Yearly Archives: 2012

Learn More about College Options at the Free Houston National College Fair

The Houston National College Fair will be held on Thursday April 12, 2012 at the Reliant Center (1 Reliant Park) in Hall A from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The event, which is FREE and open to the public, is sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Students and parents will be able to meet with representatives from more than 250 national, international, public, private, two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Counselors will be available to discuss individual admission requirements, financial assistance options, course offerings, and other information pertinent to the college-selection process. At the fair’s counseling center, students and parents can discuss their individual needs with college experts.

To make it easier to navigate the fair and to collect information from multiple schools, students are encouraged to register before attending the event. By registering in advance students can print a bar coded confirmation to be used on-site at the fair as an electronic ID. Online registration is available at https://www.gotomyncf.com/.
Houston Independent School District students who have already registered should check with the College Access Coordinator at their campus for their registration code.

HISD students continue to make great strides in the pursuit of higher education. In 2011, the number of HISD graduates accepted into 4- or- 2 year colleges and universities reached 88 percent. Additionally, the amount of scholarship money awarded to HISD students has steadily increased throughout the past few years. In the 2011 HISD students were offered nearly $130 million in scholarship money, compared to $81 million in 2009.

Now in its 40th year, the National College Fair program annually helps more than 650,000 students and families nationwide explore their options for higher education, making it one of the most visible college recruitment fairs in the country.

HISD Response to Issues Raised by Houston Educational Support Personnel Union

Student and employee safety is the top priority of the Houston Independent School District. HISD’s efforts to protect students and staff include a comprehensive school bus safety and student discipline strategy. HISD officials are aware of the student discipline concerns raised by the Houston Educational Support Personnel union and the district takes these concerns seriously. District officials are reviewing the Student Code of Conduct to determine whether revisions are necessary. This review will include an evaluation of the union’s request to include a more specific mechanism for suspending bus riding privileges for students with ongoing disciplinary issues.

Steps HISD has taken to ensure bus safety include:
• All bus drivers this year received four hours of student management training.
• Every HISD bus is equipped with at least two security video cameras.
• HISD transportation administrators conduct monthly roundtable discussions with employees at each bus terminal to hear employees’ concerns and address them.

HISD bus drivers are asked to report all disciplinary issues to their supervisors. The supervisors then investigate the incident by reviewing videotape, usually within 24 hours of receiving the complaint. Based on the results of the video, either the school and/or HSID police are informed of the incident and given the opportunity to review the video. Appropriate action is then taken by the school or police.

The HISD transportation department is unaware of any unresolved issues regarding specific incidents brought forward by bus drivers. Transportation officials have asked union officials to provide a list of specific instances in which they feel appropriate action was not taken, but we have received no such list at this point. If such a list is provided, HISD will investigate thoroughly.

Upcoming Motor Activities Training Program Challenge Day at T.H. Rogers School

It’s time once again for the T.H. Rogers School Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) Challenge Day. Each year this fun-filled event gives students with severe physical disabilities a chance to demonstrate their personal best in a variety of sporting events. A tropical luau will serve as the theme for this year’s MATP Challenge Day. Students, faculty, and staff from Barbara Bush Elementary and Memorial Elementary will also take part in the festivities.

Who: T.H. Rogers School MI/PSI Students, Parents, Faculty, and Staff

What: Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) Challenge Day

When: Friday, April 13, 2012, Opening Ceremonies: 9:30 a.m.

Where: 5840 San Felipe Road, Houston, 77057

National College Fair coming to Reliant Center

HISD students will have the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from nearly 260 colleges and universities at the Houston National College Fair on Thursday, April 12.

The event, which is organized by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Reliant Center (One Reliant Park, Houston, TX 77054). It will provide information about national and international schools, public and private universities, two-year and four-year programs, admissions requirements, and financial aid.

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TEA commissioner to approve STAAR EOC performance standards in mid-April

On April 5, the Texas Education Agency posted a revised timeline showing the commissioner approving STAAR end-of-course exam standards in mid-April:

March 26-29 STAAR Testing (grades 3-8 and EOC)
   Mid April EOC Standards Approved by Commissioner
   April 16 First meeting of the Academic Achievement Distinction Designation Committee (AADDC)
   April 24-27 STAAR Testing (grades 3-8)
   May 7-18 STAAR Testing (EOC)
   May Second meeting of the ATAC
   Early June EOC results available with standards

Click here to view the entire 2013 Accountability System Development Timeline.

HISD Students Selected as National Achievement Scholarship Winners

Five Houston Independent School District students have been named National Achievement Scholarship winners. Each student will receive a $2,500 dollar award. Each year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards scholarships to African-American students who have excelled in academics and who have demonstrated the potential for academic success in college.

800 students were awarded scholarships this year totaling more than $2 million dollars. Sixty of those students are from Texas including five students who attend HISD schools.
• Camryn K. Burkins – Carnegie Vanguard High School
• Somtochi I. Okafor – Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
• Frankie C. Mojekwu- Booker T. Washington High School
• Christopher B. Reed – Booker T. Washington High School
• Nicole C. Syder – Westside High School
Nationally, more than 160,000 students applied for the 2012 National Achievement Scholarships, which were awarded based on several criteria. Students had to demonstrate a consistent record of academic excellence. They had to be recommended by an official from their high school. Candidates had to earn SAT scores that confirmed their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test scores, and they also had to write an essay.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is a privately financed academic competition established in 1964 to recognize African-American students who have achieved exceptional scholastic success. This is the 48th year for the National Achievement Scholarships have been awarded. As a result of the program, 32,000 students have received scholarships for undergraduate study worth more than $100 million dollars.

Houston ISD Named a Finalist for Largest Education Prize in the Country

The Houston Independent School District was recognized today by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation as one of four finalists for the 2012 Broad Prize, an annual $1 million award that honors urban school districts that have made the highest gains in student achievement and in closing the achievement gap.

The award is the largest education prize in the country and HISD is one of only two school districts in the country to return as a finalist after receiving the honor.

A 2012 Broad Prize win would mean HISD’s 2013 graduating seniors would receive $550,000 in college scholarships. As a finalist, they are guaranteed at least $150,000.

Among the reasons the Broad Foundation listed for naming Houston ISD as a finalist were:

  • HISD’s African-American graduation rate improved faster than in other urban districts nationally. The graduation rate of Houston’s African-American students, as shown by the average of three nationally recognized graduation rate estimation methods, increased 13 percentage points from 2006 to 2009.
  • HISD increased the percentage of Hispanic and African-American students taking college readiness exams more quickly than other urban districts nationally.
  • Between 2008 and 2011, SAT participation rates for HISD’s Hispanic students increased by 15 percentage points.
  • In this same period, Advanced Placement (AP) exam participation by Hispanic students increased 13 percentage points, an average of about 4 percentage points per year-an improvement rate that ranked in the top 10 percent of all 75 Broad Prize-eligible districts.
  • And in 2011 alone, the percentage of HISD’s African-American students taking an AP exam-23 percent-ranked in the top 10 percent of Broad-Prize-eligible districts.
  • Similarly, the percent of HISD’s Hispanic students taking an AP exam in 2011—29 percent—ranked in the top 20 percent of eligible districts.
  • A greater percentage of Hispanic and low-income students reach advanced academic levels in Houston than in other urban districts in Texas.  In 2011, the percentage of HISD’s Hispanic students that performed at the highest achievement level (Commended) in math and science at all school levels (elementary, middle, high school) ranked in the top 30 percent statewide compared to Hispanic students in other Texas districts. In addition, the percentage of Houston’s low-income students that performed at the highest achievement level in math at all school levels and in elementary and middle school science ranked in the top 30 percent statewide compared to low-income students in other Texas districts.

The other finalists this year are: Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County, California, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida.

Educational researchers will be conducting a four-day visit to each finalist district over the next two months to interview parents, community leaders, school board members, and union representatives. They will also review qualitative data for each finalist.  A selection jury will then choose the winning district after reviewing each of the reports. The announcement will be made on Tuesday, October 23.

Public Hearings on HISD Budget Situation and Bell Schedule Proposal Begin Tonight

The first of 11 public meetings to gather input on a plan to add 19 minutes to the average school day with a uniform bell schedule for all Houston Independent School District campuses will be held tonight at three high schools.

  • Tuesday, April 3 – 6-7 p.m.
     Austin HS (1700 Dumble)
     Bellaire HS (5100 Maple Street)
     Chavez HS (8501 Howard)

Upcoming meetings:

  • April 4 (Wednesday) – 6-7 p.m.
    Lamar HS (3325 Westheimer) 
    Sharpstown HS (7504 Bissonnet)
    Waltrip HS – (1900 West 34th )
  • April 9 (Monday) – Noon-1 p.m. at the Hattie Mae Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street)
  • April 9 (Monday) – 6-7 p.m.
    Westside High School (14201 Briar Forest)
  • April 10 (Tuesday) – 6-7 p.m.
    Wheatley HS (4801 Providence)
    Worthing HS (9215 Scott)
    Yates HS (3703 Sampson)

HISD is looking for more ways to reduce spending as the district seeks to address a projected $34 million shortfall for the 2012-2013 school year. The shortfall is primarily a result of last year’s decision by the Texas Legislature to reduce public education funding by $5.3 billion.

Under the uniform bell schedule plan, every HISD school would have an instructional day that is 7 ½ hours long. This represents a 19-minute increase for the average HISD school, or a total of seven full days of extra instruction time over the course of the year. The 19 HISD schools that currently operate for more than 7 ½ hours per day would be allowed to continue offering the same amount of instructional time. The new schedule would save a projected $1.2 million.

Currently, HISD’s 279 schools have about 20 different start and end times. Under the proposal, schools would operate on the following bell schedule:

• Approximately half of all elementary schools would operate from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Approximately half of all elementary schools would operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• All middle schools would operate from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
• All high schools would operate from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Click here to see proposed bell schedules for all HISD elementary schools.
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Eastwood Academy students win “Best of Show” at career/technical education competition

A group of students from Eastwood Academy won “Best of Show” at the annual Skills USA Competition in Corpus Christi. The students had the highest score in their category, Computer Maintenance Modification.

Skills USA is a national student organization that supports career and technical education by serving as a bridge between public education and private business. The nonprofit serves 15,500 student and professional members enrolled in trade, technical, industrial, and health occupational programs.

On Eastwood’s winning team: Carlos Valdez, Odaly Palacios, Jesus Castillo, Estefany Perales, Richard Rebollar, and Emilio Martinez.