Black History Month is a time for us to reflect on the progress that has been made in terms of racial equity but also to acknowledge that progress has been hard-fought and intentionally obstructed, especially in terms of access to educational resources. Like many school districts across the country, Houston ISD has a rocky history […]
Houston GPS was disappointed to learn one of our endorsed candidates chose to engage in dog-whistle political advertising right before the election. We want to be clear that we did not approve said messaging and that it does not align with our core values.Critical Race Theory (CRT) is not usually taught in K-12 education because […]
Every June the HISD Board of Education must pass a budget for the next school year. Over the past decade, this has been a contentious conversation among Board members and with district administration. Passing the Budget has come down to the wire and/or involved last-minute amendments, which were not tested for sustainability, for several years. […]
On Friday, March 19, 2021, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Houston ISD in its lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency. It’s important to note that this ruling concerned an issue of procedure, meaning the court was deciding how the law should apply to the case, rather than the substance of the lawsuit. […]
A common refrain in many education circles is the traditional Masai greeting, “And how are the children?” The purpose of repeating this question is to remind teachers, parents, leaders, decision-makers – all adults – that the work of schools should always be in service to the children. If nothing else, the last year has shown […]
On October 29, 2020, Houston GPS hosted a Facebook Live Q&A session about the ongoing litigation between Houston ISD and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Currently, decisions for the case are pending in both the Supreme Court of Texas and the 3rd Court of Appeals, which could potentially strike down the injunction preventing the TEA […]
For many, the horrific murder of George Floyd brought to light the issues of police brutality and systemic racism that this country continues to face. The problem is not new, but we find ourselves at a moment when millions of Americans are finally willing to address it. While some have taken to the streets to […]
Now that we are adjusting to the concepts of remote learning and virtual gathering spaces, many school and district leaders are looking to the future. What will the learning environment look, sound, and feel like if/when we return in the fall? This is the type of question that we must address now in order to […]
The purpose of public education is to ensure a common foundation of knowledge and skills for all Americans, regardless of their background, neighborhood, or socio-economic status. While we, as a society, have fallen short of this ideal for a very long time – many would argue that we have never actually realized it – few […]
One of the big questions that looms over the potential state intervention in the governance structure of Houston ISD is, “What will change under a Board of Managers?” While this is a question that none of us – not even the TEA Commissioner – can answer with complete certainty, it is still worth considering. Now, […]