HOUSTON ISD

The former Dallas ISD superintendent and state-appointed board of managers will replace Houston’s elected school board in response to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus in the district.

Stream the Houston ISD Alumni Games in the KPRC 2+ app on May 20

The Texas Education Agency has responded after a tweet made by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner suggested that the agency had selected a superintendent for Houston ISD.

The Houston ISD board of trustees held its last scheduled meeting Thursday night before the state takes over the largest school district in Texas.

In 2022, 80,000 evictions were filed in Harris County, according to data compiled by the consulting firm January Advisors.

Houston Independent School District are working to hire candidates for several positions, including teachers.

Who will oversee Houston Independent School District? The Texas Education Agency is expected to give an update on the search for a new board Thursday evening.

See how the TEA takeover of Houston ISD was years in the making.

At one elementary school, protesters chanted as the school day was about to begin. Parents sought petition signatures at a high school. The demonstrations are planned throughout the day.

The TEA recommended the move, citing the district’s failures serving special education students. The announcement comes two weeks after the agency appointed a board of managers to oversee Houston ISD.

The next big day for the Texas Education Agency’s intervention of Houston ISD is June 1, when the commissioner announces the board of managers and superintendent.

The ACLU of Texas, the Houston NAACP and other groups say the takeover is a violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.

The Texas Education Agency announced on March 15 that it would replace the current superintendent and its democratically elected school board with a new board of managers as soon as June 1.

The Texas Education Agency is hosting its first of four community meetings Tuesday night, nearly a week after the state announced it would move forward with a takeover of its largest school district.

When do state takeovers of Texas public schools or districts happen? How long can they last? We provide answers to some of the questions surrounding the takeover of Houston ISD.

The Greater Houston Coalition Justice announced Thursday the filing of a lawsuit for discrimination against the Texas Education Agency on behalf of the Houston Independent School District following the agency’s decision to take over the school district, according to a news release.

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Parents and students of the Houston Independent School District decried the state’s decision to take control of the school system. Despite the news, many questions remain about how it would affect them.

The announcement comes almost four years after the agency first moved to take over the district.

Texas’ education agency first moved to take over the district in 2019 after years of low student performance at a single Houston ISD high school. Critics said the district has made improvements since then.

Hundreds of teachers from across the state rallied near the state capitol on Monday as the possibility of the state taking over its largest school district looms.

A march against the planned state takeover of Houston ISD by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was held Saturday at Wheatley High School.

Parents, teachers and retired HISD employees were among the many rallying Friday against an imminent midsemester district takeover by the Texas Education Agency.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Millard House II is set to give the State of Schools address Friday.

The Texas Education Agency has been in a legal battle to take over the state’s largest school district since 2019.

The decision from the state’s highest court would allow the TEA to move forward with its plan to replace Houston ISD’s school board members over low academic scores.

For more than 24 hours, nearly everyone in the nation’s fourth-most-populous city had been asked to boil water after a power outage at a water treatment plant Sunday.

Houston ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and Channelview have all announced closures for Tuesday, Nov. 29 related to the city of Houston's boil water order.

Several Houston-area school districts have announced they will cancel classes on Monday after the Houston Astros secured a World Series victory on Saturday night.

Among other issues, the court will consider whether a law that updated the education code last year has any bearing on TEA Commissioner Mike Morath’s attempt to replace HISD’s board members over low academic scores.

As students prepare to return to school on Monday, Houston Independent School District Superintendent Millard House II will welcome students back to school in a news conference.

As Houston ISD returns to school, Sharpstown International School has started a new class to help support students emotionally.

As Houston ISD schools begin the school year, the “Safe Walk Home Northside” program continued its mission of making the community safe for students who walk to and from school.

Spring ISD’s new superintendent is making history.

KPRC 2 is hosting a live panel discussion to help prepare families in the Houston ISD to head back to school. We'll talk campus safety, the impact of the teacher shortage on your child's classroom, school bus routes, and the cost of everything from cafeteria meals to extracurriculurs.

Houston Newsmakers: Houston ISD Superintendent talks school safety at state’s largest district

Students who will attend certain Houston ISD schools can apply for free or reduced-price meals for the 2022-2023 school year as long as they meet certain requirements.

A frustrated mother has sounded an alarm about the issues her child with disabilities has faced while riding the school bus.

A former elementary school teacher in Houston Independent School District has been arrested after allegations arose that he inappropriately touched a second grade student at Ashford Elementary multiple times in 2016.

Houston Independent School District’s 2021-2022 annual report from the Texas Education Agency shows below-average scores in several areas, including STAAR test scores.

Aldine Independent School District announced Monday that it will lift its mask mandate for students, staff and visitors due to “an ongoing decline in COVID-19 cases.”

There is a solid chance Fort Bend ISD will have a district all to itself when the UIL releases its biannual realignment Thursday morning.

Houston ISD announced that all campuses and offices will be closed Tuesday for an Attendance Mitigation Day, and staff should not report to work unless requested by a supervisor.

The Cy-Fair ISD trustee who has been under recent criticism for race-related comments he made regarding Black teachers in the district has been released from the technology company where he worked, his former employer announced.

School officials are putting a greater emphasis on testing, vaccinations and masking to combat the variant’s spread.

The Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices.

United Airlines and Houston ISD will announce a multi-year mentoring and career development program for aspiring aviators and aircraft enthusiasts Friday.

Houston Independent School District will host a job fair to recruit high school teachers on Saturday, October 2.

Two students are now charged with assault after a video of on-campus assault on a 15-year-old boy at Sterling High School went viral.

According to new research by Rice University, students in the Houston Independent School District struggled to manage stress, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teachers report being spread thin by the demands of remote learning and exhausted by the constant health concerns.

It’s a big day for thousands of students in the Houston area as it is back to school for the largest district in the state of Texas. Thousands of students will be heading back to school. Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House made several stops Monday morning. The first was at Benbrook Elementary School, where he welcomed students with breakfast.

During a school board meeting Thursday, Houston ISD unanimously voted in favor of the superintendent’s mask mandate for the 2021-2022 school year.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo discussed her support for Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II Tuesday on his desire to have a mask mandate for the district, as well as her feelings about Gov. Greg Abbott.

Dallas ISD and Austin ISD announced Monday they will require masking, while Houston ISD will vote on a mandate this week. A nonprofit group has also sued to block Abbott’s order.

Houston ISD athletic director Andre Walker had a brainstorm on a Sunday a few months ago.

Houston ISD teachers will soon receive a pay increase, according to HISD’s Board of Education.

A Houston ISD police officer has been arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman off-campus.

1 Cypress Creek defeats Cinco Ranch 67-29Cypress Creek looked the part on Saturday. After a 10-point first quarter, Cypress Creek locked down to allow seven total points over the next two quarters. Cypress Creek Player of the Game - Kyndall HunterPhoto Gallery: Cypress Creek vs Cinco Ranch (Photos by Bradley Collier/VYPE)Langham Creek defeats Grand Oaks 58-37​Langham Creek is moving on in the playoffs with a big win over Grand Oaks on Saturday. Houston Heights defeats Ridge Point 61-58Heights is into the Regional Quarterfinals for a second-straight year. After a three-point victory over Ridge Point, the Bulldogs move on to face Cypress Creek in the next round.

Even though it was delayed by just a few days, the 2021 UIL Boys Basketball playoffs have officially begun in Houston. We will continue to update this story throughout the day as scores, highlights and more comes in. Jack Yates defeats Sealy 95-71Jack Yates showed its force again as it not suprisingly opened the playoffs with a double-digit win and nearly hitting the 100-point mark. Memorial defeats Westbury 62-51The Mustangs win first round of the playoffs 62-51!! AdFort Bend Hightower defeats Waltrip 100-43Hightower Boys with the win over Waltrip.

No matter the school district, failure rates for the first grading period, among those learning virtually, are much higher than failure rates during the same period last year, according to an analysis of data conducted by KPRC 2. After reporting 42% of students enrolled in Houston Independent School District failed at least one course during the first six weeks of the school year, KPRC 2 sent requests to 10 Houston-area school districts for failure rates among virtual students vs in-person students. As more requests are fulfilled, KPRC 2 will continue to update the data provided:Houston Independent School DistrictWhile the Houston Independent School District is Texas’ largest school district, it’s far from alone in documenting problems associated with virtual learning. Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School DistrictForty-four percent of high school students enrolled in virtual learning failed at least one course during the first grading period, data released by Cy-Fair ISD confirmed. Thirty-eight percent of middle school students learning virtually failed at least one course, according to the data.

HOUSTON – Houston ISD has made another policy change in the fight against COVID-19. Per the HISD COVID Gauge, the move to orange requires the average to be between 4 and 7 percent.”However, Harris County was at 7.6 percent positivity rate on Monday. We hear about all the cases that are happening on campuses,” said Zeph Capo with the Houston Teachers Federation. Capo with the Houston Teachers Federation believes the district is making changes with pressure from the state. Under the previous guidelines, the district would be in level red and it would mean closing schools and switching to online learning only.

HOUSTON – Houston ISD students returned for in-person learning Monday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. “I’m very excited, he’s very excited,” said one mother at Young Elementary School. “Students will walk into the cafeteria, they’re gonna sanitize their hands, they’re gonna get their lunch, they’re gonna go to an assigned seat,” said Principal Matthew Schwer of Eliot Elementary School. The district said, for now, buses will only be available for special education, homeless, elementary and specialty school students. In all, HISD estimated roughly 80,000 enrolled students would return for in-person learning Monday.

The Texans are paying visits to Houston ISD students Tuesday for storytime in recognition of Founder’s Day. This year, members of the Texans organization are participating in a reading program in over 100 classrooms. We are LIVE from Trinity UMC where our sanctuaries of learning students from @BlackshearEHISD are getting a surprise reading from the @HoustonTexans and @TexansTORO1 in honor of the late Bob McNair and Founders Day! pic.twitter.com/eIsmeXVtBm — Houston ISD (@HoustonISD) October 6, 2020Founder’s Day is celebrated annually on October 6 honoring the legacy of late founder and CEO Bob McNair. “This day each year will be all about our internal team taking a moment to reflect on our organization’s Founder and uniting to make a difference in the Houston community,” Houston Texans president Jamey Rootes said.

HOUSTON – As students in the state’s largest school district started their virtual classes Tuesday, some parents reported having trouble connecting to the district’s website. KPRC 2 attempted to visit the official website for the Houston Independent School District several times Tuesday morning and received a runtime error and a 504 error. They will all be in virtual learning until at least Oct. 19, when some are scheduled to return to in-person learning. According to Lathan, about 12,000 students still do not have devices for virtual learning, but that does not mean they will be left behind. The district launched 36 digital learning centers for kids who still do not have what they need to participate in virtual school.

Supplies you need for virtual learningSome schools are distributing virtual school supply lists and separate lists for when students go back to the classroom. Sales of traditional school supplies are down 12%. Will school supplies still be available when you need them? “We are not using community supplies anymore.”Don’t forget Texas’ Tax-Free weekendWith everything going on, you may have forgotten about Texas’ tax-free weekend. That is when school supplies and clothes and most items under $100 sold in stores and online are tax-free.

Students attending school in Houston ISD this year won’t have to wear a uniform. The news was posted by Houston ISD Family & Community Engagement on Twitter and retweeted by the district. Students are not require to wear them during the 2020-21 #schoolyear-------------------------------------¿Tiene preguntas sobre los uniformes escolares en #HISD? The district recently announced the first day of school has been postponed from Monday, Aug. 24 to Tuesday, Sept. 8, and all students will engage in at-home virtual instruction through Friday, Oct. 16. For more information and the latest updates regarding Houston ISD’s reopening plan, click here.

Houston Independent School District has resumed its curbside summer meals program. The district is providing free student meals at 12 locations, seven of which are operating in partnership with the Houston Food Bank. Families are able to pick up multiple days’ worth of student meals on Mondays and Thursdays through August 31. The seven sites in partnership with the Houston Food Bank are located at:Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center9400 Irvington Blvd. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Milby High School1601 Broadway St.10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Lawson Middle School14000 Stancliff St.10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Kashmere High School6900 Wileyvale St.

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.

The presidents of the 10 largest school boards in Texas have come together to write a letter to Gov. “School districts require stability to open without fear of financial losses, and we need flexibility to open school in a manner we determine best for each community,” the letter reads. Secondly, the presidents requested that Abbott allow school districts the flexibility to design instructional systems that meet the needs of families and staff given local health conditions. The board called on Abbott to respond with his decisions by July 17 so that they can better inform their local school districts on the mentioned issues. The presidents of both the Aldine and Houston school boards were among those who signed the letter.

Houston ISD has announced on Wednesday that the district will begin the school year with all students participating in entirely virtual instruction. September 8, 2020: First day of schoolThe first day of school will begin virtually, with all students participating in remote learning. October 16, 2020: Last day of entirely virtual instructionOctober 16 marks the last day of the first grading period. January 29, 2021: Fall semester endsDue to the delayed start of the school year, the fall semester will end on January 29, 2021. June 11, 2021: Last day of schoolThe last day of the 2020-21 school year is June 11, 2021.

Houston ISD will begin the 2020 school year exclusively online for the first six weeks. According to the Houston ISD re-opening plan, the school year will begin September 8 and be only online for the first six weeks until October 16. As far as athletics goes the following is what the plan states. This covers playing games, screening protocols and fan attendance. Plans will be adjusted as COVID-19 conditions change.Coaches and student athletes will undergo entry screening in alignment with district screening protocols at all practices, sub-varsity games, and games played in district facilities.

Virtual instruction for the district begins on September 8 and will continue for six weeks through October 16. Houston ISD plans to offer face-to-face instruction for all students beginning October 19. PPE ProtocolsMasks will be provided to students, employees, and visitors if they do not have one. Instruction methods offeredHouston ISD plans to offer both face-to-face and virtual instruction for the upcoming school year. Face-to-faceHouston ISD plans to offer face-to-face instruction for all students beginning October 19.

HOUSTON – As administrators prepare for the start of the new school year, the Houston Independent School District said it still needs to hire roughly 275 teachers. As of Wednesday night, the district had more than 360 certified teacher jobs posted online. But Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said the number of openings could soon rise as the deadline approaches for teachers to resign. HISD is hosting a virtual teacher job fair on July 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Teachers who plan to resign before the new school year must notify the district by Friday night.

HOUSTON – HISD is asking for parent feedback as they prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. The survey was first announced last Thursday, which allows parents and teachers a chance to provide feedback on distance learning and possible reopening scenarios once school begins in August. Possible reopening scenarios include face-to-face classes with reduced seating, continuing with distance learning, or hybrid learning. The survey asks questions about each child’s learning experience with distance learning during the school closure in the spring. To learn more about the 2020-2021 school year plan, click here.

HOUSTON – While COVID-19 has prevented several Houston-area graduates from participating in a traditional graduation ceremony, Houston ISD is ensuring students are able to be recognized for their major milestone and once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Click on the following links to watch your senior’s high school graduation at 1 p.m.:

HOUSTON – Houston ISD has released a proposed 2020-2021 calendar and the community now has a chance to provide feedback. A survey was released last week to allow community members, students, staff and faculty the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed year-round school calendar. According to a statement released Monday afternoon, the proposed 2020-2021 calendar will have an earlier start date of Aug. 13, instead of the fourth Monday of August. The last day of school would be June 16, 2021, according to the calendar. To read the full 2020-2021 proposed calendar year which includes holidays, teacher-in service days and breaks, click here.

HOUSTON – Since 2015, KPRC Channel 2 has been awarding twenty scholarships to deserving high school seniors. The winning students and schools have been featured weekly in KPRC’s newscasts. Here are a few winners from 2019′s Senior Scholarships. Angela Chan - Westfield High School, Spring ISDNaya Edwards - North Shore Senior Highschool, Galena Park ISDWill Ashworth - Klein Forest Highschool, Klein ISDAndy Nguyen - Westside High School, Houston ISDMarcela Molina - Sharpstown International School, Houston ISDSavannah Lawerence - La Porte High School, La Porte ISDJared Hallmark - Dulles High School, Fort Bend ISDNishat Nabi - Cypress Ranch High School, Cy-Fair ISDIsaiah Osazuwa - Alief Taylor High Shcool, Alief ISD

KPRC Senior Scholarship: Andy Nguyen from Westside High School in Houston ISD. If you need help with the Public File, call (713) 778-4745.

HOUSTON – Two Houston ISD high school football games have been rescheduled due to Saturday's inclement weather. Wheatley vs. Washington and Davis vs. Yates varsity football games have been moved to Monday night. The Wheatley-Washington football game has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Barnett Stadium. The Davis-Yates game has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Dyer Stadium. All other HISD varsity football games originally scheduled for Saturday will be held earlier at the following times:Milby vs. Chavez Barnett Stadium 11 a.m.Madison vs. Sharpstown Butler Stadium 11 a.m.Houston vs. Bellaire Cowart Stadium 11 a.m.Lamar vs. Westbury Delmar Stadium 11 a.m.No other district events are affected

HOUSTON – At the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, Houston ISD will implement an initiative to make sure every student gets lunch at school. "We are serving free lunch at 166 schools. Now, this is free to all students. For a list of every school offering students a free lunch, click here. On high school campuses, students will have the choice of grabbing a prepacked brown bag lunch if they don't want to wait in line.