Get ahead: Key testing dates for students in Houston and Fort Bend ISD
Students in Houston and Fort Bend Independent School District are gearing up for their state-mandated tests! ๐ Make sure to mark these important testing dates in your calendar! Good luck to all the students! You've got this! ๐ช #StateMandatedTests #PreparationIsKey #SuccessInEducation
Fort Bend ISD elementary schools will have armed security officers on all campuses. Do parents think itโs safe?
Fort Bend Independent School District announced Tuesday that all 51 elementary schools will have armed security officers on campus when students return from winter break, but what do parents think about the new measure?
Fort Bend ISD Board President responds after parents asked questions about superintendentโs voluntary retirement
A contentious board meeting resulting in the forced retirement of Fort Bend Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Christie Whitbeck has a lot of parents in Fort Bend County asking questions about what is really going on?
Watch powerhouses Ridge Point And Hightower go head-to-head tonight with KPRC 2โฒs Big Game Coverage
Big Game Coverage presents Thursday night football on KPRC 2. Tonight, two Fort Bend ISD powerhouses, Ridge Point And Hightower, go head to head at Mercer Stadium during primetime tonight at 7 p.m. on KPRC 2.
ROLL THE TAPE: Fort Bend ISD Volleyball 2023 Fall Media Day Hype Video
There is so much fun to be had at a VYPE Media Days! From team and individual pictures, social media shout-outs and video interviews, it is all there for the student-athletes to feel like a superstar. VYPE traveled out to the Fort Bend ISD for their 2023 Fall Media Day.
2nd grader at Fort Bend ISD raises $1,000 in 2 weeks for local animal rescues
Fun for Porter meant finding a way to raise money for local animal rescues. Her inspiration was Jenniโs Rescue Ranch, a charitable organization based in Alvin. The nonprofit is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and finding forever homes for the many animals left on the streets, often times in horrible condition.
Houston Rodeo art: 72 outstanding creations from 2023โฒs fierce student art contest
Each year, thousands of Houston Rodeo attendees marvel at the top-notch Western art displayed in the NRG Center. From sketches, pastels and watercolors, to oil and acrylic on canvas and even clay sculptures, the outstanding student-made artwork in the Hayloft Gallery rivals that of seasoned professionals.
Itโs all about safety this week, as students head back to class plus major West Loop closure this weekend
Thousands of students started their fall semester in these last few days. Happy back-to-school season to Klein, Galena and Fort Bend ISD among many many others. Iโm sure youโve definitely seen the traffic pattern change in your morning drive. It is BUSY out there. I remember looking at Spring Cypress Road near Klein Cain High School and it was dark red. Drivers, now that itโs getting a bit more congested out there, youโve got to leave with extra time in the morning. We have so much going on early in the morning in our neighborhoods with kids headed back to class. School buses are running, kids riding their bikes or walking to school...the last thing you want to do is to rush out the door and speed down your neighborhood streets. Letโs do our best to keep our students safe out there!
2 more Fort Bend ISD elementary schools to temporarily make full or partial switch to virtual learning
Fort Bend Independent School District announced Tuesday that Oakland Elementary School will join Pecan Grove Elementary School in temporarily switching from face-to-face to virtual learning. Drabek Elementary will also do so, but only for its Pre-K students.
Fort Bend ISD board members during historic safety meeting text โ...we are fooling around! Lolโ
As the coronavirus pandemic continued to rage last summer, months away from a vaccine, there were many sides to the argument of whether or not schools should reopen for students. Compelling points of views were made and seen at various school board meetings in our area.
Students face major educational setbacks due to the pandemic
House said when the pandemic began school shuttered and when it resumed in-person learning didnโt cut it for Devin, who has Autism. AdDevin returned to in-person learning as soon as the option was made available by Cy-Fair ISD. Education advocates have said inconsistencies in the quality of virtual learning have fueled the cognitive slide they cite. Parker said the inconsistencies have set all students back, adding the problem digs much deeper than the pits of virtual learning. AdOverall, Dupre said correcting the setbacks from the pandemic will take anywhere from two to four years.
School districts across Houston area damaged after winter storm
HOUSTON โ Busted pipes from winter weather are not just impacting homes, but school districts across Southeast Texas. Maintenance crews in many of those districts are working overtime to access the damage and begin the cleanup process. Cy-Fair, Galveston, Goose Creek, Klein and Fort Bend ISDโs are all dealing with similar situations. Fort Bend ISD hopes to resume normal operations on Monday but that decision wonโt be made until Sunday night. AdFort Bend ISD hopes to have a better assessment of the damage tomorrow.
Fort Bend ISD temporarily closes, opens schools amid COVID-19 pandemic
MISSOURI CITY, Texas โ This week, President Biden plans to address getting kids back in the classroom as early as Wednesday. This comes as Fort Bend ISD once again is closing some schools and opening others. The district also sent an email to parents on Friday saying if their student is falling behind in their studies and grades, they will require them to come and learn face-to-face. Below is a list of FBISD schools and their plans:School pivoting to online on Tuesday, Feb. 9Pecan Grove Elementary (2/8-2/19, Students return on 2/22)School pivoting to online on Monday, Feb. 8Sienna Crossing Elementary (2/8-2/15, Students return on 2/16)Townewest Elementary (2/8-2/15, Students return on 2/16)Elkins High School (2/8-2/19, Students return on 2/22)Online schools returning to face-to-face instruction on Monday, Feb. 8Austin High SchoolBarbara Jordan ElementaryBriargate ElementaryDulles High SchoolHodges Bend Middle SchoolMadden ElementaryOyster Creek ElementaryJames Patterson ElementaryOnline schools returning to face-to-face instruction on Wednesday, Feb. 10Crockett Middle SchoolOnline schools returning to face-to-face instruction on Tuesday, Feb. 16Bowie Middle SchoolOakland ElementaryChrista McAuliffe Middle SchoolJames Neill ElementaryRosa Parks ElementaryJuan Seguin ElementaryOnline schools returning to face-to-face instruction on Wednesday, Feb. 17Quail Valley ElementaryOnline schools returning to face-to-face instruction on Monday, Feb. 22AdBush High SchoolFort Bend ISD will continue to closely monitor all schools across the district. For the latest news about your childโs school, visit www.fortbendisd.com.
Fort Bend ISD superintendent Charles Dupre to announce resignation
HOUSTON โ Fort Bend Independent School District Superintendent of Schools Charles Dupre will announce his intention to resign by December of 2021, he confirmed to KPRC 2 on Monday. โOver the last few years (my wife and I) talked more and more about other opportunities," Dr. Dupre said in an interview. In 2018, Fort Bend ISD was awarded the 2018 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award as the best school district in the large district category, and Dupre was named the Region 4 Superintendent of the Year and finalist for Texas Superintendent of the Year in 2019. During Monday nightโs board meeting, Fort Bend ISD said staff will recognize three retiring trustees and newly-elected trustees will be sworn in to begin a three-year term. โThe district has come a long way since Dr. Dupre returned to us eight years ago,โ said Jason Burdine, FBISDโs outgoing board president.
HISD board votes not to remove โinterimโ from Lathanโs title; national search to resume
HOUSTON โ HISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Granita Lathan will remain in the interim role. This after the board of trustees voted, 6-3, Thursday to not make her a sole finalist for the job. Earlier in the day the Houston NAACP preemptively sent out a statement also in support of Lathan being named the sole finalist. Vice President Dr. James Dixon cited what he called Lathanโs ability to work with others and provide stability. KPRC 2 received the following statement Friday morning from HISDโs Press Office:โI respect the decision of the HISD Board of Education to resume the search for a superintendent.
Fort Bend ISD parents must select learning option for students for spring semester
HOUSTON โ Fort Bend ISD parents considering to change their childโs learning environment for the spring semester have a day left to decide. The deadline is looming for parents looking to move their child from in-person classes to online learning or the other way around. The district has requested parents fill out a form via Skyward Family Access by November 12 at 11:59 p.m. Dalia Abouzeid, a mother of two, said she was considering switching her third grader and sixth grader to in-person learning, but ultimately decided to keep them in virtual classrooms. Dupre said if a school does not have the capacity to accommodate many students wanting to switch to in-person learning, the district will consider turning large multi-purpose rooms into classrooms.
Fort Bend ISD issues warning about lookalike district website; What users need to know
HOUSTON โ Fort Bend Independent School District issued a warning to parents Thursday about a fake website that looks like the schoolโs page. The district said it received reports of a fraudulent website that looks like the Fort Bend ISD website and is attempting to get password information from users. The official webpage to change your password information is my.fortbendisd.com. โWe want to remind staff, parents and students to remain vigilant and pay close attention when typing a web address, clicking a link or visiting a website,โ the district said in a news release. โIn this case, the fake website has a similar web address; however, the fake web address is missing a period in the URL.โIf you accidentally visited or have provided login credentials to the fraudulent website, Fort Bend ISD is encouraging people to change your account password immediately at the official FBISD website my.fortbendisd.com or contact the Customer Support Center at 281-634-1300 for assistance.
Police reveal details regarding shooting of Travis HS coach, killed in family-related dispute at sports complex in Rosenberg
The victim, identified as Derwyn Lauderdale, 29, was shot in the abdomen while in the parking lot. Rosenberg police said witnesses identified James Hamilton, 28, as the alleged shooter, who they say was in possession of a stolen handgun. โThe suspect James Hamilton ran into the crowd and acted as he were a spectator and didnโt know what had occurred," Chief White said. Rosenberg police said witnesses identified James Hamilton, 28, as the alleged shooter, who they say was in possession of a stolen handgun. Please keep the Lauderdale family in your prayers."
Pre-K, Kindergarten students return back to class in Fort Bend ISD
SUGAR LAND, Texas โ Fort Bend ISD students started returning to classes on Monday. Teachers welcomed Pre-K and Kindergarten students back to campuses. The day at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Fresno looked very different than years past. Class sizes are smaller than normal based on the size of the room to allow for social distancing. Return dates for Fort Bend ISD students are:
Deadline extended for Fort Bend ISD parents deciding between virtual or in-person learning
SUGAR LAND, Texas โ The deadline has been extended for Fort Bend Independent School District parents deciding if they want their children to continue virtual learning or head back to the classroom. Ft. Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said board members wanted to give more parents time to decide. Online learning vs. face-to-face instructionNinety percent of the students enrolled in Ft. Bend ISD has selected which learning model they intend to follow. Teachers, staff & students return to classroomsFt. Bend ISD administrators are still configuring the number of students set to return to each campus. Whatโs next in Ft. Bend ISDBoard members are set to meet Monday night.
Fort Bend ISD to offer free grab-and-go meals to all students
Fort Bend ISD has announced that all students can receive free breakfast and lunch free at grab-and-go meals sites, district learning centers, and during face-to-face learning starting Sept. 9. The program is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020 as a result of a waiver from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). FBISD is strongly encouraging all families to complete a Free & Reduced Meals application at www.schoolcafe.com/fbisd. Parents can pick up meals for students and must provide one of the following documents:Student ID cardsIndividual student report cardsAttendance record from parent portal of SkywardBirth certificate for childrenWithout one of the listed items above, the district said parents will receive meals for the number of students present with them, on foot or in a vehicle. Please visit one of our 10 grab-and-go locations for curbside service.
Fort Bend ISD opens learning centers for elementary school students struggling with online learning
HOUSTON โ Fort Bend Independent School District has opened up 13 new learning centers across the district to help elementary school students with unique needs. The learning centers are available to the children of district staff, first responders, essential workers and active U.S. military. โStaff is there and there enforcing the masks and social distancing in a very positive way,โ said 5th-grade teacher Michael Blasdell. โThey are just there to monitor and help, my kindergarten daughter is not reading yet so she needs a little more help logging on to things.โFBISD said about 1,600 students are currently enrolled at the learning centers. The district plans to open more centers next week for middle school and high school students.
See what was said in our exclusive special education Zoom conversation with education leaders, health experts
HOUSTON โ Are you a parent, family member or loved one worried about your student with special needs and how this school year will impact them? On Thursday evening, our education team members, Keith Garvin and Christine Noรซl moderated a discussion with health experts and education leaders. Hill: Most services for special needs students can be implemented online. Question: With children, especially young and special needs kids, what is the district doing to keep masks on in school? Question: What are effective practices for Zoom education for special needs kids?
Fort Bend ISD announces โsignificant staffing issuesโ after teachers opt-out of in-person instruction
FORT BEND COUNTY โ A letter from the Fort Bend ISD superintendent was the equivalent of a bombshell for perhaps thousands of parents in the district. On Friday, Dr. Charles Dupre wrote that the district faced โsignificant staffing issuesโ and โmay not be able to offerโ special education programs at campuses. "I think it says that teachers are afraid to come back," said Glenda Guzman Macal, president of the Fort Bend American Federation of Teachers. โTo ask teachers, administrative staff, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, admin staff to put their lives at stake,โ she said. "It would be great if some of those jobs can work with those parents to help with the process of keeping and teaching them at home," said Leverne Moore, a grandmother who lives in Fort Bend County.
Ask 2: When does school begin?
As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Answer: Some Houston-area schools started this week, including Alief ISD, which started virtually Thursday. Next week, school districts such as Santa Fe ISD, Fort Bend ISD, and Humble ISD will start. Houston ISD pushed the start date to Sept. 8, with students beginning the year virtually. If you are looking for a specific district start date, we outlined each reopening plan here.
Ask 2: What options are schools providing during the virtual instruction period for students whose parents are essential workers?
Question: Are schools offering an option for students who are children of essential workers to complete their virtual classes while physically at school? While not every district has created such accommodations, several daycares have stepped up to offer assistance with schoolwork during the virtual instruction period. Additionally, many Houston-area parents have connected in Facebook groups to form learning pods with students in the same grade, from the same schools. KPRC 2 is providing reopening outlines with the latest updates for more than 40 Houston-area school districts. For a quick glance at your school district and what others are doing, click here.
Heres how to help FBISD students get the supplies they need for the upcoming school year
This year, Fort Bend ISD is one of the school districts benefiting from Krogers Backpack Boosters school supply drive, according to a release from the district. From July 15 through Aug. 2, anyone shopping at Krogers can donate a prepackaged school supply kit for $7, or any amount of money, at the register in any Kroger store to help FBISD students get the school supplies they need for the upcoming school year. Krogers Backpack Boosters school supply drive helps schools provide school supply kits filled with essential school supplies students need to start the school year whether thats in a classroom or through online learning. This year, Krogers goal is to donate school supplies to more than 45,000 children across Texas and Louisiana. Click here to find your local Kroger store.
Houston ISD will open on Sept. 8. How does that compare to other school districts in the area and across the Texas?
Houston ISD will re-open on Sept. 8 and offer online learning for six weeks. How does that plan compare to other area districts and some of the larger ones across Texas? Area districtsThe majority of area school districts will start school between Aug. 17 and Aug. 24. Goose Creek ISD is the only other school district so far with a start date of Sept. 8 and students there will begin the year virtually for three weeks. Alief ISD, the first school district in the area to announce they will be starting the year virtually, will be the earliest to start off the 2020-2021 school year on Aug. 6.
Fort Bend ISD announces "no in-person extracurriculars" during online start to school year
HOUSTON - Fort Bend ISD is the first school district in Houston to officially push back the start of the 2020-2021 athletic calendar. This means the athletics season for Fort Bend ISD will have to wait. Fort Bend ISD (@FortBendISD) July 14, 2020Volleyball was slated to start tryouts August 3, first scrimmages August 7 and first matches on August 10. Fort Bend ISD was originally planning to make a return to Strength and Conditioning Camps this week to continue preparing for the start of the season. Fort Bend ISD coaches were not available for comment at the time of this story.
Fort Bend ISD calls this weekโs guidance from TEA for 2020-2021 school year โdisappointing'
As Fort Bend ISD continues to plan for the upcoming school year, the Texas Education Agencyโs recent announcement has created concern for the district. โTodayโs (Tuesdayโs) announcement from the TEA is disappointing because the guidance, as written, does not provide local school districts with the flexibility to make decisions based on local data or community and staff values and expectations,โ a spokesperson for Fort Bend ISD said. โFort Bend ISD is considering many safeguards and precautions to mitigate the spread of illness within our schools,โ Superintendent Charles Dupre said. โOur teachers and campus staff are at the heart of everything we do, and we will not ask them to bear the risk and weight of any re-opening plan,โ Dupre said. Additionally, pre-registration will reveal the number of students desiring either face-to-face or virtual instruction and better allow the district to decide how classrooms will be used at each school.
Fort Bend ISD: What you need to know about the districtโs 2020-2021 school plans
Fort Bend ISD plans on offering both face-to-face and virtual instruction for the 2020-21 school year. Fort Bend ISD will comply with guidance issued by the UIL. Measures not addressed yetTransportationMeal servicesPartitionsInstruction methods offeredFort Bend ISD plans to offer face-to-face and full-time virtual instruction through a remote synchronous and asynchronous format. Recent updatesFort Bend ISD is expected to host a live stream with superintendent Charles Dupre on July 15. โ Fort Bend ISD (@FortBendISD) July 14, 2020Do you have questions about Fort Bend ISDโs plan?
Fort Bend ISD: Hybrid instruction on an alternate day schedule being considered
Fort Bend ISD plans on offering both face-to-face and virtual instruction for the 2020-21 school year. Fort Bend ISD will comply with guidance issued by the UIL. Face-to-faceFort Bend ISD has not officially outlined what the classroom setting will look like for face-to-face instruction during the 2020-21 school year. Remote Asynchronous Instruction: Instruction that does not require having the instructor and student engaged at the same time. Recent updatesFort Bend ISD hosted a live stream with superintendent Charles Dupre on July 1.
Reginald Moore, who first alerted officials about Sugar Land 95 gravesite, dies 60
HOUSTON Reginald Moore, a local historian who first raised concerns about the Sugar Land 95 gravesite, died Friday at the age of 60, according to the Convict Leasing and Labor Project. We want to have art there, Moore told KPRC 2 in regard to a Sugar Land 95 memorial site in February 2019. They have sweat equity in this and the story should be told, Moore told KPRC 2 in April 2018. When Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre informed Moore of the discovery of the remains, Moore said he was elated, but also saddened. Moore was also the caretaker of the Old Imperial Farm Prison Cemetery in Sugar Land.
Fort Bend ISD considers allowing parents to decide whether to opt for in-person or virtual classes
Fort Bend ISD, the 8th largest school district in Texas with over 78,000 students, is close to unveiling its plans for the 2020-2021 school year. Schools are scheduled to open on August 12, and the district will hold its next big virtual meeting with parents on July 13. โOur goal is to have any child in school all day, every day. Fort Bend ISD officials plan to ask each parent to choose whether they want their children to attend or learn from home virtually. However, the โhybridโ plan, where students participate in both virtual and in-person learning, is not completely off the table, officials said.