School Zone

School Zone getting a makeover

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:27:10 -0600

The Chronicle is changing blog platforms, which means that, if all goes according to plan, School Zone will look different this weekend. Here's the techie explanation: This weekend, we're planning to switch our blogs to a new system running WordPress,...

A shorter summer school week at HISD

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:24:05 -0600

The Houston Independent School District will have four-day weeks for its summer school session, trustees decided Thursday. Classes will be Monday through Thursday, with longer instruction hours on those days. The change is expected to save the district about $1...

Math problem: trying to calculate the cost of Apollo

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:53:05 -0600

On the surface, the question is simple: How much does Houston ISD's Apollo school reform program cost? The answer isn't so easy. The budget has changed multiple times since Superintendent Terry Grier's administration announced the initial plan in June. The...

HISD receives $2.5 million for Apollo reform program

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:23:01 -0600

Houston Independent School District officials announced this morning that JPMorgan Chase donated $2.5 million to its Apollo school reform program. The donation, the largest since the program launched in August, brings HISD closer to its $7 million fund-raising goal for...

State education leader ends school projection measure

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:08:57 -0600

Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott ruled Friday that the school accountability system no longer would include a controversial measure that made it easier for campuses to get good ratings even when students failed state exams. Numerous state lawmakers and some...

Four HISD elementary schools could close

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 07:49:56 -0600

Four elementary schools in the Houston Independent School District could close under a proposal Superintendent Terry Grier revealed this morning. Under the plan, which the school board must approve, McDade Elementary would close and students would attend Paige, Cook or...

Three schools removed from HISD closure list

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:29:39 -0600

HISD officials announced today that Burrus, N.Q. Henderson, and Port Houston elementary schools no longer are being considered for closure at the end of this school year. The district did not disclose a reason in its news release but said...

Early dismissal after power outage Williams Middle School

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:49:34 -0600

Students are being dismissed at 11 a.m. from Williams Middle School, 6100 Knox, after a power outage in the Acres Home neighborhood this morning. Buses will pick up the students who normally take the district transportation home, according to Houston...

Houston's best and worst schools -- updated

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:00:00 -0600

The local nonprofit Children at Risk has released to the Chronicle its 2011 ranking of public elementary, middle and high schools in the eight-county Houston area. Each year, the list of the area's best and worst campuses generates a great...

HISD agrees to revamp teacher evaluations

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:21:00 -0600

The Houston school board voted 7-2 tonight to revamp the way teachers are evaluated, tying their job security and training more heavily to their students' academic progress. The decision came over the objection of the district's largest employee union, which...

Evaluating teacher evaluations

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:09:37 -0600

Gayle Fallon, the president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, is threatening to file a complaint with Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott if the HISD board doesn't slow down its rollout of a new evaluation system that will rate teachers...

HISD to give pink slips to about 730 teachers

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:03:30 -0600

About 730 teachers in the Houston Independent School District won't have jobs next year due to state budget cuts and, in some cases, poor performance, according to preliminary data released today. The district is eliminating 567 teaching jobs due to...

HISD to consider closing more small schools

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:00:15 -0600

Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier said Monday evening that he planned to study the possible closure or merger of about 17 schools with low enrollment. The school board had been scheduled to vote Thursday to close four small elementary campuses...

School layoffs continue

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:27:07 -0600

The Spring Branch Independent School District is the latest to announce job cuts, following Katy, Fort Bend, Pasadena, Houston and others across Texas. The Spring Branch board voted Tuesday night to eliminate 350 positions, including about 105 teachers. The cuts...

Live blog: HISD board to vote on budget cuts

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:09:52 -0600

HISD board meeting: budget cuts For live updates from the Houston ISD board meeting Thursday morning, check out the live blog above or follow me on twitter at e_mellon. The meeting starts at the lovely hour of 7:30 a.m. The...