Dear HISD Community:

I hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy healthy and quality family time during Spring Break. We wanted to provide you with an update regarding online and distance learning.

As we continue to address the COVID-19 school closure and adjust the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year, HISD staff have been working diligently to ensure that every student’s academic and non-academic needs will be met while school campuses are closed.

HISD @ H.O.M.E.

On Monday, March 23, the district will launch HISD @ H.O.M.E. (Home-based Online Mobile Education). Students and parents will be able to access HISD @ H.O.M.E. online on your school’s main landing page by clicking on the HISD @ HOME icon or visiting the site at: https://www.houstonisd.org/HOME.

Through HISD @ H.O.M.E., online student-directed lessons will be provided by content and grade level. Students can access the digital curriculum available through HISD @ H.O.M.E. with computers, laptops, tablets, iPads and smartphones. Instruction will be available online as follows:

Week of March 23: Students will be able to log in and interact with the digital resources

Week of March 30: Curriculum-based lessons and activities will go live

Webinars will be held to assist parents with accessing the digital instructional materials. The webinar schedule will be announced soon.

We understand that some families may not have access to internet or devices readily available to use. Beginning the week of March 23, teachers will reach out to families to determine each student’s needs regarding access to digital curriculum. This will assist campuses in determining the number of paper-based curriculum resources they will need to produce and provide to families. You can also fill out the online H.O.M.E. survey below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9VPFZ5Q

Continuing to meet our students’ non-academic needs during school closure remains a top priority. The HISD Department of Social and Emotional Learning is working on uploading online lessons, activities, and videos that students and parents can engage in at home. HISD Wraparound Services is also working on similar communication and virtual support for students. We will provide you with additional information on these services as they become readily available.

HISD is working around the clock to ensure our educators have the resources necessary to provide meaningful academic instruction to our children. We ask for your patience, support, and understanding as we roll out online learning.

School Choice

Regarding the application process for enrollment in a school choice program for the 2020-21 school year, Phase 1 and Phase 2 HISD transfer timelines have been extended:

K-12 Magnet and Program Choicetransfer wait lists will close on June 1, 2020.

Originally scheduled for March 30, 2020.

Phase 1 TEA Eligible preK-4 notification day on June 1, 2020.

Originally scheduled for May 1, 2020.

Phase 1 TEA Ineligible preK-4 (“tuition-based”) and PreK-3 notification day on June 21, 2020.

Originally scheduled for June 1, 2020.

For questions, email the HISD Office of School Choice at magnet@houstonisd.org or schoolchoice@houstonisd.org. More information on pre-K eligibility can also be found at ChooseHISD.com. Follow the link labeled “School Choice Pre-K FAQ.” Please note that these dates will be reviewed by HISD administration on an ongoing basis, and consideration of more delays will be factored in.

I want to thank you for taking all precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of your families. I know many of you have questions regarding the remainder of the academic year, and we will do our best to provide answers in a timely and thorough manner.

Please know that all district decisions are being made with health and safety as the top priority. We will continue to provide you with updates as they become available.

Sincerely,

Grenita F. Lathan, Ph.D.

HISD Interim Superintendent