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Oct. 26, 2020, issue.
(Vol. 37 / Issue 33)

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• Rapid COVID-19 tests — Gov. Abbott announced (Oct. 14) that six ISDs, a charter and a private school will receive COVID-19 rapid testing kits as participants in a pilot program to test employees and students and receive the results back within 15 minutes.

  The initial approvals were granted to the Fabens, Granger, Lampasas, Longview, Harlingen Cons., and Ysleta ISDs — and the Bob Hope [charter] School in Port Arthur, and the private Grace Community School in Tyler.

  An Oct. 28 deadline was set for other districts to apply to participate in the program.

• Safety audits — The TEA announced (Oct. 15) that based on a request by the Texas School Safety Center, the deadline for districts to report their school safety audit results has been extended from Aug. 31 to Nov. 15.
• T-TRADE applications — TEA is accepting applications (info here) from teachers of fifth grade math and high school U.S. History who wish to participate in the T-TRADE (Texas Teachers Review, Assess, Develop, and Exchange) pilot. The project provides participants with continuing professional education (CPE), and applicants may qualify to receive a stipend. Deadline: Dec. 20.

• Addressing requirements under 2019’s HB3 for college and career funding allotments and reimbursements. Effective Oct. 13.

• Allowing districts to seek permission from the TEA to conduct online state student assessments on Mondays, a day when such testing is not otherwise allowed during the primary test administration week. Effective Oct. 13.

  Note: The commissioner rejected a request by the Texas State Teachers Association to include the suspension of all state student assessments this school year due to the pandemic.

• Implementing provisions related to local optional teacher designation systems, and addressing extenuating circumstances arising from the 2019-20 school year. Effective Oct. 20.