Whether students of Texas schools attend in-person classes or not this fall may come down to their access to reliable internet connections.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) in July limited access to on-campus instruction for up to four weeks and allowed school districts to submit a waiver request for an additional four weeks. However, the agency noted that families who don’t have internet access or e-learning devices are entitled to on-campus learning during the transition period.

It’s that last part that has some educators worried. An Aug. 10 report on CBS DFW noted that an estimated 1.8 million students in the state were not able to engage with distance learning because they did not have adequate internet access.

Melissa Martin of the Galena Park ISD. | File photo

Although many districts have put work into their technology and mobile hotspots, not all parents are comfortable and feel they must send their kids to in-class learning because their internet access is limited.

Jhoanna Cadnea told CBS DFW that her family’s internet access is dependent on a cellular hotspot, but cellular reception is not at all reliable. Cadnea has two high school-age children who attend the McKinney Independent School District (ISD). Both of her children fell behind in the spring because of internet issues. They couldn’t participate in class Zoom calls; sometimes they couldn’t even email their homework in.

Jessica Cadnea, who is in 10th grade, said it caused problems.

“I think some of my teachers thought it was just an excuse to not do my work or to not turn it in or something, but they didn’t understand my situation,” she told CBS DFW.

Issues like internet instability can cause students to disengage, whether they mean to or not. And, according to a June report from the TEA, more than 11% of students were disengaged during the spring when the pandemic hit.

This concerns teachers like Melissa Martin, who lives in Deer Park and is a career and technology teacher for the Galena Park ISD.

"Shutting down school had a huge impact on both student engagement and students’ ability to learn," Martin told the Lone Star Standard. "Most schools were unable to easily transition to an online platform as most schools were not a 1:1 technology campus. Districts that were already a 1:1 campus had an advantage. However, the social isolation was very difficult on students no matter their district or socioeconomic status. Many teachers use collaborative learning, and that was difficult to achieve through a screen. Many students struggled emotionally with the lack of a routine and social interaction."

Martin is one of the educators who believes students must get back into the classrooms to see engagement rise and to learn better.

“Yes, students need to return to school in the fall, and the majority of teachers I speak to are ready to get back to work, including me," she said. "Parents should have the choice of whether or not to have their students participate in person or through distance learning."

TEA has issued guidance saying that students must attend 90% of the days that a course is offered to receive credit and that requirement has not been waived for the 2020-2021 academic year. That attendance requirement may be met with virtual instruction, and parents may request that students take classes virtually. It also notes that school systems must provide on-campus attendance as an option.