Houston ISD relaxed rules on checking out books when it eliminated dozens of librarian positions, complicating data collection on book usage.
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
‘Like an icebox’: Two-thirds of HISD schools had heating problems during January freeze
Maintenance logs show nearly 200 Houston ISD campuses reported heating problems when below-freezing temperatures hit the city.
Posted inEducation
Houston school districts delivering on special ed promise years after state scandal
The Houston area’s five largest districts saw their largest increase in students receiving special education services since 2016, when a Houston Chronicle investigation revealed illegal practices.
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It’s official: HISD will extend next year’s school calendar, start classes earlier
Houston ISD will begin classes in mid-August and include eight more days of instruction under a calendar approved by the district Thursday.
Posted inEducation
We asked 33 HISD families at schools slated for overhaul what they think of upcoming changes
Most families at schools that will be transformed next year said they were unaware of coming changes, but welcomed new model with cautious optimism.
Posted inEducation
Houston ISD to add dozens of schools to district overhaul, move some low-performing teachers
Teachers at overhauled schools next year will lose their positions if they’re rated among the least effective 15 percent of HISD educators.
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Can HISD solve its huge budget deficit without layoffs? These 7 reasons will make it tough.
Houston ISD expects to run a budget deficit of about $250 million this year, and it wants to spend even more next year on new programs.
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HISD considering 4 options for lengthening 2024-25 school year, starting class earlier
Houston ISD’s calendar proposals show classes starting between Aug. 7 and 14, with 180 days spent in school, up from 172 this year.
Posted inEducation
Silent struggles: Grieving Houston-area students’ well-being at stake as COVID-19 funds fade
The imminent end of federal stimulus money will soon put educators and counselors in a bind as kids struggle with grief, anxiety and depression.
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HISD opened 7 centers to provide food, clothes and more. Will they reach families in need?
Houston ISD officials hope the centers will become a community beacon for students and adults — once more people know about them.