Houston ISD can now extend the school year and begin it earlier after the state-appointed school board unanimously voted in favor of the plan Thursday.
Asher Lehrer-Small
Asher Lehrer-Small is an education reporter covering Houston ISD for the Houston Landing. His work focuses on helping families understand how HISD policies and practices impact their children, holding district leaders accountable for providing a high-quality education and giving students a voice in their school experience. He previously spent three years covering schools for The 74, a nonprofit education news outlet, where he was recognized by the Education Writers Association as one of the top three education beat reporters in the nation working at a small newsroom. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe, Fast Company, The Guardian and other outlets. He graduated from Brown University after studying education policy, and he worked as a summer school math teacher in Providence, Rhode Island. Off the clock, you can find him tending to houseplants or frying up homemade donuts for a crowd.
Posted inEducation
Houston ISD is poised to enact a ‘District of Innovation’ plan. Here’s what it would do.
Houston ISD would see a longer school year and earlier start date if the district’s board of managers votes Thursday to enact the proposal.
Posted inEducation
HISD board quietly abandons agenda review, giving public less time to consider proposals
Houston ISD’s state-appointed board has nixed monthly agenda review meetings, where community members could voice opinions well before votes.
Posted inEducation
Texas lawmakers urge Houston ISD to restore free Verizon internet program for students
Twelve Houston-area lawmakers sent a letter asking Superintendent Mike Miles to renew HISD’s Verizon program or find a free alternative provider.
Posted inEducation
HISD now has 6,000 fewer students, its steepest enrollment drop since the pandemic, data show
Roughly 6,000 fewer students now attend Houston ISD, prompting questions over the district’s budget and whether school closures may be to come.
Posted inEducation
Conservative PragerU video questioning climate change shown in dozens of Houston ISD classes
The clip encouraged viewers to “do your own research,” repeatedly citing examples that push back on the idea that humans have caused climate change.
Posted inEducation
Why did HISD scrap no-cost Verizon program that gave internet, laptops to 56,500 students?
Tens of thousands of Houston ISD students will lose free internet connectivity this weekend after the district backed out of its partnership with Verizon.
Posted inEducation
HISD committee advances plan to extend year, allow uncertified high school teachers
HISD took the second-to-last step toward becoming a District of Innovation, a move that would exempt it from seven state education laws.
Posted inEducation
We asked 15 HISD students about big changes on their campuses this year. Here’s what they said.
We asked 15 students to share their thoughts on how Mike Miles’ Houston ISD overhaul is going. Here’s what they had to say, in their own words.
Posted inElections
Houston ISD’s elected board currently has no power. People ran for the trustee posts anyway.
Six people sought to become trustees this election cycle, despite the roles having no decision-making authority amid TEA intervention in HISD