Texas Governor, Greg Abbot, announced today at his press conference that schools will remain to be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to the Corona Virus pandemic. However, schools are still having on-line classes to finish the academic year.
With schools staying closed to students this means that no athletic programs will be able to finish their years, or have any off-season workout programs. This could impact how the 2020 High School Football season pans out.
The previous recommendation was that schools were to remain closed until Monday, May 4th. With the new mandate, schools will be remained closed until further notice. There has not been anything said about the 2020-2021 school year.
The UIL has not released a statement on Governor Abbott’s most recent mandate, but we can expect UIL to follow suit in the same way they have been over the course of closures. Faculty, coaches, athletes, families, and fans can likely expect all in-person practices, rehearsals and workouts to remain suspended until further notice.
The Texas Education Agency said the decision to keep schools shuttered through the end of the school year was “the right one for our families and communities—and the only one that makes sense for Texas at this time.”
“TEA fully supports the governor’s actions and continues to work closely with districts across the state to ensure students are getting what they need; meals, dedicated efforts to keep kids feeling safe and connected during these times, and support so students can continue to learn and grow academically,” the agency said.
(KBTX)
There hasn’t been any update on if schools will re-open to students for the start of the 2020-21 school year.