AUSTIN, Texas — State Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) says Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has announced Texas schools will offer in-person classes for the 2020-21 school year.
According to Rep. Wu, the announcement was made during a Thursday morning conference call with Gov. Greg Abbott.
Rep. Wu says the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will not mandate masking for students, but will allow school districts to make their own decisions that are "supported by science." There was no discussion on what would happen if the state's COVID-19 numbers sharply increase before the fall semester begins.
The TEA issued the following statement to CBS19 regarding the decision:
“It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this fall. But there will also be flexibility for families with health concerns so that their children can be educated remotely, if the parent so chooses" Detailed guidance on what this will look like will be issued by TEA early next week.”
This is a developing story and CBS19 will update this article as more information becomes available.
