July 5, 2010

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

Subject: 2010 Hurricane Season

The hurricane season has arrived with season’s first named storm, Alex. As the season continues and the 2010-2011 school year begins, the agency’s website will be updated with appropriate hurricane-related information. The TEA hurricane website is located at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147485084&menu_id=2147483681. The site will include a list of known school closings, disaster-related correspondence, and a FAQ which will address questions and concerns arising from various issues such as mandatory evacuations, use of schools as shelters, and coordination with local disaster districts.
If a hurricane impacts your district, please contact the agency by completing the appropriate school closure and reopening forms. Those forms are now available as follows:

• Closure Form: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=ekfrm&ItemID=2147485080
• Re-opening Form: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=ekfrm&ItemID=2147485081

If a hurricane impacts your district during the school year, you may be faced with a number of issues, including missed instructional days and low attendance days. As in past years, I encourage you to adjust school calendars to make up for the lost instructional time. However, whether districts make up the missed days and/or seek a waiver, I urge educators to cover as much of the missed content with students as possible during the remainder of the school year.

Waiver applications for both missed instructional days and low attendance are available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index.aspx?id=6637&menu_id=932&menu_id2=788.

For more information about waivers, please contact Mike Peebles of the State Waivers Unit at (512) 463-5917 or by email at mike.peebles@tea.state.tx.us.

While I am hopeful that Alex will be the last hurricane to affect Texas schools this year, I am realistic enough to know that we must be prepared for further storms. Thank you for all you do to educate Texas students while striving to keep them safe.

Sincerely,

Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education

RS/pc