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| Learning From Kindergarten to College |
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) research has established guidelines for all Texas pre-K programs that support effective teaching practices; these have been shown to lead to important growth in children’s intellectual and social development. To review the suggested curriculum guidelines, visit http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/ed_init/pkguideliness/.
The majority of Houston Independent School District elementary schools maintain pre-K programs for children whose parents qualify. HISD is offering pre-K on a tuition basis to students who do not meet the eligibility requirements to attend pre-K at no cost. Parents may enroll their 4-year-old child (child must be 4 years of age on or before September 1 of a given school year) in a full-day, tuition-based pre-K program at participating neighborhood schools on a space-available basis. The state-set fee is $4,200 per year, which may be paid in 10 payments of $420. To obtain additional information about tuition-based pre-K, call the HISD Early Childhood Department at (713) 556-6882, or a participating school. You can also visit the district’s website at www.houstonisd.org.
ELEMENTARY
Houston A+ Challenge (www.houstonaplus.org), an independent, public-private organization that has supported public school improvement in the Houston area, recognizes the best practices of schools throughout the Houston region through its programs and rewards.
Elementary schools, such as Pine Shadows Elementary (Spring Branch ISD) received a Replication Grant from Houston A+ Challenge. The grant is designed to encourage the replication of best practices in the Houston region’s schools. Pine Shadows’ fine arts initiative called Project AIM, expanded its highly effective visual arts integration program to fully incorporate music into student curriculum.
Houston A+ Challenge also recognized Beacon Schools, 11 schools that have proven records of reform to better serve their diverse students. To be recognized, each school must display whole-school reform, a personalized learning community, a community of adult learners, powerful community connections, impressive student achievement, careful planning and mentoring.
One Beacon School is Robert Browning Elementary, which serves the predominantly Hispanic community of Brooksmith, a neighborhood located on the eastern edge of the Houston Heights area. It serves a diverse population, with programs, such as Title I, Head Start, bilingual, English as a second language education, inclusion and accelerated academics.
Through funding and assistance from Houston A+ Challenge, the Kennedy Elementary School (Alief ISD) strengthened and expanded its reform efforts. Specifically, school leaders enhanced professional development by expanding the Summer Transformational Leadership Symposium; providing tuition for national, regional and district in-services; expanding the Rice Storytelling Project; and providing release time and resources for new staff training.
Personalizing the learning environment is another goal of the school’s leadership. Ideas include expansion of flexible grouping practices, such as the Mixed-Age Program, and producing videos in the various languages spoken by the students and their families as an orientation tool.
TRANSITIONING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Parents have concerns and questions about their children’s transition from elementary to middle school, and any transition program must include the extensive participation of parents. According to the National Education Association (NEA), a well-planned, systematic transition program involves all the stakeholders: students, school personnel and parents. Here are some things to consider.
Incoming middle school students should be involved in a variety of activities preparing them for middle school. They should have the opportunity to meet middle school students and teachers in their elementary school. They should have the opportunity to visit the middle school in the spring and meet the staff and students, particularly their homeroom teacher and classmates. Educators in both the elementary and the middle school should provide activities for students to lessen their concerns, build their confidence and reduce their anxiety.
The majority of Houston Independent School District elementary schools maintain pre-K programs for children whose parents qualify. HISD is offering pre-K on a tuition basis to students who do not meet the eligibility requirements to attend pre-K at no cost. Parents may enroll their 4-year-old child (child must be 4 years of age on or before September 1 of a given school year) in a full-day, tuition-based pre-K program at participating neighborhood schools on a space-available basis. The state-set fee is $4,200 per year, which may be paid in 10 payments of $420. To obtain additional information about tuition-based pre-K, call the HISD Early Childhood Department at (713) 556-6882, or a participating school. You can also visit the district’s website at www.houstonisd.org.
ELEMENTARY
Houston A+ Challenge (www.houstonaplus.org), an independent, public-private organization that has supported public school improvement in the Houston area, recognizes the best practices of schools throughout the Houston region through its programs and rewards.
Elementary schools, such as Pine Shadows Elementary (Spring Branch ISD) received a Replication Grant from Houston A+ Challenge. The grant is designed to encourage the replication of best practices in the Houston region’s schools. Pine Shadows’ fine arts initiative called Project AIM, expanded its highly effective visual arts integration program to fully incorporate music into student curriculum.
Houston A+ Challenge also recognized Beacon Schools, 11 schools that have proven records of reform to better serve their diverse students. To be recognized, each school must display whole-school reform, a personalized learning community, a community of adult learners, powerful community connections, impressive student achievement, careful planning and mentoring.
One Beacon School is Robert Browning Elementary, which serves the predominantly Hispanic community of Brooksmith, a neighborhood located on the eastern edge of the Houston Heights area. It serves a diverse population, with programs, such as Title I, Head Start, bilingual, English as a second language education, inclusion and accelerated academics.
Through funding and assistance from Houston A+ Challenge, the Kennedy Elementary School (Alief ISD) strengthened and expanded its reform efforts. Specifically, school leaders enhanced professional development by expanding the Summer Transformational Leadership Symposium; providing tuition for national, regional and district in-services; expanding the Rice Storytelling Project; and providing release time and resources for new staff training.
Personalizing the learning environment is another goal of the school’s leadership. Ideas include expansion of flexible grouping practices, such as the Mixed-Age Program, and producing videos in the various languages spoken by the students and their families as an orientation tool.
TRANSITIONING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL
Parents have concerns and questions about their children’s transition from elementary to middle school, and any transition program must include the extensive participation of parents. According to the National Education Association (NEA), a well-planned, systematic transition program involves all the stakeholders: students, school personnel and parents. Here are some things to consider.
Incoming middle school students should be involved in a variety of activities preparing them for middle school. They should have the opportunity to meet middle school students and teachers in their elementary school. They should have the opportunity to visit the middle school in the spring and meet the staff and students, particularly their homeroom teacher and classmates. Educators in both the elementary and the middle school should provide activities for students to lessen their concerns, build their confidence and reduce their anxiety.
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