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HISD REOPENING PLAN FOR THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR
Download reopening plan and Communicable Disease Plan (CDP) ▶
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The Houston Independent School District has developed a plan to deliver quality education during the upcoming 2020-2021 school year while ensuring the health and safety of our students, families and staff.
With this in mind, all students will begin the 2020-2021 school year virtually on September 8, 2020.
Virtual instruction for all students will continue for six weeks through Friday, October 16, 2020. On Monday, October 19, 2020, face-to-face instruction for all students will begin. However, this date is subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions across the City of Houston and recommendations from local, state, and federal health officials.
Because it’s important for parents to have the ultimate choice on determining what is best for their child, parents will have the option to opt out of face-to-face instruction entirely for the fall semester and school year.
Parents who choose this option will be asked to complete the 2020-2021 Parent Introduction to Virtual Learning Online Course by September 4, 2020. The course will be available on August 10, 2020.
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Once the transition to face-to-face instruction begins, all HISD students and employees will be screened before entering any HISD building. They will also be required to wear appropriate masks, hand-wash routinely, and adhere to physical distancing requirements. Additionally, it will be mandatory for nurses, custodial staff, food service workers, and special education staff to wear gloves.
These protocols were developed in part by the HISD Communicable Disease Plan Task Force, a group of key employees, educators, parents, community members, and health care officials. The task force was charged with reviewing safety guidance from local, state, and federal health and education officials. The district also considered feedback from parent and teacher surveys distributed over the summer.
During virtual instruction, to ensure learning is uninterrupted, the HISD Academics team developed an Instructional Continuity Plan. The plan provides a robust framework that expands on the current HISD @ H.O.M.E. at-home learning platform and provides additional guidance and support for any future extended periods of closure.
We are confident this is the best course going forward to ensure both the educational success of our students and the health and safety of our school communities. And as we get updated guidance from state and health officials, we may implement changes to this plan.
Together, let’s reconnect safely and return strong for 2020-2021!
Reopening
Timeline Fall 2020
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REOPENING PLAN
All students will begin the 2020-2021 school year virtually on September 8, 2020. Virtual instruction for all students will continue for six weeks through Friday, October 16, 2020
On Monday, October 19, 2020, face-to-face instruction for students will begin. This date is subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions across the city of Houston and guidance from local, state, and federal health officials.
Parents will have the option to opt out of face-to-face instruction entirely for the fall semester and 2020-2021 school year. Parents who select online-only must attend a virtual class outlining expectations and sign an agreement committing to virtual learning.
Here is a timeline for the re-opening dates:
- September 8, 2020: First day of school (Virtual only)
- October 19, 2020: Face-to-face instruction begins – subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions across the city of Houston and guidance from local, state, and federal health officials.
- September 8 – January 29: First semester of remote learning for students/parents who choose online-only instruction.
*Parents will have the option to choose remote instruction for the fall semester (through January 29) or entire school year (through June 11).
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LEARNING OPTIONS
Virtual Learning
- Asynchronous instruction model does not require real-time interaction
- Technology drives communication and instruction
- Governed by HISD Instructional Continuity Plan approved by Texas Education Agency
In-Person Learning
- Traditional face-to-face classroom instruction during school day
- Technology supports learning
- Governed by Texas Education Agency and HISD policies
Grading Policy
Students enrolled in remote instruction follow the same grading guidelines as in-person instruction. Teachers receive support and guidance on effective grading practices to ensure that grading guidelines are followed in both instructional models. Teachers will be expected to measure student progress by grading at least two assignments per week. Teachers will post grades on a weekly basis.
Courses taken as Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment will be subject to the grading policies of the Institution of Higher Education (IHE) issuing the college credit.
Additional information on grades:
- Grades will be taken during each grading cycle of the 2020-2021 school year.
- All cycle grades will be used in the calculation of the final average for any class.
- Final exams will be administered for all high school credit courses.
- Teachers will be recording grades, which will be available for parents and students to access through the HISD Connect Parent Portal (log-in information will be provided by campuses).
Attendance
Students who are engaged in daily learning as defined below will be considered “present” and will not be marked absent.
- Participation in the HUB, the HISD Learning Management System (LMS) and completion of independent reading and work assignments.
- Interaction with teacher via Microsoft Teams as part of live or small group instruction.
- Submission of assignment(s) via the HUB.
- When unable to submit via the HUB, students can submit assignments via emails, photos, phone conferences or other forms of documentation.
Students who have not met at least one of the three requirements above by the following times will be marked absent:
- Elementary schools - 2:30 p.m.
- Middle & K-8 schools – 3:30 p.m.
- High schools – 3:30 p.m.
Absences can be resolved if the student engages in daily learning assigned by their teachers by 11:59 p.m. that same day. Parents and students will receive absence notifications via School Messenger after 6:00 p.m. each day and will be reminded of the opportunity to resolve that day’s absence if the student engages in learning before 11:59 p.m. of the same day. Any absences recorded, but resolved by the student before 11:59 p.m. on the same day, will be reconciled based on login records of the HUB or with teacher verification.
If a student is engaged in remote learning and completes the entire weeks’ worth of learning activities on Monday and does not log in for the remainder of the week, he/she will be marked “present” on Monday only and counted “absent” for Tuesday-Friday.
State law TEC §25.092 and Houston ISD Policy still require students to attend at least 90% of their classes to receive credit and be promoted. Remote attendance will count in the same manner as on-campus (face-to-face) attendance in satisfying this requirement.
Instructional Continuity Plan
The district’s Instructional Continuity Plan will expand upon the current HISD @ H.O.M.E. system with the objective of providing additional guidance and support during this time. This plan will bring clear expectations to the amount of time students will need to devote to schooling each day and throughout the week. We have also updated the resources that are available for students and teachers to use during virtual learning.
Learning Resources
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HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
The district has developed health and safety protocols to ensure the safety of students and staff. Protocols developed by the district include school entry screening, physical distancing, personal protective equipment, hygiene, cleaning and disenfection, and infection.
Communicable Disease Plan Task Force
In May 2020, HISD formed a Communicable Disease Plan (CDP) Task Force — a working group made up of employees, educators, parents, community members, and healthcare officials.The task force was charged with reviewing guidance from local, state, and federal health and education officials, as well as feedback from HISD parent and teacher surveys, and then providing recommendations that prioritize health and safety.
The group has worked diligently to identify ways HISD could return students and teachers to classrooms and employees to office workspaces while following public health guidelines and mitigating transmission of COVID-19.
The HISD Communicable Disease Plan outlines its recommendations — as well as accompanying procedures, protocol, challenges, and needs — for all facets of the country’s seventh-largest school district.
- Download HISD Communicable Disease Plan (CDP)
- Download CDP Task Force Executive Summary
- Download HISD CDP Reopening Fact Sheet (English)
- Download HISD CDP Reopening Fact Sheet (Spanish)
- Download HISD CDP Reopening Fact Sheet (Vietnamese)
- Download HISD CDP Reopening Fact Sheet (Arabic)
Health Resources
- COVID-19 Updates
For COVID-19 health related resources and information, visit www.houstonisd.org/healthalerts.
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NUTRITION
- HISD Nutrition Services is committed to serving good food to students that fuels their learning and helps them to build a lifetime of healthy habits.
- During the online-only first six weeks of school, from Sept. 8 until Oct. 16, curbside meals will be provided at select schools.
- When in-person learning resumes on Oct. 19, Nutrition Services will provide pre-packaged student meals in classrooms and cafeterias.
- Curbside pickup for student meals will continue to be offered for students who opt to continue virtual learning after Oct. 19.
- Employees will continue to accommodate student health, medical, and special dietary needs, as well as allergy concerns.
- Visit HoustonISD.org/StudentMeals for the latest information on school meals.
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TECHNOLOGY
- The district remains committed to assisting all students in need of technology.
- HISD will continue to provide students with technology needed to participate in virtual learning (Laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, internet hot spots)
- All HISD high school students are provided laptops through the district’s PowerUp program.
- We encourage all HISD families to contact their school if they are in need of technology.
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ENROLLMENT
- Enrollment for new students will continue to be handled at the campus levels. Parents should reach out to schools they are interested in enrolling their children in for assistance.
- Parents can find the school their child is zoned to attend and contact-information by visiting www.houstonisd.org/findaschool.
- Parents new to HISD who are interested in enrolling their children in a magnet or choice program may apply for programs that have space available. Please visit www.chooseHISD.com, email schoolchoice@houstonisd.org or call 713-556-6734 for additional information or to request assistance.
- There are still spots available for parents to enroll their children in Pre-K programs. Information on pre-k program availability and eligibility is available at www.chooseHISD.com and www.houstonisd.org/prek. Parents should contact and apply directly with the schools they are interested in.
- The district is exploring ways for parents to electronically complete the HISD enrollment packet and submit the accompanying documentation; however, currently, paper-based submission is required at most campuses.
- Parents can currently submit enrollment forms and documentation. However, please be aware the enrollment system is currently down for maintenance and requests will not be processed until after August 17, 2020. For more information, visit www.houstonisd.org/enroll.
2020-2021 enrollment form (English)
2020-2021 enrollment form (Spanish)
Frequently Asked Questions
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How is the district determining whether to close a school due to positive or presumed positive COVID-19 cases?
Should a school or building need to close, HISD Health and Medical Services will make that decision on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Houston Health Department. The decision will be based on all the evidence and the totality of the circumstances in alignment with CDC guidelines.
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What is the plan for the 2020-2021 school year?
All students will begin the 2020-2021 school year virtually on September 8, 2020. Virtual instruction for all students will continue for six weeks through Friday, October 16, 2020.
On Monday, October 19, 2020, face-to-face instruction for all students will begin. However, this date is subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions across the city of Houston and recommendations from local, state, and federal health officials.
Parents will have the option to opt out of face-to-face instruction entirely for the fall semester and school year.
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What is the timeline?
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September 8, 2020: First day of school (Virtual only)
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October 19, 2020: Face-to-face instruction begins – subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions across the city of Houston and guidance from local, state, and federal health officials.
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September 8 – January 29: First semester of remote learning for students/parents who choose online-only instruction.
*Parents will have the option to choose remote instruction for the fall semester (through January 29) or entire school year (through June 11).
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How was the reopening plan formulated?
The HISD Communicable Disease Plan Task Force, a group of key employees, educators, parents, community members, and health care officials, was charged with reviewing safety guidance from local, state, and federal health and education officials. The district also considered feedback from parent and teacher surveys distributed over the summer. The HISD Academics team developed an Instructional Continuity Plan to ensure that learning will continue throughout the year. This plan provides a robust framework that expands on the current HISD @ H.O.M.E. at-home learning platform and provides additional guidance and support for any future extended periods of closure.
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Will parents have the option to continue virtual instruction for their students?
Yes. Parents may elect to have their children continue to participate in virtual instruction for a portion of the year or the entire school year.
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What will be required from parents who decide to continue remote instruction?
Parents choosing this option must attend a virtual class outlining expectations and sign an agreement committing to virtual learning for the semester.
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What information will be used to determine whether to keep or push back the target date?
The district will remain in close contact with federal, state and local health and education officials and make necessary adjustments to the target dates for in-person instruction if COVID-19 conditions change.
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What is the plan for return of school staff members to campuses?
August 24th - September 4th (Teachers report virtually)
September 8th – October 16th (1st six weeks of instruction will be virtual)
All other district employees will continue to work virtually and will be notified by their direct supervisor regarding the date they will be expected to return to the office.
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What safety protocols will be in place at district schools and facilities?
Safety protocols will include requiring all HISD employees, students, and visitors to undergo entry screenings, wear face coverings, wash hands regularly, and practice physical distancing. The district will provide enough hand soap, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant to accommodate frequent cleaning of high-touch areas. Additionally, it will be mandatory for nurses, custodial staff, food service workers, and special education staff to wear gloves.
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Will visitors on school campuses be limited?
Yes. Visitation is limited to essential visitors with pre-scheduled appointments.
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What should classrooms look like to ensure physical distancing measures are in place?
Classrooms must be reconfigured to ensure 6 feet of physical distancing between desks whenever possible. Reduced space would only be implemented as needed, with the goal continuing to be to place as much space as possible between desks. Student assemblies will be held virtually. All campus-based employees and students must follow infection and high-touch area protocols. Schools should limit visitors and assign a team to notify their communities of the updated visitation procedures. Campuses must establish isolation areas for students and adults who are flagged during entry screening or become ill during the day.
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How will physical distancing measures be ensured on school buses? Which students will be eligible for transportation?
Transportation Services will require physical distancing on buses with students required to wear masks and drivers required to wear masks, gloves, and face shields. Upon boarding, students must sanitize their hands, scan their badge, and fill seats from back to front, sitting one per seat by the window. Buses will be sanitized after each drop-off and deep cleaned and disinfected weekly. Four-to-six windows will be down whenever possible for circulation. The department also has implement contingency plans for responding to bus riders and drivers who develop a presumed or confirmed case of COVID-19. Because physical distancing drastically reduces bus capacity, bus service for in-person instruction will be limited to special education, homeless, elementary, and specialty school students. Service may also be provided to some students in middle school and those who live along high-risk routes if resources are available.
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How often will schools be sanitized?
HISD Facilities, Maintenance, and Operations employees will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding the cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection of district facilities. The district will provide enough hand soap, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant to accommodate frequent cleaning of high-touch areas.
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Will a student lose his/her magnet school placement if they choose virtual instruction?
No. A student will not lose their magnet school placement.
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How do parents obtain technology for their child(ren) during virtual learning?
Parents should contact their campus for technology needed for virtual learning.
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Will students be provided meals at school?
Nutrition Services will provide pre-packaged student meals in classrooms and cafeterias. Curbside pickup also will be available for students who opt to continue virtual learning after in-person learning resumes. Employees will continue to accommodate student health, medical, and special dietary needs, as well as allergy concerns. Department employees will follow public health hygiene recommendations and enhance custodial cleaning and surface disinfection.
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What will extracurricular and fine arts activities look like in the fall?
Extracurricular activities will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must follow the same safety practices employed on school campuses during the school day. School-based extracurricular activities will resume when in-person instruction begins. Face coverings must be made available to and worn by students and teachers during all extracurricular activities. Student sporting events are tentatively scheduled for the fall, but HISD Athletics will adjust plans as needed if COVID-19 conditions change. Fine Arts will reduce class sizes and maintain guidelines for physical distancing. Students will not be allowed to share personal belongings, equipment or other items, including computers and uniforms. Dance students must have their own water bottle, hand sanitizer, mask, dance shoes, and/or dance bag.
Varsity games will be held at district stadiums with limited fans. Sub varsity games will be held on campus with no fans. At sporting events, marching bands will be limited to a 26-person pep squad and no more than 10 cheerleaders can cheer on the sidelines at any time.
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Will any field trips take place in the fall?
Field trips for all grade levels will not be held until the district receives guidance that it has been deemed safe for students to visit non-HISD facilities.
HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline
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Students and parents can call the HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 713-556-INFO (4636) with questions regarding virtual learning.
Operators will be on hand to answer questions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
