COVID-19 Support: Public Health Orders
Welcome to the COVID-19 support page for closure guidance and communication resources. Here you can find guidance and resources organized by the following categories. Simply click on a category link to be taken directly to those resources below on the page. For questions, please email disasterinfo@tea.texas.gov.
 2020 - 2021 School Year |
| Public Health Orders |
COVID-19 Case and Test Reporting | Other Resources |
FAQ and Guidance
Governor Abbott’s COVID-19 disaster declaration is still in effect. Governor Abbott declared a disaster due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13, 2020. A gubernatorial disaster declaration expires thirty days after its issuance, unless renewed, and Governor Abbott renewed the declaration on February 4, 2021.
- SY 20-21 Public Health Guidance (PDF) March 4 2021
- SY 20-21 Reopening Guidance Summary (PDF) July 21 2020
- Training and Conditioning Guidance for Non-UIL Activities (PDF) June 9 2020
Tools, Templates and Resources
- SY 20-21 Communication Templates: Beginning of Year, Symptom Screening, and Confirmed Case (Word) July 28 2020
- SY 20-21 Communication Templates: Beginning of Year, Symptom Screening, and Confirmed Case – SPANISH (Word) July 30 2020
- SY 20-21 Public Health Operational Guidebook (PDF) July 28 2020
- SY 20-21 Public Health Scenario Planning Answer Key (PDF) July 28 2020
- SY 20-21 COVID-19 Symptom Screener Options for LEAs (PDF) July 28 2020
- Education Rights and Responsibilities During COVID-19 (PDF) August 13 2020
- Education Rights and Responsibilities During COVID-19 (Spanish) (PDF) August 13 2020
- Superintendent Response Checklist (Developed by ESCs) April 20 2020
- Austin Public Health Close Contact – Timeline (PDF) December 10 2020
- Ventilation System Impact on Student Health (PDF) March 2 2021
Correspondence and Notices
- Texas Attorney General Guidance Letter on Local Public Health Orders
- Executive Order no. GA-29 relating to the use of face coverings during the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) July 2 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-30 relating to the continued response to the COVID-19 disaster as Texas reopens (PDF) September 17 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-32 relating to the continued response to the COVID-19 disaster as Texas reopens (PDF) December 10 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-34 relating to the opening of Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) March 2 2021
- Press Release: Texas Education Agency Announces Updates to Public Health Guidance; TEA Also Provides Updates to COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
As of January 15, 2021, school systems will no longer be able to opt-in to the K-12 COVID Testing Project to receive rapid tests. School systems that have already opted-in will continue to receive their allocations per the distribution methodology posted on our website. We strongly encourage you to continue to use the test kits as many of the tests distributed have an expiration date, some as early as February 2021.
FAQ and Guidance
- K-12 COVID-19 Testing Project Superintendent Kick-Off Presentation (PDF) October 29 2020
- K-12 COVID-19 Testing Project FAQ (PDF) February 8 2021
- K-12 COVID-19 Testing Project Playbook (PDF) October 28 2020
Tools, Templates and Resources
- K-12 Test Allocation Spreadsheet
- K-12 Test Allocation spreadsheet – Based on November 15, 2020 Trauma Service Area (TSA) Data (Excel) November 23 2020
- K-12 Test Allocation spreadsheet – Based on October 16, 2020 Trauma Service Area (TSA) Data (Excel) October 28 2020
- K-12 Test Allocation spreadsheet – Based on December 15, 2020 Trauma Service Area (TSA) Data (Excel) December 17 2020
- K-12 Public School Test Allocation Spreadsheet Methodology
- December K-12 Public School Test Allocation spreadsheet methodology (PDF) November 23 2020
- November K-12 Public School Test Allocation spreadsheet methodology (PDF) October 28 2020
- January K-12 Public School Test Allocation spreadsheet methodology (PDF) December 17 2020
- Trauma Service Area Data
- Click on “Combined Hospital Data over time by Trauma Service Region”
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Texas Education Agency (TEA) K-12 Testing Resources |
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Document |
Description |
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Communication Templates October 28 2020
School District Examples
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Communicating with your stakeholders about COVID rapid testing will be essential to successful implementation. Resources include TEA-developed samples as well as examples created by districts that participated in the testing pilot. These documents are meant as a resource and their use is entirely optional. |
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Student Permission Slip, TEA-Developed
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School systems must obtain formal consent from a student's legal guardian (for those under 18). The TEA-developed sample is provided as a standardized example for all schools/districts. Feel free to edit it to include additional information specific to your school or district. For example, you may want to add context if this is to be filled out at the time of testing, or in advance of the possibility of tests being conducted in the future. Additional examples are provided from the districts that participated in the pilot testing. |
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Test Count and Results Reporting |
As previously required by TEA’s public health guidance, public schools must report cases via the DSHS COVID-19 Case Reporting Form. However, when opting into this program, a new reporting requirement is imposed on LEAs in regards on when to submit this form. Specifically, even if you don’t have any positive cases in a given week you have to submit the volume of any tests administered and the results within your LEA. This information will be aggregated at the state and district level and publicly posted on the Department of State Health Services Texas Public Schools COVID-19 Data page. |
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Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) K-12 Testing Resources |
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Document |
Description | Where to find |
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Texas School Testing Quick Guide |
One pager on what test administrators can expect on testing day |
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Test Coordinator Responsibilities |
Schools should review prior to appointing a test coordinator to better understand duties before, during and after testing |
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Test Administrator Responsibilities |
Schools should review prior to appointing test coordinator to better understand the training requirements and the duties before, during and after |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/
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Best Practices for Schools |
This document provides schools with additional information on planning, space requirements, and managing testing flow |
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How-To-Video Loop |
This video can be played on a loop during testing and provides step by step instructions on test administration |
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Training Links for Test Administrators |
Each test administrator is required to complete the training and take the accompanying exam |
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K-12 COVID Testing Support Guide |
The K-12 COVID-19 Testing Support Guide provides an overview of the program to provide BinaxNow Rapid Test kits and PPE to school systems in Texas. The guide provides information on how tests will be distributed and resupplied, test administration, reporting of results, and how to handle medical waste |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/ |
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Standing Delegation Order |
Standing delegation order from Dr. Alexander Lazar for licensed nurses conducting BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Screening in K-12 Texas school systems |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/ |
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Medical Waste Instructions for Schools |
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulatory guidance regarding the handling, storage, labeling, transportation, and proper disposal for schools using COVID-19 rapid testing kits. |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/ |
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BinaxNOW Distribution |
Listing of the number of test kits distributed to K-12 School Systems as December 15, 2020 |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/ |
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Abbott BinaxNow tests reported by school system |
This document provides the number of Abbott BinaxNow tests that were distributed to each school system and the total and percent of those tests that school systems have reported they’ve used |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/ |
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Expiration Date Extension |
Abbott Labs has announced that their BinaxNOW Test kits’ expiration date may be extended by an additional three months for specific test kit lots. Only those lots which are indicated in the letter on the TDEM site are extended. |
https://tdem.texas.gov/k-12testing/ |
Correspondence and Notices
- Press Release: Governor Abbott, TEA, TDEM Announce COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program For Texas School Systems (PDF) October 17 2020
- TAA: Reminder: K-12 COVID-19 Testing Project November 19 2020
- TAA: Final Reminder: K-12 COVID-19 Testing Project Opt-In Deadline
FAQ and Guidance
- DSHS Texas Public Schools Data Display FAQ (PDF) October 1 2020
- COVID-19 Public School Case and Test Reporting Instructions and FAQ (PDF) January 12 2021
Tools, Templates and Resources
- Department of State Health Services Texas Public Schools COVID-19 Data September 17 2020
- COVID-19 Public School Case Report form
- Optional School Capture and Reporting Template (Excel) November 19 2020
Correspondence and Notices
- TAA: 2020-2021 COVID-19 Case Reporting (PDF) August 27 2020
- Press Release: DSHS and TEA Launch Webpage with COVID-19 Case Data Reported by Texas Public Schools
FAQ and Guidance
- K-12 COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ (PDF) March 3 2021
Tools, Templates and Resources
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Update (PDF) September 3 2020
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Allotments by LEA - Final as of 6/18/20 LEA (Excel) June 18 2020
- SY 20-21 Texas Public School Start Dates (PDF) September 17 2020
- Summary of Texas Public Schools Student Enrollment Trends: October 2020 (PDF) January 7 2021
- Fall PEIMS On-Campus Attendance Participation (Excel) March 4 2021
- Summary of Texas Public School Student Enrollment Trends: January 2021 (PDF) March 4 2021
Correspondence and Notices
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2019 - 2020 School Year |
| Public Health Orders |
FAQ and Guidance
Governor Abbott’s COVID-19 disaster declaration is still in effect. Governor Abbott declared a disaster due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13, 2020. A gubernatorial disaster declaration expires thirty days after its issuance, unless renewed, and Governor Abbott renewed the declaration on October 8, 2020.
- Summer Instruction, Activities and School Visit Guidance Per Executive Order No. GA-28 (PDF) June 9 2020
- Graduation and End-of-Year Promotion Ceremonies Guidance Per Executive Order No. GA-29 (PDF) July 7 2020
- Attorney General informal guidance on conflicting local orders that restrict essential services, including those performed by educators and support staff
- Operational Measures Guidance (PDF)
- Access While Closed FAQ (PDF) April 23 2020
- Texans Helping Texans: The Governor’s Report to Open Texas
- Guidance Effective Prior to June 1: Student and Parent School Visit Guidance Per Executive Order No. GA-23 (PDF) May 18 2020
- Guidance Effective Prior to June 1: Minimum Standard Health Protocols for School Employees in School Building During Campus Closures Per Executive Order No. GA-23 May 18 2020
- Training and Conditioning Guidance for Non-UIL Activities (PDF) June 9 2020
Tools, Templates and Resources
- Memo: How to Assess The Impact of Current Cases in Your County (PDF) March 14 2020
- Template announcing closure (word)
- Template announcing closure being extended (word)
- Template announcing remaining open (word)
- Sample Letter for confirmed COVID exposure_staff (word) March 27 2020
- Sample Letter for confirmed COVID exposure_student (word) March 27 2020
- Sample Letter for presumptive COVID exposure_staff (word) March 27 2020
- Sample for presumptive COVID exposure_student (word) March 27 2020
- Superintendent Response Checklist (Developed by ESCs) April 20 2020
Correspondence and Notices
- Executive Order no. GA-16 relating to the safe, strategic reopening of select services as the first step to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) April 17 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-08 relating to COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation (PDF) March 19 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-14 relating to statewide continuity of essential services and activities during the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) March 31 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-21 relating to the expanded reopening of services as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) (this Executive Order has been superseded but is linked for public reference) May 5 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-23 relating to the expanded opening of Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) (this Executive Order has been superseded but is linked for public reference) May 18 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-26 relating to the expanded opening of Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster (PDF) (this Executive Order has been superseded but is linked for public reference) June 3 2020
- Executive Order no. GA-28 relating to the targeted response to the COVID-10 disaster as part of the reopening of Texas (this Executive Order has been superseded but is linked for public reference) (PDF) June 26 2020