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| CASE Report
Smart Brevity ®
count: 2.5 mins...710 words
CASE is a collective of Houstonians committed to ensuring that every student within Houston Independent School District (HISD) has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. CASE emerged in response to the urgent need for a renewed focus on the fundamental goal of fostering an environment where all students can learn and thrive.
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Sunrise Centers support students as Spring semester starts
As HISD’s students returned to class this week to start the Spring semester, many students are taking advantage of HISD’s new Sunrise Centers. Sunrise Centers are innovative service hubs located in high-need areas that operate as “one-stop-shops” for social service support.
Why it matters:
Sunrise Centers are a project spearheaded by Superintendent Mike Miles that provides students and families a safe environment with essential resources including food, clothing, health care, mental health support, and job training, among other services, through partnerships with community organizations like BakerRipley.
By the numbers:
More than 1,000 families have been served by the Sunrise Centers, and over 100 are receiving ongoing case management services.
Access a Center:
Submit an intake form
, connect with a staff member at your student’s school, or simply walk into a center.
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ICYMI: “I like what I’ve seen” - Judith Cruz Op-Ed
Former HISD Board President Judith Cruz recently penned an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle
in which she discussed her first-hand observations from inside an NES campus. Cruz described an engaging environment “where students at various proficiency levels were actively participating in their learning.” Cruz added, “it’s hard to deny the intentional focus on quality teaching and learning, especially for our most underserved students.”
Why it matters:
Cruz’ perspective is especially salient given her experience as an HISD elected official, teacher, and parent.
By the numbers:
Cruz mentioned that “when tested in September, only 18% of third-graders
at NES or NES-aligned campuses were able to read on grade level.” The NES model is designed to course-correct this trend.
What they’re saying:
Cruz: “Our students cannot afford to wait or to waste time. We should want a system that aims to level the playing field, granting them the opportunity to access a quality education and realize their full potential.”
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Mayor Whitmire to work with HISD
New Houston mayor John Whitmire recently met with TEA Commissioner Mike Morath to underscore support for students and HISD’s appointed leadership. Check out the Houston Chronicle report here.
Why it matters:
The meeting signals a change in approach from City Hall under Mayor Whitmire’s leadership. Whitmire pledged support and assistance for HISD, saying “Let’s support the students, support the administration that has got the children’s best interests at heart, and go forward.”
What they’re saying:
Erin Baumgartner, director of the Houston Education Research Institute at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, commented that although the Mayor does not have direct authority over HISD, the Mayor can leverage City resources to support students’ needs.
The bottom line:
Students will benefit from collaboration between Mayor Whitmire, Superintendent Miles, and Commissioner Morath.
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Federal ruling means Texas could lose millions in special education funding
 A recent ruling by the federal Department of Education places hundreds of millions of dollars in special education funding at risk for all Texas school districts.
Why it matters:
Texas school districts are expected to receive $300 million less per year in special education funding. This change could result in HISD losing over $10 million dollars and strain its already-tight budget.
How it works:
As noted in this Houston Chronicle article
, Medicaid provides districts with a federal rebate when school staff rather than a medical professionals serve special education students with medical care.
The big picture:
Special education has been a focus of the new HISD administration.
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Already this year the district has increased the identification of students needing special education services by almost 10%, compared with this time last year.
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Even with this progress, Superintendent Miles recognizes the magnitude of the challenge, saying "This is a big ship that we’re going to have to turn — it's going to take more than a year to do that — but I think you’ll see that we have a SPED department in good hands and we’re already moving in the right direction."
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