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