April 5 Deadline Approaching for Magnet School Entrance Agreements

Students who have been accepted to a magnet school program for the 2013-2014 school year must sign and return the school’s entrance agreement postmarked by this Friday, April 5. On Monday, April 8, school magnet coordinators will begin making phone calls to offer spots to waitlisted students. Student positions on each school’s wait list were determined by a lottery.

Students who are still looking at school options, including waitlisted students, those who have recently moved into the district, students in private or charter schools and students who may want to apply to different types of magnet programs, are invited to attend the third annual Houston ISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 27, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, located at 4400 West 18th Street.
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HISD Forms New Committee to Guide 21st Century School Design Under 2012 Bond

13-member expert panel will address educational, technology, environmental needs

HISD has set up a new committee of Houston-area architects, educators, engineers, futurists, lawyers, and building experts to help advise the district on project team selection, facility planning, and design as it moves forward with the 2012 bond program to build or renovate 40 schools.

“Our goal is to ensure we have the best quality bond program possible,” said Dan Bankhead, general manager of facility design. “By creating this committee, we have assembled a notable group of innovative thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and industry leaders to assist us and provide invaluable advice during the planning and design process.”

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NFL Player and HISD Grad Donates Computers to Marshall Middle Students

Professional football player and HISD alumnus Moran Norris recently recognized ten Marshall Middle School students for academic excellence and citizenship. Each of the students received a free computer courtesy of the Moran Norris Foundation, which aims to help youth succeed through education and character. Continue reading →

Texas Education Agency Orders North Forest ISD Annexed into Houston ISD

The Texas Education Agency on Monday upheld the state education commissioner’s order for the North Forest Independent School District closed and annexed into the Houston Independent School District effective July 1.

According to the TEA, Education Commissioner Michael Williams based his decision on North Forest’s track record of poor academic performance and low high school completion rate.  His decision was upheld Monday by Chief Deputy Commissioner Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds.  North Forest’s elected school board now has the option of appealing the decision to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which could uphold or reverse the decision.

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HISD and UST to Launch Second Master’s Degree Program

Classes start on August 26, 2013, for the second cohort of the University of Saint Thomas (UST) Master’s Degree Program, an innovative partnership between HISD and UST geared towards producing entrepreneurial and innovative school leaders.

Graduates of this two-and-a-half-year program will have the business, education, and management skills needed to lead successful urban schools—as well as to obtain principal certification.
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Autism Awareness Month begins; HISD Wears Blue to Mark ‘Light It Up Blue’ Day

April is Autism Awareness Month, and in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, communities across the globe are being asked to “Light It Up Blue” on April 2.

Staffers around HISD wore blue shirts, shoes and other items to signify “Light It Up Blue” day.

Only about 1,375 students have been identified with autism spectrum disorders in HISD (a figure that represents less than one percent of the district’s entire student population), but Autism Support Team Coordinator Lorraine Klim-Drew says that because more are being diagnosed every day, it’s still important to increase awareness on this subject.
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Students and Staff Gearing up for STAAR

Schools holding tutorials and competitions to prepare for exam 

Westside High School students prepare for STAAR testing. Click photo to see Austin High School's STAAR efforts.

HISD students and teachers across the district are getting the word out about the upcoming STAAR exam, and some are using their creative and artistic side. Over at Austin High School students and staff formed teams to compete in a hallway decorating contest to see who could create and design the best STAAR display. Some of the themes included Godzilla, Mario Brothers and even Hollywood.

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Hispanic Advisory Committee Urged to Help Get Word Out About 2012 Bond

Members of HISD's Hispanic Advisory Committee hears an update on the 2012 bond program.

A key part of the 2012 bond program is keeping Houston’s diverse communities up-to-date on what’s happening at their neighborhood schools.

Assisting in that effort is HISD’s Hispanic Advisory Committee, which heard firsthand Thursday about its important role in reaching out to the city’s Latino residents.

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HISD Repeats as Broad Prize Finalist

Houston among nation’s top four urban districts for second straight year 

For the second consecutive year, HISD has emerged from the pack of the nation’s 75 largest school districts to be named a finalist for the most coveted honor a public school system can win: The Broad Prize for Urban Education.

Houston ISD high school seniors are now guaranteed at least $150,000 and as much as $550,000 in college scholarships if the district wins the top prize.  The award is given to the one urban school district in America that has consistently demonstrated the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students.  Finalists were determined based upon a wide-ranging review of student achievement data from the 2008-2009 school year through the 2011-2012 school year in an effort to reward consistency.

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Annual ‘Hooray for Neff’ Event Showcases Young Students’ Musical and Artistic Talents

Event in collaboration with the Houston Grand Opera

What: HISD’s Neff Early Learning Center, in collaboration with the Houston Grand Opera, continues its tradition of displaying the young students’ artistic and musical talents at the annual ‘Hooray for Neff’ performance and exhibition on Thursday.  Throughout the academic year, with the support of the Houston Grand Opera, the students create art, learn how to use technology, and practice singing, dancing, and performing in preparation for this grand event.  The Houston Grand Opera provides the school with supplies and resources, as well as guest performers that work with the students on their artistic projects.

The Houston Grand Opera collaborates with the Rice University’s Center for Education for support to fund this project at Neff Early Learning Center.

Who: Neff Elementary students, parents and community members

When: Thursday, March 28, 2013; 9a.m. – 10a.m. (Performance), 10a.m. – 1p.m. (Exhibits)

Where: Neff Early Learning Center, 8200 Carvel Lane, Houston, TX 77036