Humble ISD looks forward to working in partnership with students, parents, staff and the community throughout the 2020-2021 school year. The district will begin the year online and return students to campuses gradually — to support physical distancing on campuses, support staff and student adjustments to online platforms, implement safety procedures and parent choice.

All Humble ISD Students Will Begin Virtually on August 11, 2020

All Humble ISD students will begin the 2020-2021 school year with online learning on Tuesday, August 11. Teachers will take attendance daily (75,600 student minutes and 90% attendance are still required by TEA) and use this time to help students learn online platforms, introduce class and course expectations, begin to establish relationships, become familiar with safety procedures, and inspire curiosity and learning.  

Elementary students’ parents will be called by their child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, August 7. In addition, homeroom teachers for elementary school students will be viewable in Home Access Center (HAC) on Friday, August 7. School supply lists for elementary schools are posted at https://www.humbleisd.net/schoolsupplies.

All middle and high school students’ parents will receive communication from their campus by Monday, August 10. In addition, schedules for students will be viewable in HAC on August 10. Most middle and high schools teachers provide supply lists to students once classes begin. 

Each campus will provide more specific instructions for the first day of virtual school -- kicking off the 2020-2021 school year.  If families have not received campus-specific information by noon on August 10, they should contact the building principal(s).

Student Meals
Curbside student meals will be available for pickup from 15 locations throughout the school district beginning Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon. Federal funding for all students to eat free has ended. Students will be charged for meals according to eligibility (free, reduced, or full paid).  Meal service information will be emailed to all parents by Aug. 10. Beginning Aug. 24, meals will be served socially distanced on every campus for in-person learners. Curbside pickup sites will be established for virtual learners.

In-Person Phase-In For All Students Who Selected In-Person Learning

Self-Contained Special Education Students
On Monday, August 17, students in self-contained special education classrooms will transition from online learning to in-person learning if their parents chose on-campus instruction. (In a self-contained classroom, all students remain with their classroom teacher.) Teachers will reach out to all families and provide specific instructions and answer questions no later than Friday, August 14.

Elementary Students
On Monday, August 24, elementary students will transition from online learning to in-person learning if their parents chose on-campus instruction. Elementary classes will meet on campus every school day. Each campus will have their meet the teacher/parent orientation no later than August 10 and during this orientation, parents will learn the specifics about their particular class, grade-level, and campus.  Mrs. Luci Schulz, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools, has shared that all students will move together as families - staying distant from other classrooms/families and still enjoy recess, specials, and more. Students will not be confined to one classroom all day.

Middle and High School Students
Also on August 24, middle and high school students will transition from online learning to in-person learning (if their parents chose on campus instruction). Middle and high school students will attend on campus classes on an A/B schedule.  This schedule reduces the number of students on campus and in classrooms, halls, lunchrooms, etc. everyday and provides more opportunities for social distancing. All secondary families will have orientation by Friday, August 21. This orientation will provide students and parents an opportunity for an overview of the campus plans and how students will navigate the campus during this time period. Additional back to school events, such as virtual meet the teacher nights, and/or parent information nights, will be announced by the individual campuses.https://www.humbleisd.net/cms/lib/TX01001414/Centricity/Domain/13203/Secondary_Schedule_%20AB.png

The A/B schedule may continue up to October 12, with Fridays alternating week-to-week as illustrated above. The district will continue to monitor community health data to determine if the A/B schedule will continue up to October 12. October 12th represents the end of an eight-week transition period in which districts have permission to provide instruction in a hybrid model and still be fully funded by TEA. TEA provides an exemption for high schools to continue on an A/B schedule after October 12, if needed, to continue to reduce capacities on campus.

Please note: while on the A/B schedule,  accommodations can be made if students within a family have last names that are in different groups so that all students within a family can go to school on the same days. The alpha-split schedule, like limiting online platforms, works to support our families and is based on feedback we have received. Please contact your campus for assistance with this if needed.

Earning 75,600 Minutes and 90% Attendance Requirements for Students
Students must participate/engage in assignments and/or online instruction on days when they are not on campus to be counted present and meet the 90% TEA requirement.  

School Bus Transportation
Current bus information may be found via the attendance zones/bus routes link on the Humble ISD website.  For special needs pick up information, drivers will be contacting parents during the week of August 11 with stop times and route information.  Please contact Transportation at 281-641-8720 if you have further questions.

Online Learning
Humble ISD teachers are, and have been, participating in professional development as part of our commitment to excellence and high quality instruction in all forms of learning - in-person and online. While our teachers did a great job pivoting to online learning last spring, we have really raised the bar on online learning for this fall and our teachers are working very hard to create weeks at a glance, learning sets, and mastering online learning platforms. All online learning will be asynchronous (meaning that while teachers will post learning sets, resources, office hours, tutoring, and other opportunities, students will have the opportunity to be engaged on their own schedules).

Students who are virtual learners are expected to participate daily in an asynchronous fashion to meet the TEA attendance requirement.  Asynchronous learning allows students the flexibility to learn on their schedule; however, it also provides the opportunities and expectations that we have for all students.

UIL Performing Arts Participation
All students who are registered for face-to-face instruction should attend class on their designated A or B day beginning August 24.

Students may inquire with their director to find out if there is physical space available for them to attend class every day.  Directors will have the ability to approve additional requests based on the size of classes to ensure appropriate social distancing is maintained.

UIL Athletic Participation
Athletes who participate in middle and high school athletics may be on campus every day for their athletics period and practices. Student athletes who are in-season for their particular sport will be expected to attend their athletic period on A and B days. It is also an expectation that if they are in-season, they attend practice as well. 

Athletes who are in off-season for a particular sport are expected to attend athletic class on their designated A OR B day.  Student athletes may attend athletic class every day if they choose, but off-season athletes are not required to attend on their off day.

Middle school athletics will be extremely supportive of the challenges faced by middle school students and parents.  Coaches will work with their athletes and families to ensure they are not penalized for an inability to attend practice for some reason.

List of UIL/Performing Arts Classes That Students May Attend Everyday

All Athletics - Middle School and High School, including Cheerleading
High School Band
High School Orchestra
High School Choir
High School Theater Arts
High School Drill Team
6th/7th/8th Grade Band
6th/7th/8th Grade Orchestra
6th/7th/8th Grade Choir
Middle School Competitive Dance Team
Middle School Theater 2 

Middle Schools Return to Campus - End A/B Schedule
By Monday, October 12, middle schools will transition from an A/B schedule to a Monday-Friday regular schedule to meet current TEA guidelines and requirements. High schools will continue on an A/B schedule until there is a vaccine, COVID-19 positive rate is not over 5 percent, or updated metrics are available. TEA specifically allows high schools to continue a hybrid schedule throughout the 2020-2021 school year, if needed, to reduce building capacities and improve social distancing.  

Parent/Student Changes to In-Person or Online Learning
Humble ISD allows parents to change their choice anytime during the school year, not just at the end of a grading period. It is our goal to be flexible and supportive. The Learning Location Form and other information is available on the Back to School 2020 website. 

District Back To School Plans and Covid-19
Finally, Humble ISD has posted district-level information regarding the modifications we have made as a result of Covid-19 on our Back to School 2020 website by elementary, middle, and high school level. This includes warmly welcoming all PPE, changing our filters to MERV 13, adding HEPA air scrubbers, UV lights in HVAC systems, and much more. Please use this site for the most current and up-to-date information regarding safety. Information continues to change, and it is our goal to keep this site updated with the latest information available. 

Welcome back to a new year!

Back to School Dates Approved by Board of Trustees
Gradual Return to Campuses

• Aug. 11: All students begin the year online.
  Online learning remains an option for all students based on parent choice throughout 2020-2021.
  
  
• Aug. 17: In-person classes resume for self-contained special education students whose parents chose on campus.
  
  
• Aug. 24: In-person classes resume for elementary students whose parents chose on campus. In-person classes resume on A/B schedule for middle and high school students whose parents chose on campus. 
  
  
• Oct. 12: Middle schools move from A/B schedule to regular schedule. High schools continue on A/B schedule.

Dear Humble ISD Families,

As you know, Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton issued a statement and opinion yesterday that the county and/or city health officials cannot proactively close all schools in order to prevent disease spread. Please keep in mind that this is an AG opinion and not an order. The Harris County and City of Houston order remains in effect at this time even though the AG opinion says it is not a lawful order. We are currently working through all of these changing dynamics.

The first thing we are doing, based on the AG’s opinion, is restarting all UIL activities that were previously in session this summer -- per the UIL guidance. We have also decided to restart our 1:1 special education, pre-k, ESL, and advanced academics testing that had been underway.  These had been in session, are completely optional, and seemed to be going well. As part of a phased and careful reopening, we believe that these are important to continue, and we know that they are very important to our students, our families, and our staff.  Our staff wants to continue them.

Next, we are planning to begin instruction for all students on August 11. How that will look has not been finalized. As we consider the available options, it is very important that we have the most recent data available from all of you regarding what you and your healthcare providers feel is best for your children and for your family.  If you have not indicated your preference or if your preference for in-person, online, or online + UIL instruction has changed, please update your selection at your earliest convenience.

Humble ISD is a family. It is a partnership between educational professionals, families, and our community that is focused on one thing- what is best for our students. As such, it is the very best place for children to learn and grow in my opinion. Our Humble ISD family and its culture have been built on traditions of and commitments to innovation, honesty, transparency, trust, gratitude, collaboration, empowerment, and personalization. We empower the best situated staff and families to know our students and staff well and to make the decisions that are best for them -- as close to the person as possible. This is who we are. It can be difficult to hold true to your principles and your values/traditions during times like these but we are committed to doing so.

Therefore, I want to be clear that while all indicators of community health data appear to be improving, particularly in our part of the county, the virus is still here. The virus will likely be here on September 8, and in October, and probably in December. While I am not a medical professional, it appears that the virus is very light for some (asymptomatic), flu-like for others, and for some people can be life-threatening. Given this wide variation, it would make no sense for anyone (including me) to replace your judgement with ours. This is why it is very important that every single one of us work with the healthcare professionals we trust to determine the right path for our families and our children. Each one of us must engage in a risk analysis and make the best decision possible. For some of you, you have been clear that the risks of not returning, even if there come to be positive cases on campus, outweigh the risks of the virus. For others, you are not willing to risk the chance of being exposed to the virus. We support both of you!

Humble ISD is focused on what is best for our students and our staff. I do worry that five to seven months away from school is, and has been, a very long time for our students, and I know that we have staff who are eager and/or willing to return to face-to-face instruction. It seems those folks are a match and should be allowed to move forward cautiously. In addition, we warmly welcome all personal protective equipment (PPE) that staff and students wish to wear to protect themselves and others. I believe that for healthy individuals we can offer a safe return to school. Again the definition of healthy is between you and your healthcare providers. 

Therefore, again, we really need for you to update your preference, if you have changed your mind, to in person or online or online + UIL as soon as possible - on our Learning Location Form. These are the data we need to thoroughly review orders, opinions, desires, risks etc. in an effort to serve and support the entire Humble ISD community to the best of our abilities.  

Our teaching and learning department and our teachers have worked incredibly hard getting ready for online learning. Perhaps you have seen some of that on Twitter. I have been extraordinarily proud of the Humble ISD staff.  They amaze me.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the feedback and support from our families too. Your engagement has been more than impressive. 

Finally, we have always said we will monitor community health data and make any changes by August 1. We continue to do that. The County and City order plus the AG opinion have added a lot of complexity to this analysis; and our School Start Date Survey was completed under the belief/context that in-person learning was prohibited by the City and County order.  We understand that those data are only valid if the order is lawful and will be followed. Therefore, we will be finalizing all of our plans Monday and sending them out Tuesday. Our teachers will be reporting Monday, August 3, per the direction of their principal. 

Thank you for your patience and support as we work through this together.

Sincerely,
Liz Fagen

Dear Humble ISD Family,

We are moving up the closure of the School Start Date Survey to noon on Wednesday, July 29. Once the survey closes, results will be considered and the district will announce the school start date by Wednesday evening. We know everyone is eager to know when will be the first day of school!

Please keep in mind that TEA is still requiring 75,600 operational minutes for schools and 187 days for teachers in the 2020-2021 school year calendar, just as in prior school years. All options in the survey meet state requirements. 

Thank you to the over 18,000 parents and staff members who have already responded to the School Start Date Survey. The School Start Date Staff Survey was emailed on Friday, July 24, from HumbleISD_Connect@humbleisd.net with the subject line: Superintendent's Update and Parent Survey. This email sent to you included your unique link to take the survey. Please use this July 24th email to take the survey if you have not already done so.

After you submit your survey, you will receive an email: School Start Date Parent Response Received. If you would like to change or update your response, you may do so using the link in the response email by noon on Wednesday, July 29. 

Dear Humble ISD Families,

The Back to School website has been updated with the Learning Location Form that you may use if you want to change your choice of instructional setting for your children. In addition, students who are new to the district should use this form to make their choice upon completion of the enrollment process.  No action is needed if you are satisfied with the instructional setting that you already chose for your child. This form is only needed if making a change or to make your choice for the first time.

Humble ISD understands that each family has unique needs and that circumstances can change. We will allow parents to change their choice anytime throughout the school year -- not just at the end of a grading period. It is our goal to be flexible and supportive.

On Friday, July 24, Harris County prohibited on campus instruction from occurring until at least Tuesday, Sept.8. 

With this development, schools still will need to know your learning location choice so that they can make teacher assignments. 

• We ask that your choice reflect the learning location (on campus, online, or online with UIL Athletics and Performing Arts) that you want when schools are permitted to offer on campus instruction. The earliest on campus instruction will be available is Sept. 8 under the Harris County order.
• Be assured that you will be allowed to change your choice at any time.
• Changing your choice  may result in a teacher change to accomplish this switch. Some teachers will be assigned to online students. Some teachers will be assigned to on campus students. Both on campus and online teachers will be prepared to welcome and support students who switch from one instructional setting to another throughout the school year. Grades will transfer over from one setting to another.
• When making a switch, the processing time will be faster for students to go from on campus to online. For students who switch from online to on campus, schools will need a few days to determine the appropriate class for the student to join since class sizes must be balanced.
• If you did not respond  to the email or phone calls asking for your choice, an on campus schedule will be generated for your student as the default choice. You can change by completing the Learning Location Form.
• The State of Texas is funding both in person and online students. There is no financial benefit to the school system with one choice over the other.

In partnership with parents, we will model the spirit of personalization via the flexibility and innovation that characterizes our wonderful community.

Dear Humble ISD Families,

Humble ISD is committed to serving students in the setting (in person, online, or online + UIL) that each parent believes is in the best interest of their children. We believe preserving choices to personalize and meet needs is important. Each family’s circumstances, feelings and needs are unique and we are here to meet the needs of each one. We heard from many parents imploring us to stand firm on keeping in-person classes as an option and not delaying school. They shared that their children need to be in school, on campus, to thrive. Other families felt it was best for their children to learn online. We support all. 

In addition, just as we personalize for students, we are committed to meet the needs of our staff also. Our hope was that we would collect student choices, match them to staff needs, make health and safety adjustments to our operations, and be allowed to monitor conditions throughout July to make decisions that meet the most needs using the most current COVID-19 hospitalizations and testing data no later than August 1. 

However, that plan has been changed, as Harris County issued an order today that eliminates on-campus learning as a choice for all students until Tuesday, September 8.

• School Systems must not re-open schools for the 2020-2021 school year to students for on-campus, face-to-face instruction until after September 7, 2020.
  
  

• Virtual instruction is allowed consistent with individual district or school academic plans.  Instructors may use classrooms for video streaming if they are alone in the classroom and building occupancy does not exceed 10 percent. 
   

• All school sponsored events and activities, including but not limited to clubs, sports, extracurricular activities, fairs, exhibitions, academic and/or athletic competitions, must not take place in-person, on or off campus, until school systems resume on-campus instruction.  

Humble ISD will, of course, follow all orders. The district is considering several options and is seeking the input of parents and staff through a survey sent to them. This survey is open through Friday, July 31. 

Sincerely,

Liz Fagen

Dear Humble ISD Families,

Humble ISD is planning to begin the school year on Tuesday, August 11, offering on campus and online instruction to serve students in the setting that parents believe is best for their family. We are continually monitoring community health data and any changes to plans would be announced by August 1. We want to rely on the most current data. 

Our Back to School 2020 website has been updated with more information about the 2020-2021 school year. 

Highlights include:

• Safeguards on school buses and campuses to protect students and staff.
• An announcement that Humble ISD will allow changes between on campus and online anytime - not just at the end of a grading period. For a change to take effect by the first day of school on August 11, requests will need to be made from July 27 through August 2 for middle and high school students and August 3 for elementary school students.
• The updated A/B schedule for middle and high school students attending on campus. Students with last names A-K will attend Mondays and Wednesdays. Students with last names L-Z will attend Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays will alternate. This schedule will continue at least through Friday, Sept. 4.
• Details about online instruction, UIL Athletics and Fine Arts, and high school Career and Technical Education electives.

Please visit the website to learn more about:

• Choices for Parents
• Back to School and First Day
• Online Instruction
• On Campus Operations
• What if there is a case of COVID-19?

Staff members will receive information soon to answer questions we have received about leave and benefits. Our goal is to be flexible, innovative and supportive of our Humble ISD Family.