Houston Schools

Three Houston Schools have been persistently rated as unsatisfactory by state guidelinThe Houston Schools' ratings are based on statewide student achievement tests and th Thus, Houston Schools Superintendent Dr. Privatization of the schools was mentioned then; however, the Houston Schools currently are preparing for closing the schools, if they again aDuring the last school year, the Houston Schools changed administrators at several chronically unsatisfactory schFor the 2006-2007 school year, the Houston Schools have developed a year-long campaign in hopes of saving the three Karen Soehnge, the Houston Schools' chief academic officer. The Houston Schools have looked at several strategies to save these schools. The Houston Schools must do better for these children. Article Source: http://www.

Houston Schools implemented its first merit pay program for teachers in the year 2000. Houston Schools believe the old program had too low incentives and unanimously passed the new model in January, making it the largest merit pay program in the nation. Officials believe the new program ties teacher rewards more closely to student improvement and to individual teacher efforts. Though no research has been done on the impact of such programs on improved student achievement, other programs have been tried in New York, Denver and Kentucky with varying success. Houston business leaders, who have a stake in graduating future employees who are high achievers, support the new Houston Schools' $14. 5 million program. Houston Schools teacher incentives are based on three components: • The first component is based upon the amount of improvement of a school's overall test scores, as compared with scores of 40 other schools across the state with similar demographics; • The second compares student progress on the Stanford 10 Achievement Test and its Spanish equivalent to students in similar Houston Schools classrooms; and • The third component compares student progress on the statewide Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test to similar Houston Schools classrooms. About half of the 12,300 teachers in the Houston Schools are eligible to receive rewards in all three categories, possibly earning a total of $3,000 each.

The study, which focused on the 2004-2005 school year, found that the Houston Schools superintendent, Abelardo Saavedra, is the highest paid at $278,100; however, the Houston Schools also is the largest district in Texas with a student population of 208,9Second to the Houston Schools superintendent is Louis Stoerner at Alief. Next is David Anthony at Cy-Fair, the second only to the Houston Schools as the largest school district in the state. Compared to the Houston Schools superintendent’s salary, it looks as though it would be more lucrative Superintendents, such as in the Houston Schools with its large student population, is worth the salaries set by local tr For districts, such as the Houston Schools, the job is very demanding, dealing with many internal and external chalAfter seeing these numbers, perhaps the Houston Schools will give Saavedra a raise. Article Source: http://www. articlesbase.

Houston Schools are no different, and Magnet and Early Childhood programs appear to be at the top of the list. The cream of the Houston School system's crop are the Gifted and Talented students. Currently, 25,000 students are identified as gifted and talented. Beginning next school year ('07-'08), students identified as such will all attend "Vanguard" programs. The programs themselves will not change, but the name will consolidate programs throughout Houston Schools. Houston Schools identify students for Vanguard programs by using an "identification matrix". This includes test scores from the Stanford/Aprenza exam and the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. Report-card points and teacher recommendations are also taken into account. Houston Schools' students who have limited English proficiency, are enrolled in special education, have low socioeconomic status are also considered. Vanguard schools are continuously monitored to help ensure that high-quality; more-rigorous instruction is provided in all classrooms. Students are expected to score above grade-level on the Stanford test. In addition, any of Houston Schools' high-school students who are enrolled in a Vanguard school are required to take a minimum of two advanced-academic courses (ex: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual-credit). "I am excited about the improvements in the Vanguard programs," said Superintendent of Houston Schools Abelardo Saavedra.