Houston ISD officials have created an online portal for distance-learning tools that will serve students and parents throughout the extended closure caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The portal is named HISD @ H.O.M.E.

Accessible at the website houstonisd.org/home, the portal currently contains links to online learning applications, advice on creating an in-home school schedule and support for accessing digital tools. Starting March 31, HISD staff will begin posting more detailed curriculum and activities through the portal, as teachers provide more individualized instruction to students.

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HISD also is seeking responses to a survey, available here, asking about students’ technology and social welfare needs. District officials said staffers will be contacting families this week to gauge their access to technology, with plans to distribute paper materials to students who cannot access computers.

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said employees are reviewing their campus and district technology inventories to identify devices that can be given to children in need. Students with disabilities will receive first priority, she said.

“What I’m asking trustees, staff members and our parents is to be patient with us as we work through pushing out online learning,” Lathan said during an HISD board meeting Thursday.

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Districts across the region are launching similar portals, often with links to digital programs such as Imagine Learning and Edgenuity. Similar to HISD, many districts are still developing deeper plans this week.

Many districts also continue to provide daily curbside meal pickup, with locations and times available on each district’s website.

All Houston-area districts have canceled in-person classes through at least April 10, though there is a widespread belief that the closures will extend beyond that date. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has said a “large number” of Texas students could miss the remainder of the school year.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com

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