Amid COVID-19 concerns, overcoming learning loss and required training for reading academies in grades K-3, we know many teachers are struggling in this new school year. We want input from our members about what’s going on and what would help provide relief. Please click on the button below to take our 5-minute survey. We will use your responses as we talk to policymakers and state leaders in the coming weeks. All responses will be confidential.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a six-part plan aimed at getting the COVID-19 pandemic under control as the delta variant fuels rapid transmission.

Many of the provisions, such as vaccine mandates for federal workers and for private businesses employing more than 100 people, are unlikely to affect public schools. But several are aimed at encouraging schools to voluntarily order mask mandates for students, staff and visitors, require educators to be vaccinated, and increase COVID-19 testing. Click here to read more.

The guidance comes as many schools in Texas are reporting more active COVID-19 cases among students and staff than at previous peaks during the 2020-21 school year. School boards across the state are facing heated debates over masks and vaccines in schools, with strong views on both sides and several lawsuits making their way through state and federal court systems.

With lawsuits pending, TEA has not issued as much guidance on COVID-19 this school year. But we've compiled that guidance in TCTA's COVID-19 FAQs for 2021-22. This week, we:

With K-3 educators working to complete required HB 3 Reading Academy training, our staff attorneys have been fielding questions from members about the academies, specifically whether funds are available to compensate teachers for the time required to complete the training.

According to TEA, the Early Education Allotment, the Dyslexia Allotment, and/or the Basic Allotment increase can be utilized to compensate teachers. In addition, districts may consider Coordinated Early Intervening Services funds, the Bilingual Allotment, or Compensatory Education funds. Districts have discretion over which funds to utilize, or whether to use funds outside this list.

Slides 8 and 9 from a TEA Reading Practices presentation provide more information on each of these funding sources. Slide 33 states that districts may provide stipends to teachers to compensate them for attending the academies if they choose.

Finally, TEA does strongly encourage districts to structure the reading academies within designated campuswide professional development and/or professional learning community days to ensure that staff has ample opportunity to complete the required content and to keep costs down. You can read more about the reading academies here.

Members with questions should call the Legal Department at 888-879-8282.

Texas lawmakers will reconvene Sept. 20 for a third special session to redraw boundaries for legislative, congressional and State Board of Education districts based on 2020 census data.

Gov. Greg Abbott added a few other issues to the agenda, including restrictions on transgender athletes, allocation of federal COVID-19 relief funds and whether state or local government entities can issue vaccine mandates. Click here to read more.

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