Some Texas schools could be closed until summer, commissioner says in coronavirus call
Texas schools could be closed much longer than originally anticipated, possibly for the rest of the school year, as the new coronavirus spreads across the state, the Texas Tribune reported.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told school superintendents and lawmakers in conference calls Sunday he would leave the decision up to local superintendents, according to the Tribune. Most Fort Worth area school districts will be closed until at least the end of the month as they attempt to curb spread of the coronavirus.
In a declaration of a local disaster Thursday, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley urged schools to extend spring break at least two weeks from when the break was originally supposed to end.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday suggested events of 50 people or more should be canceled or postponed for eight weeks.
According to the Tribune report, Morath told superintendents to consider making the decisions sooner rather than later if closures stretch beyond a few weeks.
Long-term school closures pose a risk to low-income families that rely on school for meals.
Locally, the Tarrant Area Food Bank and Fort Worth school district are working to get food to children who will be without free lunches. There are 325,000 children who receive free lunch every school day at 440 campuses across Tarrant County, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Some schools may be able to shift to remote learning through online classes.
Testing requirements could be waived in areas heavily hit by the virus. The Tribune reported that Morath said he would put out more specific guidance later this week.
Here are Fort Worth area district and school closings (through March 27 unless noted):
- Aledo (through April 6)
- Arlington
- Azle (April 6)
Birdville
Brock (April 6)
Carroll
- Crowley
- Denton (March 22)
- Eagle Mountain-Saginaw
- Fort Worth
- Frisco (March 20)
- Granbury (March 20)
- Grand Prairie (March 20)
- Grapevine-Colleyville
- Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Keller
- Mansfield
- McKinney (March 20)
Midlothian (March 20)
Northwest
Plano (March 20)
Weatherford (April 6)
- White Settlement (through April 6)
This story was originally published March 15, 2020 at 9:32 PM.
