Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees, released the following statement calling on state officials to help keep Houston schools from closing:

“The effects of Hurricane Harvey continue to be felt throughout the Houston area as the long recovery process for the city and its families continues. All of Houston’s 17 school districts sustained significant damage in the storm, resulting in massive property loss and enormous hardships for thousands of storm-weary residents.

“That is why I have sent a letters urging the Governor and the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency to grant a two year waiver to laws that permit the state’s intervention and sanction of a public school that has received an academically unsuccessful performance rating. The waiver would apply specifically to those schools impacted by the storm for academic years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

“Several of the hard-hit school districts lie within the boundaries of the Texas 18th Congressional District, including the largest—HISD---which alone educates more 200,000 students. Failure to allow the waiver would result in the closing of a number of schools and do a tremendous disservice to many of these children who are eager to learn.

“As noted in my letters to Governor Abbott and TEA Commissioner Morath, water damaged homes are unsafe to occupy because of toxic and unchecked mold growth. These conditions have caused disruption of normal life for school children, and they need relief to help them succeed with their education achievement.

“Local leaders have put forth a plan to partner with area universities, and are poised to collaborate with the state in the interest of Houston’s children. Like so many others impacted by the storm, many children are struggling to recover and deserve the opportunity to learn.

“Granting this waiver is an imperative to stop the calamity and the crisis that will impact these innocent children and their families.”