Austin Bans Christian Schools Due to COVID19
Austin, Texas – According to a mandate issued by Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority for the City of Austin, all schools within the city limits that offer any classroom instruction from pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade are prohibited from gathering in person until Sept. 8.
This order is expansive beyond just public schools to include religious and private schools. Football practice, band rehearsals, and all extracurricular activities are also prohibited.
Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values said “This unconstitutional local government power grab trying to control religious private schools methods of instruction, and banning them from having spiritual retreats and community service projects is outrageous. We must all stand together and say ‘no’ to these out of control local government power grabs.”
Below is the main portion of the recent Travis County order:
Therefore, due to the current evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Travis County, and pursuant to Texas Health & Safety Code §§ 81.082 and 81.084, Dr. Mark E. Escott, the Interim Medical Director and Health Authority for Austin/Travis County, hereby issues this Order imposing specified control measures and restrictions on all public and private schools offering instruction to students in one or more grades, pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in Travis County, as well as any independent school district within Travis County (hereinafter “school systems”). The following restrictions are effective as of the execution of this Order:
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School systems shall not re-open schools for on-campus, face-to-face instruction until after September 7, 2020;
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Virtual instruction shall be permitted as per a school system’s own plan;
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Extracurricular sports and activities shall not take place until school systems re-open for on-campus instruction;
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At least two weeks prior to re-opening for on-campus instruction and on-campus activities, the school or district shall develop a plan to be submitted to the Austin/Travis County Health Authority for re-opening on-campus activities and instruction and make the plan available for parents and general public.
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