Trustees will also consider state waiver requests on K-5 class sizes

The HISD Board of Education will consider Thursday expanding the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT) program, which engages parents directly in their children’s classroom success, by adding 30 additional campuses.

The APTT model replaces traditional parent-teacher conferences with three 75-minute group meetings involving all parents in the class, and one 30-minute individual session with the student, teacher and parents. During APTT meetings, teachers share student performance data and expectations for the class, review skills, and demonstrate hands-on activities parents can do at home to help their student master skills. Parents practice the activities with other parents in the class, and each family sets 60-day academic goals for their student.

Currently, APTT is being piloted in nine Houston Independent School District schools during the 2013–2014 school year: Fonwood Early Childhood Center; Durham, Garden Villas, Patterson, Pugh, Wharton, and Whittier elementary schools; and Sugar Grove and Welch middle schools.

Also on the agenda, the board will consider approval of spring class size waiver requests to the Texas Education Agency. The waivers are required if class sizes in kindergarten through fifth-grade surpass 22 students.

The board’s regular monthly meeting begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street). 

The board is scheduled to receive status updates on a number of projects and vote on several programs, contracts, and grants. For a full copy of the Board meeting agenda, click here.  The board meeting will be carried live on HISD’s website and on the HISD TV Channel, which can be found on Comcast Channel 18 or AT&T Channel 99.