Houston School Districts Offering Virtual Options in Response to the Increase in COVID Cases

As Texas officials cut this year’s funding for virtual learning and issue executive orders prohibiting mask mandates in school amidst a worrying increase in COVID-19 cases, school authorities are coming up with safer alternatives.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Some Houston-area ISDs such as Fort Bend ISD, Conroe ISD, Humble ISD, and Katy ISD are offering a virtual learning option even though the state won’t fund it.

In spite of the concerns over the STAAR scores revealing a majority of students falling behind during the virtual school year, parents are being doubtful on sending their children back to in-person school, given that many classmates may not be wearing masks.

“In my heart of hearts, I have a hesitancy about virtual learning. I think we saw the results of that … did not bear out that our kids could get the highest quality of education from virtual learning,” said Senator Beverly Powell, D-Burleson. “But it’s a question of how you weigh [students’] health and safety against their intellectual development.”

As reported by the Dallas Morning News, the Senate’s Education Committee ultimately approved a proposal Tuesday afternoon that would fund online learning in most Texas school districts.

However, the bill that is now heading to the full Senate, will have to wait until there is enough quorum.