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School responses in Texas to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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Responses by state


As students returned to school for the 2021-2022 school year, states set a variety of policies on education and the COVID-19 pandemic, including how schools should open to in-person instruction and whether students and staff would be required to wear masks. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, about 66% of students nationwide were in states that left closure decisions to schools or districts, 33% were in states with state-ordered in-person instruction, and 1% were in states with state-ordered regional school closures.[1][2] All 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction at some point during the 2019-2020 school year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

This article summarizes responses to the coronavirus in Texas schools in the academic years ending in 2020, 2021, and 2022. You will find:

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This page is updated monthly, but our email is always open. We encourage you to share updates from local officials, policymakers, and campaigns in your community at editor@ballotpedia.org.


Timeline by school year

Below is a list of major events involving schools in Texas during the coronavirus pandemic between 2019 and 2022, including school closings and openings, mask requirements, and the release of statewide operating guidance. Know of something we missed? Click here to email us and let us know.

2021-2022 school year

  • Dec. 1, 2021: The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a lower court's injunction on Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) school mask requirement ban, allowing the executive order to be enforced.[3]
  • Nov. 10, 2021: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Judge Earl Yeakel blocked Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) July 29 executive order prohibiting mask requirements in K-12 public schools. Yeakel’s ruling meant that Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) could not sue school districts in violation of Abbott’s order.[4]
  • Sept. 9, 2021: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio, a school data aggregator, reported seventy-eight in-person schooling disruptions in Texas.[5][6]
  • Aug. 15, 2021: The Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocked court orders in Dallas County and Bexar County that allowed school districts to disregard Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) executive order banning school mask requirements.[7]
  • Aug. 10, 2021: 57th District Court Judge Antonia Arteaga allowed officials in San Antonio and Bexar County to require masks in schools, temporarily overriding Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) order prohibiting mask mandates. Judge Arteaga paused enforcement of Abbott’s order until Aug. 16, when San Antonio and Bexar County officials were scheduled to return to court to argue for an extension.[8]


2020-2021 school year

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Texas .[9][10]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported about half of schools were in-person in Texas .[11][12]
  • July 17, 2020: The Texas Education Agency extended the time local school districts could keep schools closed and teach students remotely without losing funding. According to the new rules, districts could teach students remotely for up to eight weeks from the start of the school year, so long as the local school board votes on the matter after four weeks.[13]
  • July 14, 2020: Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said that schools would be permitted to delay returning students to physical classrooms for longer than originally planned. Previously, state guidance said schools should offer three weeks of virtual instruction to start the year but could lose state funding if they did not return to in-person instruction after that period. Abbot said he would provide more information soon.[14]
  • July 7, 2020: Education Commissioner Mike Morath released guidance for reopening schools in the fall. Parents would be able to choose between on-campus and distance learning options. Masks would also be required in school buildings.[15]
  • June 18, 2020: Morath said that the state's schools would open to students in the fall.[16]


2019-2020 school year

  • April 17, 2020: Abbott closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through May 4.[17]
  • March 31, 2020: Abbott announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end April 3, was extended through May 4.[18]
  • March 19, 2020: Abbott closed all schools in the state from March 20 until April 3.[19]

Mask and vaccine requirements in the 2021-2022 school year

Mask requirements in schools

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

As of August 1, 2022, no states had school mask requirements in effect. Forty-two states left mask requirements in schools up to local authorities. Seven states banned school mask requirements.

The table below shows statewide school mask requirement laws and orders in states with school mask requirements or school mask requirement bans in place at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Mask requirement orders
State Ban or requirement? Type of order Date lifted or altered
Arizona Ban Legislative action N/A
Arkansas Ban Legislative action Sept. 30, 2021 - Suspended by court action
California Requirement California Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Connecticut Requirement Executive order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Delaware Requirement Executive order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Florida Ban Executive order N/A[20]
Georgia Ban Legislative action N/A
Hawaii Requirement Executive order Aug. 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Illinois Requirement Illinois Department of Public Health order Feb. 4, 2022 - Suspended by court action[21]
Iowa Ban Legislative action May 16, 2022 - Reinstated by court action[22]
Kentucky Requirement Kentucky Board of Education order Sept. 9, 2021 - Suspended by state law
Louisiana Requirement Executive order Feb. 16, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[23]
Maryland Requirement Maryland State Board of Education order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[24]
Massachusetts Requirement Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[25]
Nevada Requirement Executive order Feb. 10, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Jersey Requirement Executive order March 7, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Mexico Requirement New Mexico Public Education Department order Feb. 17, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New York Requirement Executive order March 3, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Oklahoma Ban Executive order N/A
Oregon Requirement Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Pennsylvania Requirement Pennsylvania Department of Health order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Rhode Island Requirement Executive order March 4, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
South Carolina Ban Legislative action Sept. 28, 2021 - Temporarily suspended by court action
Tennessee Ban Executive order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Texas Ban Executive order N/A[26]
Utah Ban Legislative action N/A
Virginia Ban Legislative action N/A
Washington Requirement Washington State Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action

School mask requirements over time

School mask bans over time


Teacher and school employee vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

Seven states had issued a statewide requirement for K-12 teachers and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or receive regular coronavirus testing during the 2021-2022 school year. The table below shows teacher and staff vaccine requirement laws and orders in states that issued such policies during the 2021-2022 school year.

Vaccine requirement orders
State Testing instead of vaccination allowed? Type of order Date effective
California Yes California Department of Public Health order Oct. 15, 2021
Connecticut No Executive order Sept. 27, 2021
Delaware Yes Executive order Nov. 1, 2021
Illinois Yes Executive order Issued: Sept. 19, 2021
Suspended by court action on Feb. 4, 2022
New Jersey Yes Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
New York Yes Executive order Sept. 19, 2021
Oregon No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
Washington No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021


Student vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

On Oct. 1, 2021, California was the first state to announce a vaccine requirement for eligible students. Louisiana also announced a vaccine requirement for eligible students on Dec. 14, but then announced the state would be removing the coronavirus vaccine from the list of required immunizations in schools on May 18, 2022.

School reopenings and closures (2020-2021 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year

Initial school year operating plan

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: July 22, 2020

Texas released an initial operating plan for the 2020-2021 school year on July 7, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on July 22. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

On July 7, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released a framework for returning students to classrooms in the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance, a mix of requirements and recommendations, covers health and safety procedures for students, teachers, and staff, and provides guidelines for the length of time schools can offer distance learning before reopening classrooms.

The Texas Education Agency released updated guidance on July 17 allowing schools to limit in-person instruction during the first four weeks of the school year. The guidance states that schools can continue to limit in-person instruction for an additional four weeks if the school board votes to do so. Under the original guidelines released on July 7, that transition period had been limited to three weeks. The guidelines state that schools can continue to limit in-person instruction for an additional four weeks if the school board votes to do so.

When the original guidelines were released, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said, “Both as Commissioner and as a public school parent, my number one priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff. That is why the guidance laid out today will provide flexibility to both parents and districts to make decisions based on the ever-changing conditions of this public health crisis. The state is and remains committed to providing a high-quality education to all Texas students, while ensuring the health and safety of students, teachers, staff, and families.”

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) first ordered schools to close on March 20. He extended the closure on March 31 and ordered schools to stay closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the year on April 17.

Texas does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, the school year typically starts in August, with the exact date varying by district.

Context

Texas is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

Texas school metrics
Category Figure Rank
Per pupil spending (16-17) $12,051 33
Number of students (18-19) 5,433,471 2
Number of teachers (Fall 2016) 352,809 1
Number of public schools (18-19) 9,423 2
Student:teacher ratio (18-19) 15.1 22
Percent qualifying for free/reduced lunch (16-17) 59.0% 9


Texas school revenue
Category Figure Rank
Total revenue 56,127,791 3
Federal revenue percent 10.8% 15
State revenue percent 40.6% 38
Local revenue percent 48.6% 16

Details

District reopening plans

Schools are required to develop and publicly post a plan for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 based on the guidance developed in the Texas Education Agency’s framework. The plans must be posted on the system website at least a week before the start of on-campus activities and instruction.

Schools are not required to submit the plans to the TEA or any other government agency.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The latest guidance says that schools may limit in-person instruction at the beginning of the school year for up to four weeks. During that time, most students can engage in distance learning. Schools must provide in-person instruction to students who do not have access to the internet or computers.

Schools can delay returning most students to physical classrooms for an additional eight weeks with the permission of the local school board.

The guidance allows parents to decide if their children will learn remotely or on-campus and provides them with the option of transitioning between one form of instruction or the other at different points during the school year. The Texas Education Code requires that students attend 90% of the days a course is offered to earn credit, but this requirement can be satisfied through virtual instruction.

Mask requirements

Students, teachers, staff, and visitors, must follow Gov. Abbot's July 2 executive order mandating face coverings in indoor and outdoor areas in counties with 20 or more coronavirus cases.

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The guidance provides a list of recommendations for reducing the spread of the virus when students are on-campus. The list includes some of the following:

“
  • In classroom spaces that allow it, consider placing student desks a minimum of six feet apart when possible.
  • In classrooms where students are regularly within six feet of one another, schools should plan for more frequent hand washing and/or hand sanitizing and should consider whether increased airflow from the outdoors is possible.
  • When feasible and appropriate (for example, in physical education classes as weather permits), it is preferable for students to gather outside, rather than inside, because of likely reduced risk of virus spread outdoors.
  • Campuses must plan for entry, exit, and transition procedures that reduce large group gatherings (of students and/or adults) in close proximity. Consider staggering school start and end times, assigning students to entries to ensure even distribution of students entering/exiting at each door, providing guidance to students to enter one at a time and wait six feet apart outside the entrance, and, where appropriate, encouraging parents to remain outside during drop-off and pick-up.
  • Consider adding dividers between bathroom sinks, especially when students cannot be at least six feet apart while using the sinks.[27]
 ”

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

The guidance includes the following transportation recommendations:

“
  • School systems should consider requiring students and staff to use hand sanitizer upon boarding the bus.
  • When possible, schools should open windows to allow outside air to circulate in the bus.
  • School systems should encourage families to drop students off, carpool, or walk with their student to school to reduce possible virus exposure on buses.
  • Buses should be thoroughly cleaned after each bus trip, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles. During cleaning, open windows to allow for additional ventilation and air flow.[27]
 ”

Map of school closures

The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

As of July 8, 2021, the status of school closures and reopenings was as follows:

  • Two states (Delaware, Hawaii) and Washington, D.C. had state-ordered regional school closures, required closures for certain grade levels, or allowed hybrid instruction only.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 410,896 students (0.81% of students nationwide)
  • Thirteen states had state-ordered in-person instruction.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 15,697,460 students (30.96% of students nationwide)
  • One state (Arizona) had state-ordered in-person instruction for certain grades.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 1,152,586 students (2.27% of students nationwide)
  • Thirty-four states left decisions to schools or districts.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 33,449,499 students (65.96% of students nationwide)



School reopenings and closures (2019-2020 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2019-2020 academic year


The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • States closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 48
  • Number of public school students in states closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 50,261,464


The chart below shows the first date schools in a state were closed to in-person instruction during the 2019-2020 academic year, divided by the political party of the governor.

School responses by state

To read about school responses to the coronavirus pandemic in others states, click one of the following links below:

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Number of operating public schools and districts, student membership, teachers, and pupil/teacher ratio, by state or jurisdiction: School year 2019–20," accessed September 10, 2021
  2. ↑ EducationWeek, "Map: Where Were Schools Required to Be Open for the 2020-21 School Year?," June 14, 2021
  3. ↑ Austin American-Statesman, "Appeals court blocks federal judge's ruling that allowed Texas schools to mandate masks," December 2, 2021
  4. ↑ NPR, "Federal judge allows Texas schools to require masks," November 10, 2021
  5. ↑ To read more about Burbio's school disruption tracking, click here
  6. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed August 27, 2021
  7. ↑ Politico, "Texas Supreme Court backs governor on mask mandates," August 15, 2021
  8. ↑ KSAT, "Judge delivers blow to Texas Gov. Abbott’s ban on mandates, allows San Antonio to require masks in schools," August 10, 2021
  9. ↑ Burbio rated Texas' in-person index at 92. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  10. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  11. ↑ Burbio rated Texas' in-person index between 40-60. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  12. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  13. ↑ Austin Statesman, "Texas gives school districts more leeway in reopening schools amid pandemic," July 17, 2020
  14. ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Texas will extend time that schools will be allowed to stay online-only, Gov. Greg Abbott says," July 14, 2020
  15. ↑ CBS DFW, "Texas Education Agency Issues Guidelines For Reopening Schools During Coronavirus Pandemic," July 7, 2020
  16. ↑ Delaware Public Radio, "Back To School For Real? Texas Officials Say Yes," June 18, 2020
  17. ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Gov. Greg Abbott keeps Texas classrooms closed for remainder of school year," April 17, 2020
  18. ↑ KWTX, "Texas governor orders schools to remain closed until May 4," March 31, 2020
  19. ↑ Twitter, "Patrick Svitek on March 19, 2020," accessed March 19, 2020
  20. ↑ On Sept. 2, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Sept. 10.
  21. ↑ Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) ended the statewide school mask requirement on Feb. 28, 2022.
  22. ↑ On Sept. 13, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action for all schools. On Jan. 25, 2022, the ban was partially reinstated.
  23. ↑ Oct. 26, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they followed CDC quarantine guidance
  24. ↑ Dec. 7, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they met one of the three following criteria: 1) the county vaccination rate was 80% or higher, 2) 80% of school staff and students were vaccinated, or 3) COVID-19 transmission in the county was considered moderate or low for 14 straight days.
  25. ↑ Oct. 1 - Schools could become exempt from the school mask requirement when at least 80% of students were vaccinated
  26. ↑ On Nov. 10, 2021 the ban was suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Dec. 1.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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