In the unlikely event of an emergency, Young Learners and its sites follow the policies of the agencies that house our programs. Below please find a listing of the links to the websites of our partner agencies. We have also included the policy of HISD below, one of our site partners, for your information.

The Houston Independent School District wants to assure parents that it is doing everything possible to keep all of its schools safe. Please be assured that there is no reason to believe that any HISD schools or facilities are targets of terrorism; nevertheless, all locations have adopted plans that address a variety of crisis situations. In addition, staff members have met with the Houston Police Department, the Houston Fire Department, the FBI, and other government agencies with emergency responsibilities. HISD’s procedures are fully in line with those recommended for all school districts.

In case of chemical or biological release, schools will implement Shelter-In-Place procedures. The procedures require that every child and adult seek immediate shelter inside a pre-determined place in the school to avoid direct inhalation of fumes. They would remain indoors until the proper authorities instruct the schools otherwise. For the safety of the children, parents would be asked to refrain from picking up their children from school and wait for further instructions through the media.

In an effort to keep our children’s fears to a minimum, HISD suggests that you do the following:

Help your children feel safe. Let them talk about their fears and worries. Stick to family routines that help children feel comfortable and secure. Reassure them that parents, teachers, doctors, and government officials are doing everything possible to keep them safe and healthy.
Limit children’s viewing of television news. Children may be frightened, overwhelmed, or traumatized by news reports about bio-terrorism. Supervise what they watch on television. When they do watch, be sure to allow for family discussion time during and after viewing to let them air their fears and concerns.
Arm yourself with the facts. Education is your best protection against unnecessary fear. Your children will be less fearful if they see that you are not afraid and if you spend time with them answering all of their questions.

For more information on emergency preparedness, see the HISD website.

*This article was reprinted from the HISD article, "Emergency Information for Parents."