried my hardest to stay as active as we could because she started withdrawing,” Stubbs said. Last week, he recommended Austin-area middle and high schools be taught virtually only for two weeks after the winter break to prevent the spread of the virus as cases surge. The total number of children who contracted the virus represents 12.4% of all cases, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association. Texas COVID-19 Test Collection Sites. As part of their forced economic “reopening,” officials and administrators are scrapping safety plans, distorting statistics, intimidating teachers, holding funding hostage, and ignoring the science of COVID spread in order to send as many children back into school buildings as possible. They claim that going 100 percent virtual will affect working-class Black and Brown students disproportionately. Disclosure: Northwestern University - Medill School of Journalism has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Through media reports, obituaries and other sources, the Houston Chronicle identified nearly 40 school employees in Texas whose deaths have been … Texas schools see jump in COVID-19 cases, mirroring increases across the state State reports through Nov. 8 show a 21.6% week-to-week increase in cases in public schools. AUSTIN, Texas (KLTV/KTRE) - The Texas Department of State Health Services reported over 6,700 cases of COVID-19 on public school campuses in last week’s report. The pandemic has prompted some states to delay or cancel indoor sports, but Texas has moved forward with them. Hastings said many of his students have trained most of their lives, and it’d be a shame if the seniors didn’t have the opportunity to play. She said she wanted her children back in school and playing sports because they needed “to get back to something normal.” While schools were closed, her daughter did poorly with online school and her grades began to drop. This nonsensical argument is a paper-thin denial that is designed to “pass the buck” one last time, blaming the victims of COVID themselves for getting sick in some nebulous “community.”. The 2019-nCoV outbreak began in December 2019, and Chinese health officials have reported thousands of 2019‑nCoV infections in China, including some that resulted in death. Local, state, and national officials are lying to Texas communities about COVID in schools. As of Aug. 27, … A number of … An average of 316 people are dying of COVID in the state every single day, and the number is still rising. As of Dec. 24, more than 2 million children in the United States had tested positive with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, with 1 million of those cases since mid-November. Now, HISD said all … As COVID-19 cases have resurged across the state and country, some medical experts concerned about increased risks of virus transmission related to indoor sports are advising students not to participate in them. Some states delayed winter sports, but Texas has allowed the games to go on with precautions. Texas updates coronavirus case totals in schools, but the data remains limited and murky The state's second attempt at reporting known COVID-19 … Blog. Weekly state data ending Dec. 20 showed 4,406 new confirmed COVID-19 cases among students in Texas schools, bringing the cumulative number of student infections to 62,675, 2% of the nearly 2.9 million students who are learning in-person or participating in extracurricular activities on campus. Added 'Face coverings in … A handful of students decided not to play this year, but Kipper said after seeing the protocols the team is taking this year, he feels the school has done “a great job in reducing the risk that there is to make it as safe as we can.” He said online school is stressful and being isolated has been tough. “Right now COVID is surging everywhere in the country. TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COVID-19 DATA. Conduct a 5-step walkthrough with health officials to review planned COVID-19 mitigation strategies: School Walkthrough Guide pdf icon pdf icon [1 MB, 30 pages] Setting Up Your … The result has been a downward chain that passes “responsibility” for the spread of COVID directly to teachers and diverts from policymakers. School districts should “not do it until we can get the pandemic under better control,” said Dr. Tina Tan, professor of pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she also serves as a pediatric infectious diseases attending physician. It’s been a blessing for them to continue to play.”. Texas schools see jump in COVID-19 cases, mirroring increases across the state State reports through Nov. 8 show a 21.6% week-to-week increase in cases in public schools. Texas. Thousands of teachers in Texas have grave concerns about reopening schools for in-person classes in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Expected number of COVID-19 cases arriving at school. Students have reported increased feelings of anxiety and depression, and mental-health emergency room visits, as well as thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts, are on the rise. Bloomberg via Getty Images Sky-high COVID-19 positivity rates at schools in Austin, Texas, have local health officials on edge. Here you can find guidance and resources organized by the following categories. When the city’s positivity rate was lowered to 5 percent, SAISD planned to return 50 percent of students to classrooms. Reopening schools means more contact among kids, and doctors say that could spur the spread of COVID-19. Updates for the previous Monday-Sunday are provided weekly by 5 pm CST on Fridays. AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Education Agency has announced COVID-19 safety guidelines for students returning to school for the upcoming school year. Local, state, and national officials are lying to Texas communities about COVID in schools. You’re going to have to wait until the rates get lower and enough people are vaccinated that the amount of transmission is happening is less … These particular activities are increased risk factors for individuals spreading COVID.”. This trend is true in both New York and Texas, where data is tracked by the state. View the map of all sites to find the closest one to you. If the positivity rate reached 10 percent, schools were to switch to 100 percent virtual learning. Several public school advocacy groups, superintendents, business leaders, and Texas legislators have asked the Texas Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, to hold schools harmless from student attendance losses due to COVID-19 and fund them at 100% attendance for the remaining 18 weeks of the 2020-2021 school year. Without it, he said, he believes his grades would suffer. “Everybody is rushing to do this and they’re not thinking about the consequences of doing it,” she said. The Party for Socialism and Liberation is comprised of leaders and activists, workers and students, of all backgrounds. In the San Antonio Independent School District, the plan was to begin a slow phase-in of teachers and students. AUSTIN, Texas — Austin's top doctor is recommending that middle and high schools transition to remote learning following the winter break. AUSTIN, Texas (KLTV/KTRE) - The Texas Department of State Health Services reported over 6,700 cases of COVID-19 on public school campuses in last week’s report. I wanted to provide you with some updates regarding statewide training, data collection requirements, and efforts to support schools during this time. Wrestling, one of the closest contact sports, is slated to begin in February. As part of their forced economic “reopening,” officials and administrators are scrapping safety plans, distorting statistics, intimidating teachers, holding funding hostage and ignoring the science of COVID spread in order to send as many children back into school buildings as possible. But state and school officials in Texas say they’ve taken steps to mitigate the risks of transmission. The number of Texas students who have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 has steadily risen since schools reopened their doors to in-person learning. Data End Date: 1/10/2021 . Check your location’s hours and referral requirements before your visit. Find a complete list of them here. Information for parents, teachers, and students about the plans for in-person and online learning from local school districts, colleges, and universities in Central Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The kiosks are set up at the following campus locations: Aggie Express Commons 676 Lubbock … "Texas is working on several fronts to support our local school districts amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Notes: We project the expected number of students or staff who will arrive infected in a given week based on recent estimates for COVID-19 prevalence in each US county and the size of a school or pod. “I love playing and being with my team," said 18-year-old Kipper, who plays for Westwood High School in the Round Rock Independent School District. Added 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): home test kits for schools and FE providers' to the 'Safe working and protective measures' section. Abbott has only set the tone of the conversation while school administrators, divorced from the reality of classrooms and often working from their home offices, dictate which students should return to classrooms and when. © Copyright 2021, Content may be reproduced with credit to LiberationNews.org, utilizing prison labor to relieve their overwhelmed hospital and morgue systems, such as Austin Independent School District, Mass surveillance opportunism: Oppose new civil liberties crackdowns, Biden stimulus bill: What will it take to really ‘Rescue America?’, Massive farmers’ blockade shakes far-right Indian government to the core, Budgetary neglect leaves 140K without power in Los Angeles, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtE64SwOwVk. Simply click on a category link to be taken directly to those resources below on the page. The 5 percent threshold only lasted one week. Schools also limit and spread out spectators, or don't allow them in games at all. Texas' count of coronavirus deaths jumps 8% after officials change the way they tally COVID-19 fatalities Updated: July 30, 2020 Texas will allow schools to … “It’s been a bright spot for the athletes in our program. Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. AUSTIN (KXAN) — The list of Central Texas school districts closing campuses due to rising COVID-19 cases is growing longer by the day. Basketball has served as an outlet for him to destress. Jan. 4, 20214 AM. Eric Kipper has played basketball for as long as he remembers. Sign up here. Texas A&M University has added free COVID-19 testing at three outdoor walk-up locations on campus. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. 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