10 | HR Connection
The Return to School Amidst the Delta Variant and emotional development of children. However, the differences in guidance issued by these entities are related to face mask recommendations; in the case of the TEA, the differences lie in face mask requirements.
Lisa Paul, Associate Attorney
TEXAS PREPARES SCHOOLS FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES AMID DELTA VARIANT SURGE
T
he Delta variant sweeping across the country is presenting new challenges for Texas public school systems preparing for the return of inperson instruction. Both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have updated their guidance based on recent data regarding the highly transmissible Delta variant. As schools open, Texas public school administrators will be grappling with confusing and conflicting guidance issued by the CDC, AAP, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). While Texas Governor Greg Abbott encourages citizens to wear face masks and to get vaccinated, his most recent Executive Order, GA-38, strictly
The CDC has wavered in its mask guidance which has caused confusion and even anger. Between April 3, 2020 and May 13, 2021, the CDC recommended the use of face coverings for all individuals (except for those with conditions that prevented the use of face masks). During the Spring of 2021, several Governors prohibits governmental entities, began removing mask mandates, including school districts, from including Governor Abbott who mandating face coverings. Texas removed the State’s mask mandate school administrators providing on March 2, 2021. On May 14, in-person learning will need to 2021, the CDC revised its mask be prepared for COVID cases on guidance providing that fully their campuses when unvaccinated vaccinated individuals could forgo and unmasked individuals return masks. Since some states had to campus. It will be important already removed mask mandates, for school administrators to stay many people, vaccinated or not, abreast of guidance issued by their began returning to their prelocal public health authorities, pandemic lives, traveling, going the CDC, TEA, and AAP, so they to parties, restaurants, and bars may provide the most accurate and without masks. The CDC’s May timely information to their school 14th guidance did little to change communities. the behavior of Texans, they had already been freed from mask WHAT ARE THE CDC, AAP, AND TEA RECOMMENDING FOR THIS requirements, vaccinated or not. The CDC’s May 14th guidance UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR? was largely viewed as a way to Starting with the positive, the CDC, encourage more people to get AAP, and TEA all acknowledge vaccinated. The message was get what school officials and parents vaccinated and you can leave your have been saying for more than mask at home. Unfortunately, it a year: students benefit from indidn’t work and vaccination rates person learning and the on-campus across the country continued to environment supports the social wane.
