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Dear HISD Parent:

After careful consideration, we have decided not to move forward with a proposal to adopt the Year-Round Designation with the Texas Education Agency, which would have allowed for an amended 11-month academic calendar for the 2020-21 school year.

I want to thank you for providing feedback on the proposed calendar changes. Your participation and input are essential as we make important decisions regarding the 2020-21 school year.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and recent increase in cases, we determined the best course of action is to keep the existing 2020-21 academic year calendar, which provides for a later start date, with the addition of 10 targeted remediation days or Academic Boot Camps for students who may have fallen behind academically due to COVID-19. The later start date provides the district an opportunity to monitor the pattern of COVID-19 cases and make necessary adjustments as it relates to in-person, virtual learning, or a combination of the two.

We also want to be responsive to feedback received regarding week-long intersessional breaks during the school year being a difficult option for many parents.

Academic Boot Camps will be offered August 18-20 and during the Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks. The camps will provide additional instructional hours for students identified as requiring further instruction in one or more content areas.

The first day of school for students not identified as requiring additional instructional hours will be Monday, August 24. The updated 2020-21 academic calendar, which includes the 10 optional Academic Boot Camp Days, can be viewed here.

As a reminder, in order to guide decision-making, align academic and social/emotional supports, and increase equity in the 2020-2021 school year, the HISD Research and Accountability Department has launched a districtwide HISD COVID-19 Response Parent Survey, which runs through July 2. Parents are asked to complete the survey online at HoustonISD.org/ParentSurvey. Included in the survey are general questions, as well as questions about each child’s experience with remote learning.

Thank you for your continued support, participation, and partnership as we work diligently to support our students and families and prepare for the 2020-21 school year.

Sincerely,


Grenita F. Lathan, Ph.D.
HISD Interim Superintendent