School and Childcare
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has provided guidance and support surrounding COVID-19. Their website, found here, has general resources, school closures, and more.
The TEA has also distributed guidance on instructional continuity in the event of extended school closures. Find that document here.
Below, you can find details on free meal policies and COVID-19 resources for each school district. You can find a Meal Finder map of locations throughout Texas here. We have also included childcare resources below school district listings, including a tool for first responders who need childcare.UPDATE: On Tuesday, March 31, Governor Abbott issued executive orders that include, among other things, the directive that all schools will remain closed until May 4, 2020 until further notice.
Aledo ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: Aledo ISD will offer free meal packages to all Aledo ISD children 18 and under beginning March 23. Meal packages include one lunch and one breakfast, and can pick up at McCall Elementary School between 10:00am and 12:00pm Monday - Friday. Some households qualify for meal delivery and should have been contacted via email on Friday, March 20. Details on pick-up guidelines are found here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/38UbEEeAdditional Details: Students, staff, parents, and the community can send questions or concerns related to COVID-19 to healthservices@aledoisd.org.
Arlington ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed indefinitely
Meal Plan Details: Each weekday during the duration of the closure, children will receive one packaged lunch meal and one light breakfast meal for the following morning. Children must be present at one of many pick-up sites each day between 11:00am and 1:00pm to receive meals. Meal options include a non-meat option and menus will be posted daily, including on the Arlington ISD Facebook page. Find details, menus, and a list of pick up sites on the Arlington ISD website here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2vpUqkbAdditional Details: Arlington ISD posted the following link to their At-Home Learning Hub: https://bit.ly/3ddi6JR
Birdville ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: Birdville ISD is offering curb-side pick up for lunches Monday - Friday between 11:00am and 1:00pm. There are 4 pick up sites each day for students to receive meals. Find the list of pick up sites on the Birdville ISD website here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/33mLwRbCarroll ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: N/A
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2wcgnDPCastleberry ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/3
Meal Plan Details: Castleberry ISD will have a meal pick up option beginning March 23 at three school locations: Joy James Elementary, Castleberry Elementary, and Castleberry High School. The pick up window is from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and includes lunch and breakfast for the following morning. They also offer dinner pick up between 4:30pm and 5:03pm. Find more details, including menu, on their website here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/33pRTmwCrowley ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed indefinitely
Meal Plan Details: Crowley ISD is offering free curb-side pick up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Monday - Friday service). Any child under 18 will be served; no student ID required and no requirement that the child attends Crowley ISD. Crowley ISD has a long list of pick up sites, and you can find the list and other details on the Crowley ISD website here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/3dhGs5cEagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: Children are eligible to receive breakfast and lunch with curb-side pick up on weekdays from March 17 until school closings end. There are 5 locations; breakfast pick up is from 8:00am - 9:00am, and lunch pick up is from 11:00am - 1:00pm. Find details on the EMS ISD website here (in the FAQ section) or on this flyer handout.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2UbYcGjEverman ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed indefinitely
Meal Plan Details: Everman ISD will provide lunch to all children under 18 from March 17 until school closings end. There are 3 pick up locations, and no student ID is required. Details and pick up locations are available in both English and Spanish on this flyer handout.
School District COVID-19 Link: N/AFort Worth ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed indefinitely
Meal Plan Details: Fort Worth ISD will provide healthy lunches Monday - Friday beginning March 17 with new food trucks at 9 locations. Each location has its own pick up times, and you can find the full list of locations, times, and details on the Fort Worth ISD website in both English and Spanish. They also have a Food Truck Map that you can find here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2IQEmeDGodley ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/4
Meal Plan Details: Godley ISD is offering students free breakfast and lunch through either home delivery or drive through pick up, beginning March 23. They are asking parents to reserve meals through this online form so they can meet demand and plan for food allergies and meal delivery frequency. Finalized procedures will be announced on Thursday, March 19.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/39WtyYdGrapevine-Colleyville ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will serve free curbside pick up meals at 3 school locations in the bus pick up and drop off area, Monday - Friday. Students do not have to be a student at the campus to qualify. Further details and pick up locations are on the Grapevine-Colleyville website here. They are continuing to evaluate if there is need for additional pick up locations.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/3cY1up8Additional Details: You can sign up through this link to receive up-to-date information through the duration of the closure.
HEB ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: HEB ISD will be serving grab-and-go breakfast and lunch to all children under 18 while the district is closed, Monday - Friday. There are 6 pick up locations. Find details and a list of pick up locations on the HEB ISD website here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2vnWoBAKeller ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/17
Meal Plan Details: Keller ISD students aged 19 and under are eligible for curbside pick up at 11 campus locations throughout the district. Pick up lasts from 11:00am - 1:00pm. Locations and details, including information on the Community Storehouse, are on the Keller ISD website here (under Coronavirus FAQs).
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/38VmREjKennedale ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/10
Meal Plan Details: Kennedale ISD is offering curbside pick up for any children 18 or younger beginning March 16, between 11:00am and 12:30pm. The designated pick up location is Patterson Elementary School. If you are unable to pick up meals and need assistance, you may email kisdneeds@kisdtx.net. Find further details in this Kennedale ISD update flyer.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2U7YtKmLake Worth ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed through 4/10
Meal Plan Details: Lake Worth ISD will provide free grab-and-go lunch and breakfast for the following day from 11:00am - 12:30pm. There are 3 pick up location: Howry Intermediate School, Lake Worth High School, and Collins Middle School. For more information, contact Child Nutrition Services at 817-306-4214.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/2Wiq3HBMansfield ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed indefinitely
Meal Plan Details: Mansfield ISD will serve grab-and-go lunches at 6 locations from March 16th until schools re-open, Monday - Friday. Children do not need to be a student to qualify. Menu details will be posted on the weekends. Locations, menu details, and more information is in this Mansfield ISD handout.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/3d1i1c9Additional Details: In addition to their main COVID-19 link, Mansfield ISD has a COVID-19 FAQ page here.
White Settlement ISD
School Closure Dates: Closed indefinitely
Meal Plan Details: White Settlement will offer free breakfast from 7:00am - 9:00am and free lunch from 11:00am - 1:00am, Monday - Friday at 2 pick up locations. There will be an additional distribution by the White Settlement ISD Paw (Food Pantry) on Wednesday, March 25 for qualifying families. Pick up locations and additional details are on the White Settlement ISD website here.
School District COVID-19 Link: https://bit.ly/33mftRcTexas Workforce Commission Subsidized Child Care Programs
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, many families and child care programs that participate in the TWC’s subsidized child care program have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, TWC’s three-member Commission approved the following actions to mitigate the impact:
- Effective March 1, 2020, children may accrue absences without impacting ongoing eligibility for services or provider reimbursements. TWC will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and make a future determination on when this absence policy will conclude. Providers will continue to be paid, if children are absent, or if the provider is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
- Workforce development boards are authorized to make supplemental payments to child care programs to cover lost parent share of cost payments. TWC will issue further guidance on calculating supplemental payments.
Child Care for First Responders and
Essential Business Workers
The FIND! Child Care tool is intended to serve working parents employed at essential businesses during the Tarrant County community response to the COVID-19 emergency. Access the tool here.
Child Care Provider Guidance
HHSC Child Care Licensing (CCL) urges all current providers to immediately implement the following guidance, which is consistent with the new requirements:
- Prohibit any person except the following from accessing an operation: operation staff; persons with legal authority to enter, including law enforcement officers, HHSC Child Care Licensing staff, and Department of Family and Protective Services staff; professionals providing services to children; children enrolled at the operation; and parents who have children enrolled and present at the operation.
- Before allowing entry into the operation, screen all of the individual listed above, including taking the temperature of each person upon arrival at the operation each day, and deny entry to any person who meets any of the following criteria:
- 1. A temperature of 100.4°F or above;
- 2. Signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and low-grade fever;
- 3. In the previous 14 days has had contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19; is under investigation for COVID-19; or is ill with a respiratory illness; or
- 4. In the previous 14 days has travelled internationally to
- countries with widespread, sustained community transmission.
- For updated information on affected countries, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/travelers/index.html
- Require pick up and drop off of children outside of the operation, unless you determine that there is a legitimate need for the parent to enter an operation.
- Ensure that each child is provided individual meals and snacks. Do not serve family style meals.
- CCL also will be issuing Frequently Asked Questions as early as possible next week. In the meantime, you can send any questions you may have to the licensing standards comments mailbox at MSC@hhsc.state.tx.us.
Please remember to sanitize your operations, wash hands diligently, andhave staff members stay home if they are sick. We also are encouraging providers to contact CCL with any questions you might have or technical assistance you might need.
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