Author Archives: HISD Communications

Houston ISD Meets Tougher State Accountability Standard

The Houston Independent School District earned an overall Met Standard rating under the new Texas school accountability system, the Texas Education Agency announced Thursday.

More than three-quarters – 78 percent – of individual HISD schools earned a Met Standard rating under the new system that seeks to measure whether students are on track to graduate ready for college and the workplace. Of the 210 HISD schools that were awarded a Met Standard rating, 154 earned an additional distinction designation for especially strong student progress, or achievement in math and/or reading/English language arts.

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Board of Education to Consider Partnership with Houston Community College to Open Two Middle College High Schools

Schools designed to serve students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out

The HISD Board of Education will consider a proposal Thursday to create a partnership with Houston Community College to open two Middle College High Schools focused on serving students who are in danger of dropping out of school or who have already dropped out.

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Families Required to Complete Application for HISD’s Free and Reduced Price Meals Program

Application available online and at all HISD campuses for 2013-2014 academic year

Families must complete an application for their children to qualify for free-and reduced-price meals and ensure their children start the school year with access to healthy meals.

Families can fill out their application at any HISD campus, at the HISD Food Services Support Facility (6801 Bennington Street), or online at www.mealapps.houstonisd.org.

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HISD boasts only CALEA accredited public school district police department in the nation

The Houston Independent School District Police Department has again been awarded the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation. HISD boasts the only accredited public school district police department in the nation.

The accreditation, which was first achieved in 2006 and has now been renewed for a second time, was accomplished through a highly regarded and broadly recognized body of professional standards and a review conducted by independent assessors and CALEA’s commissioners.

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Principals Get Fired Up by Keynote Speaker

Fantastic! Inspirational! Amazing!

These are a few of the comments overheard after keynote speaker Alan Hooker ended the Welcome Back Team HISD event for principals and their staff on Wednesday morning, Aug. 7, at Chavez High School.

Hooker, HISD’s Leadership Development Officer, talked specifically about how to be successful in realizing your dreams. His childhood dreams included becoming a basketball star in high school, even though he was only 5 foot 6 inches at the time. He grew tall and made the team. His college dream was playing football for the Dallas Cowboys, and sure enough, they recruited him.

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Architect for Sterling High School Seeks M/WBE Subcontractors

Sterling High School will be rebuilt by SHW Group, which is reaching out to the community to work with certified M/WBE subcontractors.

SHW Group, an educational facilities design firm, is seeking certified M/WBE subcontractors to assist with their work at Sterling High School, which is set to get a new campus under the district’s $1.89 billion bond program.

SHW Group’s Principal-in-Charge Jennifer Henrikson said the firm’s biggest goal in the 2012 bond program, which will replace or rebuild 40 schools across the city, is to do great work with the best team possible.

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Schools to be rated ‘Met Standard’ or ‘Improvement Required’ under new school rating system

School ratings are changing under a new accountability system that takes effect this year. The Texas Education Agency ratings will take into account a larger number of measures rather than being dependent on a single factor such as TAKS scores. Continue reading →

North Forest Families Urged to Complete Application for HISD’s Free and Reduced Price Meals Program

Application available online and at all HISD campuses for 2013-2014 academic year

The Houston Independent School District urges all North Forest families to complete an application with HISD’s Food Services Department as soon as possible in order for their children to qualify for free or reduced price meals during the 2013-2014 school year.

“Many of our families may not realize they need to apply each year for meal benefits,” HISD Food Services Senior Manager Brian Giles said. “It‘s important that they submit the application in order to qualify so their children can start the first day of school with healthy meals.”

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