By The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has issued a strong response to the call for protest made by Community Voices for Public Education (CVPE), reaffirming the district’s commitment to its students. HISD emphasizes the ongoing support and stability provided to students during uncertain times.
In a statement from Alexandra Elizondo, HISD Chief of Public Affairs and Communications, the district highlights its dedication to ensuring the safety and continued progress of students:
“HISD has always, and will always, continue to support and educate every student who walks through our doors. While our commitment to students has not changed, we know this is an uncertain time for many in the Houston community. We will do everything within our power to ensure stability and continuity of care for our students while they are in our schools, and the safest place for our students to be during the school week is in school. It is entirely irresponsible for CVPE to cynically exploit people’s legitimate concerns about federal immigration policy to push their own political agenda about state intervention. Encouraging students to skip school only hurts students.
Every data point—STAAR, NAEP, School Accountability Ratings, College-Credit Course Access—shows that HISD’s students and schools, especially those neglected by previous administrations, are making significant progress.
CVPE has already lobbied to defeat the bond and ensure students continue learning in aging buildings.
What bad old days do they want the district’s most marginalized students to be dragged back to now? Do they want to go back to the time when only 17% of graduates earned a living wage, when the schools serving our poorest students graduated students with empty diplomas, or when students with special needs were so chronically underserved that the state had to step in? And are they really willing to encourage children to skip school to make their point?
The old HISD may have worked wonderfully for a few students, but it didn’t work for most students. The systemic transformation underway at HISD is the best shot to ensure that all of Houston’s students have a fair shot at the education and life they deserve. Unfortunately, a small group of adults continues to put their interests ahead of students.”
HISD asserts that the systemic transformation currently underway is crucial to ensuring all Houston students have an equal opportunity for success. The district criticizes CVPE’s actions for undermining the progress being made and jeopardizing students’ well-being. Read the complete response at the HISD’s X post.
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