Exploring the Universe


Three Houston Schools In Trouble... Public Upset Over Possible Closings

Three Houston schools have been persistentlyunsatisfactory.
rated as unsatisfactory by state guidelines
for three or more years. As with most schoolDuring the last school year, the Houston
closing warnings across the nation, theschools changed administrators at several
parents, community, and elected officialschronically unsatisfactory schools and a
with a political stake in the area are up inlarge percentage of the teaching staff at
arms  over  the  possibility.each school. Though tremendous improvement
was seen at Kashmere, Sam Houston, and
Though parents want their children to attendMcReynolds, there was not enough progress
schools within their own neighborhood, Imade and they were again rated as
believe the community must look at the costunsatisfactory.
of keeping these three schools open - the
students are failing, unable to meet the bareFor the 2006-2007 school year, the Houston
minimum requirements of the state! With theirschools have developed a year-long campaign
futures at risk, I would think that parentsin hopes of saving the three schools. School
would want their children at betterhours will be extended in order to provide
performing  schools.more instruction time to the students,
top-rated teachers have been hired to
The Houston schools' ratings are based onco-teach in problem classes, and an
statewide student achievement tests and theeducational achievement plan will be created
overall dropout and graduation rates of eachfor each student. All three schools for this
school. If a proposed policy by the Texasyear will be under the supervision of Dr.
Education Agency is adopted, then the stateKaren Soehnge, the Houston schools' chief
education commissioner will be able to closeacademic  officer.
in the near future any school that is rated
unsatisfactory for four consecutive years.The Houston schools have looked at several
Thus, Houston schools Superintendent Dr.strategies to save these schools. The ones
Abelardo Saavedra is only preparing thethey have implemented up-to-now have failed.
public, in case the schools do not gain aIf this current campaign fails as well, then
satisfactory rating at the end of thethe schools will be closed. It is a "improve
2006-2007  school  year.immediately" or "close the doors" situation
for the schools, the students, and the
In 2005, Saavedra warned that Kashmere Higheducators.
School, Sam Houston High School, and
McReynolds Middle School needed to improveAll students deserve a quality education, and
their ratings or drastic measures would beit is obvious that schools, which continue to
taken. Privatization of the schools wasbe rated unsatisfactory, are not providing
mentioned then; however, the Houston schoolssuch. The Houston schools must do better for
currently are preparing for closing thethese children.
schools, if they again are rated



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