As mask and vaccine mandates gain more traction throughout the nation as a means of preventing and hopefully eradicating COVID-19, many people who vehemently oppose these measures are attempting to use religious exemptions as a last-ditch effort to avoid compliance. Religious exemptions to vaccinations have been asserted in the past, but perhaps never in such […]
Read moreAs schools continue to navigate the whitewater rapids of COVID-19, the issue of compensatory services has steadily started gathering more attention both locally and nationwide. While not unexpected given the massive disruption the pandemic has, and continues to, wreak on the provision of special education services, discussions regarding compensatory services are rarely welcomed. This can […]
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Below are today’s updates regarding COVID-19 and its impact on Texas public schools. For additional resources, please visit our COVID-19 page. Attorney General Claims Local Orders Closing Schools Are Invalid. Tarrant County Abandoning Order? Holly James, Senior Associate Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion today regarding the legality of local public health orders that […]
Read moreIn these ever-changing times during the pandemic, some districts are discussing staggering students’ arrival and departure times during the 2020-21 school year to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If your district is considering this option, you should be mindful of how this may affect students with disabilities. The law is clear that a district cannot […]
Read moreby Holly James Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion today regarding the legality of local public health orders that delay the start of in-person schooling, such as those entered in Dallas, Harris, Travis, and presumably Tarrant Counties. The Attorney General opined that “nothing in the law gives health authorities the power to indiscriminately close […]
Read moreUpdates to the Texas Education Agency’s Special Education and Special Population sections of the COVID-19 Support webpage last week were limited to the release of a single, if thorough, Guidance and FAQ regarding Continuity of Learning for Secondary Transition. The nine-page document walks through the following topics: Transition Services During COVID-19; Guiding Questions for Secondary […]
Read moreThe Texas Education Agency updated its COVID-19 Special Education Q&A last week to address questions related to Dyslexia screening and coding. The first question reminded districts that Governor Abbot has waived the required kindergarten dyslexia screening for the 2019-2020 school year. Details regarding the requirements of the waiver are set out in Emergency Commissioner’s Rule […]
Read moreby Holly James Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-23 on May 18, 2020 as part of the continuing effort to reopen previously shuttered services due to COVID-19. As in his prior orders, GA-23 contains the following primary mandate: In accordance with guidance from DSHS Commissioner Dr. Hellerstedt, and to achieve the goals established by the […]
Read moreAfter a busy previous week focused on Extended School Year and Compensatory Services, the Texas Education Agency did not issue any updated guidance to the Special Education section of the COVID-19 Support webpage last week. While there were no updates exclusive to the Special Education section, TEA did issue a comprehensive six-page guidance in response […]
Read moreBelow are today’s updates regarding COVID-19 and its impact on Texas public schools. For additional resources, please visit our COVID-19 page. TEA Special Education Updates for the Week of May 11, 2020 Dean Micknal, Partner The Texas Education Agency issued updated guidance on two Special Education issues under its General Guidance tab last week. First, […]
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