AUSTIN – Responding to a request from Stephenville Mayor Doug Svien, Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued guidance on the opening of local schools for the upcoming school year during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While playing an important role in protecting the health of school children and employees, local health authorities may not issue sweeping orders closing schools for the sole purpose of preventing future COVID-19 infections, the letter states.
Rather, their role is limited by statute to addressing specific, actual outbreaks of disease.
School officials, both public and private, are the appropriate ones to decide whether, when, and how to open school.
“Education of our children is an essential Texas value and there is no current statewide order prohibiting any school from opening,” said Paxton.
“While local health authorities may possess some authority to close schools in limited circumstances, they may not issue blanket orders closing all schools on a purely preventative basis. That decision rightfully remains with school system leaders.”