Category Archives: Parents

Transportation Services announces new tools for parents

Parents of students riding HISD buses now have two new tools designed to ensure better bus service for students and better customer service for parents with transportation-related questions and concerns. 

Beginning this school year, Transportation Services is launching the bus tracking app SafeStop and Let’s Talk!, an easy-to-use, online program that aims to streamline communication between Transportation Services and parents and school staff.  

“We want to provide an easy-to-use service that will help parents who utilize our service,” Transportation Services General Manager John Wilcots IV said. “Increased effectiveness in our operations and our customer service continues to be our main goal for Transportation Services this year.” 

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HISD to host Back to School Extravaganza for 2019-2020 school year

HISD’s Homeless Education Office will host a Back to School Extravaganza on Friday, Aug. 23 to help students get ready for the 2019-2020 school year. 

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Delmar Stadium (2020 Mangum Road 77092). 

Free assistance will be available for Medicaid applications, Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) renewal and recertification, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Health screenings also will be available. 

Also available for free, while supplies last, will be immunizations (must bring original shot record), fresh produce, backpacks, shoes, and school supplies. Students must be present to receive free items. 

For transportation assistance, contact the Homeless Education Office at 713-556-7237.

How and when to access your child’s STAAR results

Beginning June 12, parents can access their child’s STAAR results and a suite of other resources to support summer learning at home by visiting TexasAssessment.gov. HISD schools will also receive paper copies of the STAAR Report Card to distribute to parents over the summer.  

HISD also maintains a STAAR page on the district website that contains instructions in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese on how to access STAAR scores, testing calendars, FAQs, sample test questions, STAAR policies, and much more. There are also STAAR policies regarding testing and tips to prepare your child for STAAR.  

For questions, please contact your child’s principal or counselor.

Register by July 12 for mayor’s Back to School Fest

Click here to view flyer

Registration is now open for Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Back to School Fest, an annual event that helps elementary students across the city access the free resources they need for a successful school year, such as school supplies, backpacks, and medical services.

All participants must register for an appointment by Friday, July 12 in order to attend. To register, visit this link. Families may also register by calling 311 or 713-837-0311 to request an appointment.

The event, held in partnership with Shell and the University of Houston, is a great opportunity for Houston families to take advantage of an array of resources provided by the City of Houston and other sponsors.

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HISD’s Ascending to Men Project will host roundtable discussion with students and community leaders

The Houston Independent School District’s Ascending to Men (ATM) Project will host a roundtable discussion next week with students and community leaders to foster dialogue centered around issues impacting today’s youth.

The discussion will take place from 6 – 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 28 at Jack Yates High School. Dinner will be provided beginning at 5:30 p.m. Participants will discuss the qualities of successful students, while sharing examples of how they can reach their personal and academic goals.

Participants will also share their own perspectives on the importance of developing quality mentorships and the impact they can have on a student’s success.

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Help make this a prom to remember for HISD students

HISD’s Homeless Education Office is requesting donations of formal attire for hundreds of homeless and at-risk high school seniors planning to attend their prom.

The homeless office is requesting formal dresses, shoes, handbags, and jewelry for girls and tuxedo rentals, men’s shirts, and men’s shoes for boys.

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HISD launches #FixSchoolFinance toolkit to push school finance reform  

The Houston Independent School District has created a #FixSchoolFinance toolkit to equip public education supporters with the necessary information to effectively advocate for school finance reform.

This educational tool provides an overview of the challenges with the current system, outlines proposed solutions, and serves as a platform for direct communication with key lawmakers during the 2019 Texas Legislative Session.

For the past year, HISD has been part of a statewide coalition of school districts, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders educating the public and emphasizing the need for meaningful changes to the state’s school finance system. Reforming school finance and reducing recapture are top priorities for HISD during the 86th Texas Legislature.  Continue reading →

New Parent University session scheduled for Feb. 21  

HISD will host its fourth Parent University workshop from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21 at five locations throughout the district: Revere Middle School, and Chavez, Kashmere, Worthing and Challenge Early College high schools.

The theme for the session will be “Supporting Your Child’s Safety, Social and Emotional Growth.” The workshop will begin with a dinner and resource fair and will include information on district programs, parent engagement, community resources, and how parents can become active partners in the successful education of their children.  Continue reading →

Transportation Services to host Coffee & Conversations, add new stops

Transportation Services will host its third round of Coffee & Conversations on Wednesday — an opportunity for the department to share important updates and progress, as well as gather feedback to better identify ongoing challenges.

The bi-monthly meetings are normally held in the morning and evening at rotating locations. This time, the group will gather at Transportation Services’ Northwest Terminal and Eastwood Academy.

In the morning session, Interim General Manager John Wilcots IV will guide attendees on a tour of an HISD school bus to demonstrate the features of Zonar, a fleet management and tracking system implemented earlier this school year. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education hosting meetings to gather input on superintendent search

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent, and trustees are seeking input from the community about the qualities and traits they would like to see in their next district leader.

HISD Board of Education trustees have scheduled several meetings to gather feedback from the community that will be used to develop a superintendent candidate profile. The dates and times for the meetings are listed below.

In March, Dr. Grenita Lathan was named by trustees as HISD’s interim superintendent. Lathan will continue to serve in that capacity during the duration of the search.  Continue reading →