Category Archives: School days

The state of special education at HISD

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Still a lot of work to be done. Houston ISD’s quality of special education services remains in “grave” shape due to inadequate staffing, confusion among employees and a lack of accountability, according to a district-appointed committee reviewing the quality of … Continue reading →

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Looking beyond HISD’s one year reprieve

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, HISD has been in danger of sanctions from the TEA, which could include a state takeover of the district, because of several schools that had rated as “improvement needed” for multiple years in a row. They managed … Continue reading →

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July 2018 campaign finance reports: HISD

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Every level of government requires finance reports in January and June, whether or not there is an active election cycle in that year. That includes HISD and HCC, which are the last two groups I’ll be examining. I didn’t get … Continue reading →

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HISD avoids sanctions for this year

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Big sigh of relief. Houston ISD will avoid major state sanctions for at least one year after four of its longest-struggling schools met state academic standards this year, according to preliminary results released Wednesday. The announcement ensures the Texas Education … Continue reading →

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Lots of Harvey waivers out there

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

And good for the school districts that got them. The vast majority of Houston-area school districts will be eligible for academic accountability waivers this year due to Hurricane Harvey, meaning they will be labeled “not rated” unless they score an … Continue reading →

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Carranza’s parting shot

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been sitting with this for a couple of days, and ultimately decided it was not worth much more than a shrug. Former Houston ISD superintendent Richard Carranza did not mince words in an interview published this week about his … Continue reading →

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HISD is optimistic about not being taken over (yet)

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I hope it’s warranted. Several of Houston ISD’s longest-struggling elementary and middle schools posted significant gains on state standardized tests in 2018, including all three campuses that must meet Texas academic standards this year to avoid triggering major sanctions, according … Continue reading →

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Santa Fe ISD to install metal detectors

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

If that’s what they want… Metal detectors will be installed in all four of Santa Fe ISD’s campuses after its Board of Trustees voted to accept at least 16 devices that had been donated by two private companies and Lt. … Continue reading →

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HISD approves its budget

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, they took what they initially rejected. Houston ISD trustees unanimously passed a $2 billion budget Monday that is nearly identical to the one they narrowly rejected two weeks ago, signing off on significant cuts and agreeing to … Continue reading →

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Achieve 180 schools show encouraging gains

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news we could all use. One year into Achieve 180, early results show marked improvement at many of the district’s chronically underperforming schools. After years of falling behind academically, the 42 schools covered under HISD’s targeted improvement plan … Continue reading →

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“As the Board turns”

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

deep sigh Houston ISD Trustee Jolanda Jones publicly aired personal attacks and allegations against fellow school board members in online posts this week, chipping away at the board’s efforts to present a more collegial front in the face of administrative … Continue reading →

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HISD Board will need a budget do-over

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s never boring over there. Houston ISD trustees narrowly rejected the district’s proposed $2 billion budget, did not move forward with making Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan the district’s permanent leader and voted to end the employment of acclaimed Furr High … Continue reading →

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Chavez/Huerta Day

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about this. Houston ISD trustees are expected to vote Thursday on whether to establish a district holiday in honor of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, two iconic labor activists who helped win greater rights for farm workers across … Continue reading →

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The criteria for Harvey accountability waivers

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here they are. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath on Wednesday released the criteria he will use to decide how to waive state ratings for schools affected by Hurricane Harvey, more than nine months after it made landfall. Schools impacted by … Continue reading →

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HISD gets some public feedback

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Needed more opportunities for this from the beginning. Emotions continued to run high Thursday as residents offered both condemnation and support of Houston ISD Board of Trustees President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, whose leadership has been questioned following a raucous board meeting … Continue reading →

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HISD hoping for Harvey waiver

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what it would take to avoid TEA sanctions this year. Houston ISD’s 10 longest-struggling schools likely would not trigger major state sanctions this year if they all receive academic accountability waivers due to Hurricane Harvey, Texas Education Commissioner Mike … Continue reading →

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Santos calls on Skillern-Jones to step down as HISD President

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This happened last week. I’ve been waiting to see if there will be anything more to it. Houston ISD Trustee Elizabeth Santos on Thursday called for school board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, to “immediately step down” from her position in light … Continue reading →

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What might the TEA do with HISD?

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

They have some options, the best of which is probably to put the decision off for a year. A.J. Crabill knows what it’s like to close schools. In 2010, Crabill, then a 30-year-old member of the Kansas City, Missouri, school … Continue reading →

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HISD nixes charter partnership

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

First there was this. Houston ISD board members adjourned late Tuesday without voting on a controversial measure to give up control over 10 low-performing schools after the meeting turned physical and police escorted members of the public — nearly all … Continue reading →

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HISD considers charter partnership

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

They’ve got to do something to keep the TEA at bay. Energized For STEM Academy Inc., an organization run by NAACP Houston Branch President James Douglas and former Houston ISD trustee Paula Harris, has been selected as the potential partner … Continue reading →

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Houston Youth Walkout

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good work, y’all. Chanting for gun-law reform and reduced firearm violence, an estimated 2,000-plus students marched to City Hall Friday morning as part of nationwide school walkouts. The Houston Youth Walkout, believed to be the largest local out-of-class gathering to … Continue reading →

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No Houston-HISD partnership

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Probably just as well. Mayor Sylvester Turner has ruled out any partnership with Houston ISD to turn around 10 chronically under-performing schools, saying Wednesday he will not be part of the school district’s forthcoming proposal aimed at avoiding a state … Continue reading →

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Many more school districts are feeling the pinch

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not just HISD. Not by a long shot. For eight-straight years, Cypress-Fairbanks and Conroe ISDs earned the Texas Smart Schools Award, bestowed on school districts with prudent financial practices and high academic achievement. Now, Cypress-Fairbanks faces a $50 million deficit … Continue reading →

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Harvey-affected schools may get a break on the STAAR test

Posted on April 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas school districts hit hard by Hurricane Harvey may not have to worry as much about how well their students fare in this year’s standardized tests, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath announced Wednesday at a meeting of the … Continue reading →

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Just don’t call it “Mexican-American studies”

Posted on April 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The SBOE does its thing. Texas advocates for Mexican-American studies classes won a bitter victory Wednesday, gaining approval to move forward with the class they wanted but losing the course title. The State Board of Education had been debating more … Continue reading →

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A clean separation

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Well done. Former Houston ISD superintendent Richard Carranza’s resignation from the district involved no financial settlements, and the two sides agreed not to sue each other following the separation, according to documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle. A written agreement … Continue reading →

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HISD will not change its funding mechanism

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not this year, at least. Houston ISD officials have abandoned plans to overhaul the way the district funds its schools, opting to keep HISD’s long-standing financing system as they work to fill a $115 million budget deficit. Schools will continue … Continue reading →

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What role might the city have in HISD?

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The possibility that the city could have any role at all with HISD is itself interesting. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he has been asked to get “very, very, very involved” in Houston ISD as it faces potentially severe state … Continue reading →

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HISD chooses partnerships for low-performing schools

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

In the same story as the one with the news about interim HISD Superintendent Grenita Lathan, we get this news as well: HISD administrators are recommending the district temporarily surrender significant control over 10 chronically underperforming schools as part of … Continue reading →

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HISD names an interim Superintendent

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations! Houston ISD trustees unanimously appointed Grenita Lathan as interim superintendent late Thursday, elevating the district’s chief academic officer about two weeks after Richard Carranza announced he’s stepping down. Lathan, 48, will serve as acting superintendent starting Friday, then become … Continue reading →

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There should be plenty of interest in the HISD Superintendent job

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what the Board is prepping for. HISD trustees likely will have no shortage of potential candidates from the across the country willing to take over for Superintendent Richard Carranza, who announced last Monday that he will leave the district … Continue reading →

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No decision on Carranza replacement yet

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Tabled for now, but likely not for long. Houston ISD trustees on Thursday opted not to appoint an interim superintendent at a school board meeting, leaving it unclear who will run the district after Superintendent Richard Carranza’s anticipated departure later … Continue reading →

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Carranza departs

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This sure came as a surprise. As Houston ISD officials wrestle with how to fill a $115 million budget shortfall, stave off a potential state takeover and work to recover after Hurricane Harvey, Superintendent Richard Carranza announced Monday he would … Continue reading →

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HISD’s budget deficit is a little smaller

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of good news. Houston ISD administrators do not expect to cut magnet programs or re-open the magnet application process ahead of the 2018-19 school year, an announcement likely to ease fears among parents who send their children to … Continue reading →

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