Editor's note: This story has been updated.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told education and legislative officials Sunday that schools could remain closed long-term — potentially through the remainder of the academic year — in regions with community spread of the novel coronavirus, including the Houston area.

In a conference call with superintendents, legislative officials and others, Morath said the state is “likely looking at large numbers of kids” possibly missing the rest of the school year, the Houston Chronicle has learned. He added it’s “marginally optimistic” to believe already-shuttered schools in areas with an outbreak will re-open within the next eight weeks.

Morath advised district leaders to begin preparing messages to parents notifying them that in-person classes could remain canceled beyond March.

State Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, publicly confirmed Morath’s comments, writing in a Facebook post that the commissioner said schools could be closed for many weeks or potentially months.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 56 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas, including 25 in the five-county Houston area, as of Sunday. However, health experts believe significantly more people have been infected and not yet tested. Local, state and national health officials have strongly encouraged people to distance themselves from others to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

As of Sunday afternoon, nearly half of Texas’ 1,200 districts have announced they will close campuses for much of March, according to data compiled and published by the Texas Education Agency. Gov. Greg Abbott has not issued a statewide order to shutter schools, leaving the decision to local leaders.

Nearly all Houston-area traditional and charter school districts have temporarily shut down buildings, according to the TEA. Most local districts have announced closures through Friday, though several education leaders told the Chronicle they are planning as if schools will be shuttered for significantly longer. Houston ISD, which is on spring break this week, is shut down through March 30.

The only remaining local districts still open are located on the outskirts of Greater Houston.

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Texas Education Agency officials have told districts they must continue to support students instructionally to avoid extending their school year, though they have given wide discretion on how to deliver educational materials and support to children. Districts across the Houston area have unveiled preliminary distance learning plans and continue to craft longer-term preparations.

Several of the region’s largest districts also will provide food to students at some campuses this week, including Houston, Cy-Fair, Katy, Fort Bend and Aldine ISDs. HISD officials announced Sunday that they will move to curbside delivery at 36 sites after hundreds of people lined up Saturday, often in close proximity, to receive food at Chavez High School.

“Social distancing is a key measure we must implement to prevent the spread of COVID-19, so adding curbside pickup and keeping lines spaced out are important steps,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said in a statement.

Morath said Sunday that state standardized testing would become “a moot point” if schools are closed for an extended period. On Monday morning, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he is waiving testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. The first round of widely-administered standardized tests, known as STAAR, were scheduled for early April.

The commissioner also warned Sunday that graduation and prom ceremonies likely would be impacted if schools remain closed long-term.

Federal officials have advised that available data suggests short- and medium-term school closures have no significant impact on stopping the virus’s spread. However, closures of eight weeks or more might have some impact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

New York City public schools, the nation’s largest district at about 1.1 million students, announced Sunday that it is shutting down for at least five weeks. About 20 governors have ordered statewide school closures.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com