New data show Texas schools may be failing their bilingual students, as an increasing share of English-learners aren’t becoming proficient in the language after five years. (Photo: HISD archive photo)

Long-term partnerships allow schools and researchers to work together to address seemingly intractable problems. (Photo: Getty Images)

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 ...

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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.