Houston Schools

Houston Schools families who have children who are identified as “gifted” orHouston Schools are working to make their centers of learning ones where the gif The “identification matrix” used by Houston Schools includes test scores from the Stanford/Aprenza exam and the NaglStudents who have limited English proficiency, are enrolled in special education, or qualify as having low socioeconomic status are also considered for placement in one of these special Houston Schools. These Houston Schools are continuously monitored to help ensure that high-quality and These Houston Schools students are expected to score above grade-level on the Stanford In addition, any of these Houston Schools high-school students who are enrolled in a Vanguard School are rHaving programs like the Vanguard Schools help make Houston Schools a desirable place to be and learn.

Houston Schools will have to make some decisions in years to come based on both of these results. The Supreme Court decision has been brewing for decades. While Houston Schools do not use race as admission to magnets, the specialized schools were started for the purpose of desegregation. And the current battle over the issue of achieving racially balanced schools by using race as a factor is a tense one. Houston Schools won’t have to make changes to its magnets, as other schools in the country will. But – the Houston Schools will still need to focus on ways to address the huge racial achievement gap. The Princeton study, conducted by Cecelia Rouse, a professor of economics and public affairs, released some disturbing statistics for both Houston Schools and the entire state of Texas. Individually, every high school drop-out costs the United States $260,000. In Texas, only 66. 8% of high schoolers make it to graduation. And a 2006 USA Today article reported that less than 50% of Houston Schools students graduate on time. In that same year the Princeton Study reported that drop-outs cost the state of Texas over $31 billion. What explains these numbers? Educators in Houston Schools aren’t surprised by the numbers.

Two new achievement systems have been developed and implemented for the Houston Schools — a school board monitoring system and a new appraisal system for the superintendent. The district is committed to improving student achievement, as well as earning the confidence and support of the community. The two systems set new standards for the administrative structure and systematic improvement process for higher scholastic achievement in the Houston Schools. In 2001, Houston Schools instituted a Declaration of Beliefs and Visions, which defined for school employees and the community what the district stands for and where it is going. • Improve public support and confidence in the Houston Schools, and • Create a positive district culture. The declaration determined to accomplish these goals through: • An educational structure built upon the relationship between teacher and student, • Decentralization and shared decision making, • A common core of academic subjects for all students, and • Focus upon performance, not compliance. The two new systems for the Houston Schools provide a roadmap to achieve and measure the progress of these goals. Both are detailed and objective, providing a systematic means for meaningful and quantifiable organizational improvement. Board Monitoring System The monitoring system is comprehensive and demanding with data-driven accountability.

Houston Schools teachers have not had significant pay raise in seven years. The new Houston Schools budget plans for an average 8. 6 percent pay raise for teachers for the 2006-07 school year, with a total of $49. 2 million in funding. The state is providing $31 million for the pay raises, and the Houston Schools are providing $18. 2 million from their own revenues. An additional $8 million increase also is included for teacher performance pay. This is all part of the Houston Schools proposed $1. 4 billion budget for the 2006-07 school year, and the Houston Schools will NOT increase school tax property rates by the allotted four cents per $100 of property. The Houston Schools believe the pay raises should make their district more competitive to attract more teaching talent. The Houston Schools proposed budget also includes the following: •$1. 9 million for principal and assistant principal pay raises of 5. 1 percent. Again, the Houston Schools intent is to make their district more competitive. This also includes additional incentives for principals of larger schools and/or those with higher numbers of disadvantaged students and gifted and talented students, which require more oversight and innovation to educate. •$3 million to help academically struggling Houston Schools. •$4. 8 million more for elementary and middle schools. •$12 million for small-sized Houston Schools that do not receive as much per-student funding but need the revenues for instructional improvements. •More than $10 million to help bring school buildings up to standard. •$25.

Though all of the Houston Schools have dress codes, each of the Houston Schools develops their own policy. One thing all Houston Schools dress codes have in common is an allowance for religious accommodation. When Houston Schools students' religious traditions and dictates conflict with school dress codes, exemptions may be made. With the diversity being felt by the Houston Schools in recent years, Houston Schools principals are striking a delicate balance between religious freedoms and safety issues on an increasing basis. One example is the Houston ISD campus, which has students from 72 countries. Principal Steve Amstutz receives many dress code exemption requests each year. His policy is to meet privately with a student requesting a waiver to discuss the matter. Though most dress code disputes remain within the Houston Schools, requests for exemptions and complaints are on the increase. Charles C. Haynes, senior scholar with the First Amendment Center, studies the issue of religious exceptions to dress codes and school uniforms. He notes the increase is due to stricter dress code policies to ensure a safer environment, as well as the growth and organization of some minority groups that are becoming more vocal. Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-Day Adventists were the first to dispute the dress code policies of the Houston Schools. Currently, the Muslims are at the forefront, though other groups, such as Hindus and Sikhs, are beginning to organization, as well. Though some Islamic dress and traditions are not mandatory, such as males wearing beards, many Islamic scholars recommend them.