Texas Schools, Colleges Postpone Classes To Assess Harvey’s Damage
NACAC Post 8/30 & 8/29
Over 1 Million Students In Texas Affected By Harvey.
USA Today (8/30, Toppo) reports because of Hurricane Harvey, Houston schools are closed as are “systems throughout the region.” Superintendent Richard Carranza “said he hoped to begin classes on Sept. 5.” The Texas Education Agency said the story affected “more than 1 million students in 244 public and charter school districts statewide.” Apart from those schools that are closed, some “in nearby districts” are “serving as shelters.” Some schools have been inspected for water damage, while many others are inaccessible due to flooding. To help, ED “activated its emergency response contact center” and “is taking part in daily briefings led by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.” It is also granting “‘administrative flexibilities’ on federal student aid rules.”
Houston Students To Receive Free Meals For The Year. The Houston Press (8/30, Fanelli) reports, “The Houston Independent School District has announced that all HISD students will receive free meals for the 2017-2018 school year.” That is due to waivers being granted by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture which fund the school meal programs.
ED Easing Financial Aid Rules For Students Affected By Harvey. The AP (8/30, Danilova) reports ED “is easing financial aid rules and procedures for those affected by Harvey.” ED has issued a statement saying that schools may use “professional judgment” in deciding “to adjust a student’s financial information in the aftermath of Harvey” and “may even be able to waive certain paperwork requirements if documents were destroyed.”
The Wall Street Journal (8/28, Korn, Hobbs, Subscription Publication) reports the Houston Independent School District, the seventh-largest district in the nation, was scheduled to start the new school year on Monday; however, Tropical Storm Harvey caused unprecedented flooding that filled a number of classrooms and district facilities with water. More than two dozen southeast Texas public school districts will remain closed through at least Sept. 5 for damage assessments, and regional colleges and universities have suspended classes, relocated students living on campus to other housing facilities, and postponed events.
Dallas ISD Ready To Help Students Displaced By Hurricane Harvey. The Dallas Morning News (8/28, Smith) reports, “Dallas ISD is making plans to help students displaced by Hurricane Harvey.” DISD news and information director Robyn Harris said, “we’re certainly ready to help out our brethren from the Gulf Coast.” Those hosted at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center shelter “will be offered seats in three DISD schools: North Dallas High School, Spence Middle School and Kennedy Elementary School,” with proof of residency, birth certificate, and immunization records requirements waived and the district providing transportation. Harris also “said that the district would have its counselors, social workers and psychologists on-call to help students deal with the emotional impact of the hurricane and its aftermath.” According to a Facebook post by DISD trustee Miguel Solis, the district plans to offer “information, on-site enrollment and counseling services” at the shelter and the Texas Education Agency will work with the district’s Food and Child Nutrition Services to provide food to the evacuees.