Category Archives: Parents

HISD provides supports for parents of special education students

The Houston Independent School District is committed to providing instructional resources to parents of students with disabilities during this time away from school buildings as well as multiple ways to engage children in meaningful learning experiences. 

HISD has updated the special education section of the HISD @ H.O.M.E page to enhance the organization of resources and tools for virtual instruction.

For example, if a student is accessing learning in a Structured Learning Class (SLC), there is a section with resources specific to students being served in this setting. There are also sections for additional placements to include: Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Preparing Students for Independence (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living (SLL), and Structured Learning Class- Alternative (SLC-Alt). 

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HISD to stay closed for remainder of 2019-2020 school year

In accordance with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement today for all Texas schools, the Houston Independent School District will stay closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

This decision comes in response to a new executive order by Gov. Abbott to continue safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 and that all public and private schools should not reopen for the current school year. Through the end of the school year on June 1, the district will continue online learning and virtual operations at the district level.

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New food distribution sites announced for week of April 20

The Houston Independent School District is extending its food distribution program through the week of April 20 and announcing 25 new food distribution sites throughout the district.

Nutrition Services staff will continue to pack food bags at the Hexser T. Holliday Food Services Support Facility and deliver them to the distribution sites. Each site can distribute up to 500 bags — or 15,000 pounds of food — per day.

HISD, Houston Food Bank partner for massive community food distribution effort at NRG on Saturday

As families arrive at sites, nutrition staff minimize contact by filling out the required Emergency Food Assistance Program forms for families and placing food in the trunks of their vehicles. Participants who walk to the sites also must adhere to social distancing requirements.

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HISD, Houston Food Bank partner for massive community food distribution effort at NRG on Saturday

The Houston Independent School District is partnering with the Houston Food Bank to organize a mass food distribution site from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday in the parking lot of NRG Stadium.

The goal is to accommodate working families who are unable to visit HISD-sponsored distribution sites during the weekday. The site is expected to distribute 3,000 food bags — or 90,000 pounds of food — in three hours.

New food distribution sites announced for week of April 20

 “Every week at our other food distribution sites we have been able to serve hundreds of families in need,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “Our mission is to continue to help as we partner with the Houston Food Bank and other entities to ensure our students and their loved ones do not go hungry.”

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HISD to launch HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline to support distance learning

The Houston Independent School District will be launching the HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline starting Monday, April 13, to provide timely answers to questions from students and parents about distance learning.

Starting on April 13, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., students and parents can call the HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline at 713-556-INFO (4636). Operators will be on hand to answer questions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic. The hotline will remain in place for as long as it is needed to support the transition to at-home learning.

“We are working diligently to offer equitable at-home learning support during this unprecedented crisis,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “We hope this hotline will be a key resource for students and parents who might have questions about our district’s distance learning, HISD @ H.O.M.E.”

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Pre-K application process transitions to online only

Due to the districtwide closure and current restrictions involving social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the application process for pre-K is now online only.

HISD is currently accepting applications for its full-day pre-K program at schools across the district, offering more 3- and 4-year-old students in our community with the opportunity to attend a high-quality program that will build a strong foundation of learning.

Due to precautions surrounding the coronavirus, pre-K application and enrollment timelines have been adjusted:

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HISD to host Social-Emotional Learning at-home webinar

The HISD Social and Emotional Learning Department will host a webinar for parents next week to guide them as they adjust to distance learning.

“Incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) At Home” will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Parents and students will learn ways to incorporate SEL practices into their daily routines, understand the importance of mindfulness, and learn exercises and techniques that can be done by adults and students of all ages.

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HISD to host SEL Parent Webinar

The HISD Social and Emotional Learning Department will host a webinar for parents this week to guide them as they adjust to distance learning.

The webinar, titled “Coping Strategies for Parents” will be held on Wednesday, April 8 at 2 p.m. This is part of a weekly webinar series that provides social-emotional learning tools to HISD parents and students.

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HISD joins state agencies in campaign to promote healthy habits to prevent spread of COVID-19

The Houston Independent School District is joining the Texas Division of State Health Services and Texas Education Agency as the agencies roll out the “Apart We Stand Together” public health campaign.

The campaign’s goal is to ensure all school districts statewide and broader communities have access to a comprehensive set of information and resources about COVID-19.

The campaign will include easy access to health resources and information, with the goal of keeping Texas residents – from the smallest towns to the largest cities – healthier and safer as we all battle the spread of COVID-19

This public health guidance is based on what scientists know about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Find more information at Texas.gov/Covid19, and continue to follow updates from HISD at HoustonISD.org/HealthAlerts.

HISD extends districtwide closure, will continue online instruction

With the federal government extending social distancing guidelines through the end of April, the Houston Independent School District will remain closed, providing online instruction until further notice.

In addition to the federal guidelines, this decision comes in response to the new executive order by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday to close all Texas schools until May 4. During this time, we will continue remote learning.

Until traditional classroom instruction resumes, the district has launched HISD @ H.O.M.E. (Home-based Online Mobile Education), a distance learning plan to ensure students’ academic and non-academic needs are met as the district remains closed due to COVID-19 precautions.

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