Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced on their website Tuesday guidelines for the reopening of schools in about a month.

The guidelines are based on four sets of practices that lessen the chances of viral spread, reported NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

It is required to provide notice to the parents and the public, do practices that prevent the virus from going into the school, and respond to a case in the school that was confirmed by a lab. It was also recommended and required to lessen likely spread in the school.

Parents can choose to send their kids to school or have them learn remotely. TEA said its plan is to place the health and safety of the students first while also making sure they receive quality instruction for both ways.

In a CBS Dallas-Fort Worth report, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the guidelines will give "flexibility" to both parents and school districts to adjust based on the changes that will come with the health crisis.

What do parents have to look out for?

Given the requirements, schools have to inform parents and the public of their reopening plans one week before the start of on-campus activities.

The plan has to include ways to fight the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

Following the Texas Education Code, students have to attend 90% of the days a class is offered to get credit for it. The credit days can be earned by virtual instruction.

Parents will be allowed to request their kids for virtual learning from any school that offers it.

If they wish to switch to on-campus learning, they can do so, but schools are allowed to limit changes at the end of a grading period so teaching quality will not be affected. A full grading period lasts 6 to 9 weeks.

Parents are also allowed to transfer students to schools with virtual instruction if their school does not offer it.

What steps are done to ensure health and safety?

There are some health and safety procedures to support the safety of students and teachers.

For every school in the state, anyone who comes on campus has to be screened first.

Following Governor Greg Abbott's latest executive order, masks will also be required in counties with more than 20 reported COVID-19 cases, said a report from Texas Tribune.

Schools have to follow other coming executive orders that will be issued by the governor.

Morath said the schools' guidance will change over time as the executive order is likely to be changed too.

Based on the guidelines, schools should attempt to have hand sanitizers or hand washing stations at each entrance and in every classroom. This also comes with encouraging everyone in the school to use the facilities.

Schools are expected to have more cleaning in ways that are not harmful to the students by janitorial staff and letting students clean their own spaces before and after they are used.

Letting in outside air is also encouraged when possible. Desks also have to be placed at least six feet apart in classrooms that have space for it.

Want to read more? Check these out!