Latest news with #HISD
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bill to replace STAAR exam with new testing system
AUSTIN, Texas - A major shift in student testing could be coming to Texas classrooms. Lawmakers in the state House have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would eliminate the STAAR exam and replace it with a new assessment system aimed at reducing testing pressure and giving teachers faster feedback. House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), would end the use of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) — the standardized test used since 2012 for students in grades three through 11. In its place, students would take three shorter tests spread throughout the school year. The bill passed the House on a 143–1 vote. "What we found is when you have assessments and accountability without a focus on instruction, you simply have high-stakes testing," Buckley said during floor discussion. Supporters say the new tests would provide results within 24 hours, allowing teachers to immediately identify areas where students need help. The assessments would also be designed to allow comparisons between Texas students and their peers in other states and countries. Opposition to STAAR has grown among educators and parents, especially in large districts like Houston ISD, where critics argue that the current testing system creates unnecessary stress without improving outcomes. Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-Houston) questioned how the bill would affect districts like HISD, which is currently under control of the Texas Education Agency, and subject to increased testing oversight. "How will HB4 help or hurt HISD given that it's currently under TEA control and subject to constant testing and reporting demands?" Jones asked. Buckley responded that the bill would create a uniform standard across Texas, regardless of local governance models or interventions. What's next The bill now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are divided over the timeline. According to the Texas Tribune, while the House calls for the new system to begin this fall, the Senate has proposed delaying implementation until 2028. The Source Fox 26 gathered information from the 2025 Texas Legislative Session.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Students discover disturbing truth about their cafeteria meals and demand action: 'Younger generations … have to think about their future'
Students in the Houston Independent School District are challenging the area's choice of lunch trays. According to the Houston Chronicle, a trio of fourth-grade students, Celine David, Maddie Wood, and Dora Cabarcas, are leading the charge against the district's single-use, Styrofoam lunch trays. "We believe that HISD school district should provide schools with better, environmentally friendly, healthy and safer materials for our school cafeteria," Wood said. Polystyrene is a serious problem for the environment; it contributes massively to the Earth's plastic pollution problem, as it sits in landfills for centuries because it doesn't fully decompose naturally. What it does do, though, is break apart, creating tiny particles of plastic that wind up in the environment, polluting the soil and waterways, and wreaking environmental havoc. On top of that, while it can be an effective and food-safe material to make trays out of, hot or fatty foods can cause it to leach chemicals, making it far less safe. These students aren't the only ones trying to find ways to combat plastic pollution. A company in Europe is trying to push for more recyclable plastics used in containers, while researchers in Japan are working on a biodegradable plastic that dissolves in salt water. And a Finnish company is exploring the possibility of making plastic using carbon capture technology. The trio of students met with Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles in early April and noted that switching to reusable or biodegradable trays would remove 22 million Styrofoam trays from landfills each year. They proposed several alternatives, including reusable plastic or bamboo trays, as well as trays made from sugar cane that could have a cheaper upfront cost. "Older people might think, 'Oh, well, it doesn't really bother me if the world gets covered in trash, because I'm not going to be alive then,'" Cabarcas said. "But the younger generations, they have to think about their future and the future of younger generations, because they're still going to be alive on this planet for a long time to come." Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
HISD eliminates wraparound services department, shifts to integrated support model
HOUSTON - In a significant shift aimed at streamlining services and maximizing resources, the Houston Independent School District announced Thursday it is dissolving its Wraparound Services Department and eliminating the wraparound specialist model in favor of a more integrated student support system. The move comes as HISD realigns its approach to student care amid tighter budgets and evolving district needs. According to HISD's website, Wraparound Services was designed to deliver high-quality, comprehensive support and resources to students and families, enhancing student readiness for learning and preparing them for success through 2035 and beyond. Students who may need food, clothing, or counseling support were able to receive immediate assistance under these services. Created to serve a district of more than 270 largely autonomous campuses, the wraparound model is no longer compatible with HISD's current centralized and collaborative structure, district officials said. Leaders also cited inconsistent service delivery and a lack of demonstrated impact on student outcomes as reasons for the change. "We are not cutting services — we are changing how those services are delivered," said Najah Callan, Deputy Chief of Family and Community Partnerships. "Our goal is a more effective, complete continuum of care for our most vulnerable students." Under the new model, existing school personnel — including nurses, counselors, and office managers — will be responsible for identifying and addressing student needs. HISD's 130 New Education System (NES) campuses, which serve many of the district's most at-risk students, will maintain extended hours and robust support staffing. HISD also plans to expand its network of Sunrise Centers, which act as "centralized hubs" for student and family services. The district currently operates several such centers and has received board approval to expand to eight locations for the upcoming school year. The Student Assistance Form (SAF), which allows educators, parents, and community members to request support for students, will remain available. Some educators and union leaders say the decision could negatively impact students and families who rely on campus-based support. "I knew when they started cutting out these wraparound services and opening these Sunrise Centers, it wouldn't be the answer," said Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. "Parents have told us the centers are closed during the day. When I was a teacher at HISD, our wraparound specialist on campus was a godsend. We had children who needed immediate service — food, clothes — and that specialist was there." In 2021, then-Superintendent Millard House announced that every campus would be assigned a wraparound specialist, funded in part by federal COVID-19 relief dollars through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. HISD leaders said that one-time funding has now expired. Despite concerns, district officials say the new structure will deliver more consistent and efficient support by leveraging existing campus and district resources. HISD stated in Thursday's memo they have a continued commitment to collaboration with community organizations. Interested partners are encouraged to contact John Meade, director of community partnerships, at partner@ The Source FOX 26 received information on the changes in HISD from their district office. Reporter Sherman Desselle spoke with educators in the district.
Morocco World
11-04-2025
- Morocco World
Calls for Justice After 3 Afghan Girls Violently Attacked in Houston School
Rabat – Three Afghan middle school students were attacked by a group of their classmates, prompting angry calls for justice and for the school to take urgent action. The incident took place at the Paul Revere Middle School on March 3. The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Houston (CAIR-Houston) says the incident left the three girls injured, with one girl so badly hurt that she was hospitalized for four days and now has to wear a neck brace, Fox 26 Houston reported . The group says the girls were surrounded by at least 20 students during lunch and were physically assaulted. CAIR said the attack was motivated by the girls' Afghan background and their decision to wear hijabs. A Houston-based civil rights group is calling on the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to take urgent action after three Afghan middle school students were allegedly attacked by a group of their classmates at Paul Revere Middle School on March 3. 'It is absolutely unacceptable for any student to be allegedly violently assaulted and then abandoned by the very institution that is supposed to protect them,' said CAIR-Houston Director William White.- He added that HISD must approve school transfers for the girls, investigate the attack fully, and ensure all responsible are held accountable, including any staff members who failed to intervene. CAIR is also calling for trauma-informed support for the victims and their families, along with stronger policies to prevent future attacks. CAIR-Houston shared a blurred photo of the injured girl in a neck brace on social media, and a video of the alleged incident showing a staff member trying to break up the fight. In a statement, HISD said that disciplinary actions had been taken against seven students involved in the attack. The district said the actions were in line with its Code of Conduct and emphasized that student safety is taken seriously. 'The seven aggressors in the incident received disciplinary consequences aligned with the district's code of conduct. The victim in the incident has been offered a school transfer, which is currently in process,' HISD said. The district also stated that school staff met with the family of one of the victims on March 6, shortly after the incident, and informed them of their right to press criminal charges. However, the family and their attorney, Ahsan Patoli, say the process has been too slow. 'What we're asking for is very, very simple,' Patoli said. 'We asked for the girls to be transferred into another school. This incident happened more than a month ago. We're still waiting on that to happen.' While HISD claims some of the details shared by CAIR do not match the results of their internal investigation, they agree that the attack was serious and needed action.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Houston ISD report: One arrested in shooting near Wisdom HS; two others wanted
The Brief One out of three suspects has reportedly been arrested. The shooting happened near Wisdom High School shortly after dismissal on Wednesday. Two students were injured, but they are expected to recover. HOUSTON - One of three suspects has allegedly been arrested in connection to the shooting that injured two students near a Houston ISD campus on Wednesday. What we know According to HISD NOW reporter Trey Serna, one suspect was taken into custody on Thursday. Two others remain at large. What we don't know The suspects have not been identified at this time, and the motive behind the shooting is not clear. Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app The backstory At about 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, HISD officers at Wisdom High School responded to a "shots fired" call. HISD Police Chief Shamara Garner says the students were dismissed from school at about 4:30 p.m., so about 150 students were still in the area. Police directed the students back into the building, and they went into lockdown. According to Chief Garner, a black four-door Tahoe was following two brothers who were walking east on Beverly Hill Street. The Tahoe was parked in the school parking lot, then exited and started to slowly drive behind the brothers. When the brothers reached the intersection at Unity Drive, police say a suspect got out of the vehicle and shot at the brothers. One of the brothers, who is not a student at the school, ran from the scene. The other brother, a 16-year-old sophomore, ran back toward the school, but was grazed on his knee in the shooting. A bystander, an 18-year-old junior, was shot in her shoulder. Both students are expected to recover. RELATED: Houston: Shooting near Wisdom High School injures two students, district police say The Source Houston ISD YouTube channel and previous FOX 26 reporting
