Houston ISD cancels school through March 30, nearly all other districts closed next week

Victor Parache, 6, left, and Emiliano Arango, 7, use the hand sanitizer at the Heights Boys and Girls Club, in Houston,Thursday, March 12, 2020. While local health officials are still recommending that schools remain open amid coronavirus fears, the looming threat of canceling K-12 classes means parents are making child care plans and local organizations are making preliminary plans to accommodate kids. Experts said the region’s experience with recent natural disasters and the gradual ramp-up of the coronavirus gives time for agencies to make preparations. Still, parents are concerned about student health and school cancellations could be difficult for working parents without easy access to child care. less Victor Parache, 6, left, and Emiliano Arango, 7, use the hand sanitizer at the Heights Boys and Girls Club, in Houston,Thursday, March 12, 2020. While local health officials are still recommending that schools ... more Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 107 Caption Close Houston ISD cancels school through March 30, nearly all other districts closed next week 1 / 107 Back to Gallery

Houston ISD officials announced Thursday that classes will be canceled through March 30, while nearly all of the Houston area's largest school districts declared they are closing through at least next week, amid concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus.

Alief and Spring Branch ISDs also said they are canceling Friday's classes. Both districts, as well as HISD, are on spring break next week.

HISD's announcement follows the closure of Houston Community College's Felix Fraga Academic Campus, which the district also uses, after officials identified "potential exposure" to COVID-19.

"As we receive new information, that's how we make a new decision on whether we close one campus or we close districtwide," Lathan said at the end of a hurried school board meeting.

More than 20 districts currently on spring break preemptively announced their closure in rapid succession Thursday afternoon, citing the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them were Cypress-Fairbanks, Fort Bend, Conroe, Katy, Humble and Spring ISDs. Most said they would be closed through March 20, but that may change as the situation changes.

No districts have reported cases of coronavirus infecting staff members or students, but health officials expect the number of confirmed cases to rise in the coming days as the virus spreads and testing increases.

The announcements come after Harris County Judge Lina Hildago asked schools to stay open. She worried that health and emergencies workers would be unable to do their jobs if they opt to stay home and watch their children. She added that research showed that when schools closed during the spread of the H1N1 virus, not much changed.

Here is an unofficial list of districts that have announced closures:

Aldine ISD

Alief ISD

Alvin ISD

Angleton ISD

Brazosport ISD

Channelview ISD

Clear Creek ISD

Conroe ISD

Crosby ISD

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

Deer Park ISD

Dickinson ISD

Fort Bend ISD

Friendswood ISD

Galena Park ISD

Galveston ISD

Houston ISD

Humble ISD

Katy ISD

Klein ISD

La Porte ISD

Lamar CISD

Magnolia ISD

Pasadena ISD

Pearland ISD

Santa Fe ISD

Sheldon ISD

Splendora ISD

Spring ISD

Spring Branch ISD

Stafford MSD

Texas City ISD

Tomball ISD

YES Prep Public Schools

Houston, Alief and Spring Branch ISDs are scheduled for spring break next week.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.