Category Archives: School days

Grading Texas science classes

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We get a C. Texas public school science courses “pay lip service” to critical content and largely ignore evolution in the middle grades, according to a national education foundation study that gives the state of Texas an overall “C” for … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

On taking AP tests

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I guess I’m not clear on what the issue is here. Since 2009, the number of AP exams taken by Houston Independent School District students has almost doubled. And last year the district reached its highest number of passing scores, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Dis-Harmony

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting story about the Harmony charter schools, which are right up there with KIPP and YES Prep among the top charters. They seem to attract a fair amount of criticism, more than their peers, for how they do their business, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Audit says HISD isn’t cost sensitive enough

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

An audit of HISD’s procurement process says the district could be paying too much for some things. The audit, conducted by the nonprofit Council of the Great City Schools, found that the district’s purchasing standards “under-value” a vendor’s proposed price … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More algebra, please

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I applaud HISD for doing this. A handful of campuses in the Houston Independent School District are experimenting with placing their best math students in algebra in seventh grade – two years before most take the class. The earlier they … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A field guide to the school finance lawsuits

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib has a handy overview of the school finance lawsuits – who the plaintiffs are, who their lawyers are, and on what grounds they are suing. Among other things, it shows that I was correct in saying that there … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A field guide to the school finance lawsuits

Another reason to support local food

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Bettina Elias Siegel of The Lunch Tray takes to the op-ed pages to give another reason for supporting local businesses, by changing HISD’s practices for how school lunches are provided. Food service management companies (FSMCs) like Aramark are, above all … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Another reason to support local food

And then there were three

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Three school finance lawsuits, that is. Flanked by Edgewood Superintendent Jose Cervantes, parents, students and community leaders from Texas districts, MALDEF attorney David Hinojosa highlighted three key claims in its suit at a press conference Tuesday. The lawsuit claims the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On calculating graduation rates

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Education Agency publishes graduation rates for all Texas public schools every year. Some people and organizations disagree with their methodology, saying they assume too many departing students wind up in school elsewhere or are homeschooled rather than counting … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We haven’t forgotten Manuel Rodriguez

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Neil has the details of a planned protest to call for the resignation of HISD Trustee Manuel Rodriguez at the next HISD Board meeting on December 8. Click over to see the what, when, and where. It occurs to me … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Teacher evaluations

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

HISD is gearing up to implement a new teacher evaluation system, but not without a fight first. The Houston Federation of Teachers has launched what is expected to be a protracted battle to void the new evaluation. It starts with … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Teacher evaluations

Magnet changes coming

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD Board of Trustees is getting ready to offer specific proposals to reform the magnet school program. Trustees and Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier suggested magnet programs that draw few students from outside their neighborhoods were at … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Magnet changes coming

More schools join the lawsuits

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Lubbock: The Lubbock Independent School District announced Monday they will join the Texas Taxpayer and Student Fairness Coalition in an equity lawsuit against the state. Simply put, LISD is receiving less money per student because they are one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More schools join the lawsuits

From the “Don’t know much about history” department

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, your State Board of Education at work. A report ripping the new social studies standards for schoolchildren offers recommendations for how teachers can best skirt its shortcomings — although a state agency responsible for the group that … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on From the “Don’t know much about history” department

HISD to take over North Forest ISD

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to be a challenge, assuming it does go forward. The North Forest Independent School District is nearing the end of its appeals to stay open, paving the way for Houston ISD to take over. State education commissioner … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Back to magnet schools

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Magent Awareness Week in HISD, and the Board of Trustees will be reviewing a new magnet school policy along the way. A proposed new policy, released by HISD last week, calls for the creation of a new funding model … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Back to magnet schools

More school districts looking at school finance lawsuit

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From San Antonio. Trustees of the area’s two largest school districts — North East and Northside — on Tuesday deliberated about joining a lawsuit against the state over what some consider to be an inadequate and inequitable education funding system. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Class size issues are everywhere

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We know that waiver requests to exceed the 22 student class size limit are way up. But that mandated limit is only for grades K through 4. What about higher grade levels? Patricia Kilday Hart reports that those classrooms are … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

McAllen ISD goes digital

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a look at the future, coming to a school near you. A Rio Grande Valley school district plans to equip every one of its 25,000 students with Apple iPads, rolling ahead with a digitally enhanced curriculum effort that’s among … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on McAllen ISD goes digital

More classrooms with more kids

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We all knew this was coming, but the numbers are more than I expected. Thousands of Texas public schoolchildren are in more crowded classes this year as districts claim financial hardship following state budget cuts. The number of elementary school … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Time to evaluate Grier

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s performance review time for HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. The elected nine-member school board uses an evaluation form that consists of data measurements in categories such as the increase in student college readiness; recruiting and retaining the best teachers and … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Time to evaluate Grier

HISD to join school finance lawsuit

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Houston school board committed Thursday to suing the state, adding to a growing list of districts taking legal action to force Texas lawmakers to improve the way they fund public education. Trustees of the Houston Independent School District … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HISD tightens ethics rules

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Houston school board agreed Thursday to tighten its ethics rules to prevent trustees from meeting with vendors and from accepting certain campaign donations during open bids. […] Board members would not be able to attend meetings with vendors … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD tightens ethics rules

The $25,000 question

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

What the hell? A $25,000 campaign contribution to a Houston school board member normally would raise eyebrows for its size. Add in the fact that the donation was not listed in the trustee’s financial disclosure forms, and the five-figure check … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

First school finance lawsuit filed

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

More will follow, it’s just a matter of when and how many. A coalition representing public school districts, taxpayers and parents filed a lawsuit against the state in Travis County district court Monday night. The Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Another school finance lawsuit update

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib brings some news about the impending school finance lawsuits. Yes, lawsuits – there are two in the works. The Equity Center’s lawsuit will focus on fairness, attacking the target revenue system established in 2006 when lawmakers reduced the … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another school finance lawsuit update

HISD considers revamping ethics rules

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This all seems like a good idea. Houston school trustees, who now may accept campaign cash from anyone at any time, would face new restrictions under a proposal meant to curb improper influence in the school district’s business deals. The … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

More districts will join in school finance lawsuit

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Coming soon to a courtroom near you. School districts will throw everything short of the kitchen sink into their upcoming lawsuit against the state of Texas for shortchanging public education, a lead attorney in the case said Tuesday. “We are … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More districts will join in school finance lawsuit

More things that schools have to deal with that isn’t in their budgets

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Droughts and wildfires. The drought across Texas has lasted nearly 12 months, and it doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. In fact, La Niña, the intermittent Pacific Ocean phenomenon that caused the drought, is back and strengthening. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on More things that schools have to deal with that isn’t in their budgets

Even in Midland

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Fact-based sex education replaces mythical thinking in Midland. And they said it couldn’t be done. In the spring, public school students in Midland will cross what until very recently was the political third rail of sex education. For the first … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

High school firefighting classes

Posted on September 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This is interesting. Seeking to tighten spending, the Austin Fire Department last year decided to ax a program at LBJ High School that allowed students to become certified to be firefighters upon graduation. But the Austin school district has decided … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , | Comments Off on High school firefighting classes

The high school football tax

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You may not be paying more in property taxes, but if you have a kid in public school, or maybe if you just know someone who has a kid in public school, you’re probably paying more for something. High school … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The high school football tax

Inevitable school finance lawsuit update

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Duly noted. Superintendents from several low and medium-wealth school districts appear ready to sue the state over its school finance system as early as October. Wayne Pierce, executive director the Equity Center – a group representing 690 districts – said … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Inevitable school finance lawsuit update

Back to school

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Time to do more with less, kids. Just don’t expect to be cut any slack on those standardized tests. When Texas students return to public schools this week, some will see a slight uptick in class sizes and fewer teachers, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Back to school