The mark of a good education doesn’t stop after graduation. After the homework, study sessions, extracurricular activities, tests, and final farewells, life for HISD students is just beginning, and it’s up to all of us to ensure they are prepared for what comes next.
Alongside other education organizations in Houston — including EdTrust in Texas, Teach for America, the Rice University Center for Education, Latinos for Education, and more — Houston GPS shared a letter with the Houston ISD Board of Managers, urging the administration to expand opportunity and economic mobility for Houston students that will translate into living-wage careers. The letter outlined five specific, actionable policy items to help ensure strong student outcomes beyond graduation remain a lasting priority in HISD:
- Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Coursework for qualified middle and high school students, promoting equitable access to rigorous learning.
- Reviewing and maintaining High-Quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways that lead to great job opportunities and a living wage.
- Clear Goals and Public Reporting on College and Career Readiness to keep students on track for success after graduation by measuring and publicly reporting progress toward college enrollment, career-aligned credentials, and other readiness milestones.
- Student-Outcome-Aligned Budgeting to ensure funding decisions support the strategies that help students achieve the district’s college and career readiness goals.
- A minimum of 90% Reinvestment of CCMR Outcomes Bonus Funding into college and career readiness efforts to ensure these funds directly benefit the next generation of students on their path to economic mobility.
Policies that ensure every child enrolled in HISD has the tools to achieve their career goals and succeed in living-wage employment isn’t just good for students—it benefits entire communities, making Houston stronger for the future. Investment in our kids’ future now is a goal we can all get behind.
Read the full letter here.