Now almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and millions of Americans are still struggling to put food on their tables. (Photo: FOX26)

Newly released results from an HISD survey of families show a large number of students need help with basic needs such as food, clothing, health care and school supplies, according to a new research brief from the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University. (Photo: KTRK ABC13)

Prekindergarten enrollment in Texas public schools dropped 22 percent in the first half of the 2020-21 school year, state officials confirmed Friday, offering the most detailed look yet at the scope of a trend worrying education advocates amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  (Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle)

Educators itching to get students back in K-12 classrooms safely say the Biden administration could assist those efforts without Congress by tracking data on the spread of coronavirus in schools. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

HOUSTON – The start of a school year is full of excitement and challenges for students and teachers alike, even during a pandemic. The challenges can at times be overwhelming, especially if you’re a family dealing with homelessness. (Photo: Chuttersnap/Upsplash)

HOUSTON — Low-income families are more likely to choose virtual learning for their children rather than to send them on campus this fall, according to a KHOU 11 analysis of records from 10 Houston-area school districts.

(August 21, 2020) – As the 2020-2021 school year draws near, it is more important than ever that parents of 3- and 4-year-old children register for prekindergarten through their local school district. (Photo: Gustavo Huerta, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer)

(August 2, 2020) – Low college graduation rates could mean a significant number of Texas jobs going to out-of-state applicants by 2030. (Photo: Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News)

(July 28, 2020) – The Texas Higher Education Board had a 15-year plan to make post-secondary more common among Texans. But like so many others during the COVID-19 pandemic, that plan has been derailed.
(Photo by Andre Hunter)

(July 27, 2020) – Even before the coronavirus pandemic laid bare many gaps in opportunity in Texas public schools, Houston school leaders wanted to get a better handle on the inequities in the state’s largest school system.

(July 19, 2020) – Texas will likely fall short of its goal of ensuring that 60 percent of residents ages 25 to 34 receive a postsecondary education by 2030, according to a Rice University report.

(Feb 24, 2020) – Houston ISD plans to partner with researchers at Rice University for an ambitious, wide-ranging review of inequities impacting the district’s 210,000 students...

(Apr 24, 2020) – After September 11, during a period of intense conflict and uncertainty, my mentor Glenn Omatsu taught me that crises—while challenging—open windows of opportunity for change...

(Apr 27, 2020) – Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that one out of every four households in Texas ...

Check our our April Newsletter to learn more about our latest research and projects.

Read about the latest research and projects, learn about upcoming events, and meet our team in the latest issue of HERC News.

(Nov 26, 2019) – With the challenges in local schools continually in the headlines, it is clear that Houston and cities across the U.S. need practical, workable solutions to a host of complicated, systemic problems.