For more information, see HISD's Procedural Guidelines for COVID-19 Exposure, Presumed, or Confirmed Positive Individuals.

• All campuses are required to have a Student Health Isolation Pod (SHIP). This is a designated area where students can isolate. Isolation must be separate from the school clinic.
  
  Students exhibiting symptoms of a recognized communicable disease must be placed in this isolation area, away from others, until picked up by a parent/guardian. 
  
  The school nurse will document confirmed COVID-19 cases in HISD’s electronic health record. If campuses do not have a school nurse, the principal will fulfill these duties.
  
  
  

• If a student becomes infected with COVID-19, they must notify their campus, stay home and isolate following CDC guidelines, and attend temporary online learning established by their campus. Students will not be counted absent as long as they attend four hours of temporary online learning each day.

• Students will not be counted absent as long as they attend four hours of temporary online learning each day.

• If a confirmed COVID-19 case is detected in a classroom, parents/caregivers will be notified and provided with next steps related to isolate/quarantine and any other measures that should be taken. If isolation/quarantine are required, the student must stay home.

• We do not anticipate full or partial school closures. Should deteriorating COVID-19 conditions warrant the closure of a campus, classroom, or portion of a classroom, that determination will be made on a case-by-case basis by HISD Health & Medical Services in consultation with local health agencies. These decisions are based on all the evidence and totality of circumstances and in alignment with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  
  While done in consultation with local health agencies, the HISD Superintendent of Schools will make the final decision on any closures.

• HISD is providing in-person learning five days per week for all students during the 2021-2022 school year. To learn more, review the HISD Ready, Set, Go! Back to School Plan

• The Ready, Set, Go! Back to School Plan provides students, families, employees, and community stakeholders with the information necessary for a safe return to in-person learning. The plan outlines both instructional and operational protocols for all facets of the country’s eighth largest public school system. The plan is considered a living, dynamic document to allow for updates as conditions change.

• Student uniform policies will be flexible at all schools for the 2021-2022 school year but campus dress codes should be followed.

• Masks—Masks are highly encouraged for both students and staff that may need additional layers of protection or are currently sick. Masks are no longer mandatory inside or outside of HISD schools, buildings, or buses.
• Self-Monitoring—Students, staff, and visitors are asked to monitor their health and stay home when sick.
• Vaccinations—Vaccinations are our first line of defense against COVID-19. The district hosts several vaccination clinics. Additional details and vaccination locations in the city of Houston can be found online at HoustonEmergency.org/COVID-19-Vaccines.
• COVID-19 Guidelines—The district has outlined guidance and protocols for confirmed, presumed, and exposed individuals.
• COVID-19 Testing—HISD encourages all students and staff to participate in regular COVID-19 screen testing, which allows preventative measures to be taken to avoid further transmission of COVID-19. Beginning in January 2022, HISD will provide free COVID-19 testing to all consenting HISD students and staff on participating campuses. A one-time consent form is required for participation in the COVID-19 campus testing program. The form can be completed at HoustonISD.org/COVIDTesting. For more information, visit HoustonISD.org/HealthAlerts.
• Hygiene—Students, staff, and visitors are encouraged to wash/ sanitize their hands regularly. Sanitization stations will be maintained at all HISD schools, facilities, and buildings.
• Sanitization and Disinfection—All district schools and buildings will continue to be cleaned, disinfected, and fogged nightly with hospital-grade disinfectants as a precautionary measure. Hand sanitizer and other cleaning and disinfecting supplies will be provided in all schools, buildings, and buses.
• Physical Distancing—While no longer required, physical distancing of at least three feet is encouraged indoors as space allows. Assigned seating will be required in classrooms.
• In-Person Gatherings—In-person gatherings, meetings, and events are allowed with no restrictions or limitations. 

All district schools and buildings will continue to be cleaned, disinfected, and fogged nightly with hospital-grade disinfectants as a precautionary measure. Hand sanitizer and other cleaning and disinfecting supplies will be provided in all school, buildings, and buses.

• Schools and buildings are allowed to have visitors, including after-school program staff, as well as parents and community members who have been approved through the Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program and have appointments. Parents registering their children for school are also allowed.

  Masks are highly encouraged for visitors who may need additional layers of protection or who are currently sick. Visitors experiencing symptoms of a recognized communicable disease must stay home and will not be allowed on HISD premises.

  For more information on VIPS and to register as a volunteer: HoustonISD.org/VIPS. 

• Wireless hotspot devices will be made available to any student who does not have access to broadband internet at home. Parents should contact their campus for technology needs.

• Yes. Digital resources and learning materials are still available to all students and staff through the HISD HUB. These resources include digital lessons in the HUB, Imagine Math, Imagine Language, MyOn, and MackinVIA.

• Transportation Services is resuming normal operations and bus service at full capacity. Students and bus operators are highly encouraged to wear masks when needing additional layers of protection or are sick. Assigned seating is no longer required. 
  
  Students must sanitize their hands and scan their bus badge upon boarding. Buses will be cleaned and sanitized regularly with hospital-grade disinfectant as a precautionary measure. Each bus will be equipped with hand sanitizer, disinfectant, towels, and first aid supplies.
  
  All students are required to self-monitor and should stay home if they experience symptoms of a recognized communicable disease. 
  
  For more information, visit  
  HoustonISD.org/Transportation.

• Nutrition Services is resuming normal operations and offerings, including breakfast in the classroom and lunch in the cafeteria, as well as snack and dinner service at select campuses. All student health, medical, and special dietary needs, as well as allergy concerns, will be accommodated.
  
  When not actively eating or drinking, masks are highly encouraged for both students and staff who may need additional layers of protection or who are currently sick. 
  
  Assigned seating is no longer required.
  
  While campus water fountains will be fully functional, they will be available as refilling stations only. Students should not drink directly from water fountains and are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles to school each day.

• Campus curbside pickup for student meals is discontinued for the 2021-2022 school year, though occasional large-scale community food distributions may be held as needed. If such an event is scheduled, families will be notified. 
  
  If your family needs meal assistance, please submit a Student Assistance Form to  HISD’s Wraparound Services Department via HoustonISD.org/SAFhelp.

• Competitive food sales — food sold by schools, parent groups, booster clubs, and outside vendors — are prohibited.

• Competitions and practices, as well as extracurricular activities and performances, will take place following campus guidelines.
  
  All indoor and outdoor competitions, practices, and extracurricular activities/performances occurring at HISD facilities will allow spectators. 
  
  While no longer required, masks are highly encouraged for attendees needing additional layers of protection or are sick. 

• Non-athletic field trips, including enrichment and curricular trips, are permitted with no restrictions or limitations.

• Yes. All athletic competitions and practices and on-campus extracurricular activities are permitted following campus guidelines.

• TDLP is the district’s contingency plan for students with disabilities who have transitioned to temporary online learning due to COVID-19.

• Every student with disabilities who is enrolled on a physical HISD campus is eligible.

• TDLP is discussed and agreed-upon during the ARD-IEP committee meeting. It is an official ARD-IEP document and cannot be discussed or agreed upon outside of the ARD-IEP process.
• TDLP documents for students with disabilities include selected goals, accommodations, services that will be provided and the method of delivery (synchronous/asynchronous) to ensure continuity of learning while engaged in virtual instruction or remote conferencing.

• TDLP is not applicable when students with disabilities return to face-to-face instruction. Full execution of the IEP occurs upon the students return to face-to-face instruction.

• In-State Transfers: 30 days to conduct an ARD-IEP to address special education services for the incoming student. The TDLP must be addressed during the transfer ARD process. Students within the state of Texas, as a federal and state requirement, must have a virtual instruction or remote conferencing contingency plan or an ARD amendment to address student services. This document should accompany the incoming IEP. Should the need arise for virtual instruction or remote conferencing, execute with fidelity. This contingency plan/amendment must be executed and in place until the transfer ARD has been conducted.
• Out-of-State Transfers: For students receiving special education services that transfer from other states, the incoming IEP must be executed until the transfer ARD/IEP meeting occurs within the first 30 days of enrollment. These students may or may not have a virtual instruction or remote conferencing plan already in place. Should the need arise for the student to access virtual instruction or remote conferencing, the current IEP should be implemented to the maximum extent possible. An ARD/IEP meeting should be convened as soon as possible and a TDLP developed and reviewed. If special education services are not implemented during the period of virtual instruction or remote conferencing, then compensatory services should be considered at the next ARD/IEP meeting.