Signs of Trouble and of Hope at Mendez Middle School

In-district charter seeks to turn around a campus’ longtime struggles

"...taken over by an in-district charter – the first of its kind in the Austin Independent School District –..."

March 1, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

What Follows Five Years of Failure at Mendez Middle School?

Making the grade

"...Two weeks ago, when the Texas Education Agency released district and campus scores as part..."

Aug. 31, 2018 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin Music Census Data Will Remain Private

Attorney General grants exemption from open records requests

"...Austin Music Census has come to a conclusion as Texas’ Attorney General ruled that Titan Music Group, who the..."

Feb. 1, 2016 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

A Declaration of Independence

Zavala Elementary and Principal Sean Fox are succeeding at going their own way

"...that it labors under the misapprehension that it's inevitably academically cursed. That missing book was a sign that something..."

May 9, 2014 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Learning Desire

MindPop thinks about arts education in whole new ways, and what a difference it makes

"...This Austin educator knows that our schools are full of children and youth who struggle and consequently don't want..."

Oct. 12, 2012 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Not the Brightest STAAR

Under pressure from lawmakers, education commissioner defers 15% grading system

"...Parents, students, and teachers across Texas breathed a sigh of relief when Texas dumped the..."

Feb. 24, 2012 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Austin ISD's Partnership With IDEA

"...to provide a college preparatory choice to the families of Austin’s Eastside. IDEA has a proven track record of..."

Feb. 6, 2012 Postmarks

Uncontrolled Experiments

AISD says charters and single-sex academies will lift all students' boats – and attacks any research that says otherwise

"...The mantra of the Austin Independent School District under Superintendent Meria Carstarphen..."

Dec. 9, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Designed To Fail

As Pearce may face another repurposing, AISD gets excited about single-sex schools

"...James E. Pearce College Preparatory Academy. In the main office, a grandfather is worrying about his granddaughter. He has..."

Nov. 18, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Changing Course

AISD shifts to community-based model for prepping younger kids for college

"...work force more quickly. The aim is nothing short of a wholesale rebuilding of the culture of college applications,..."

Sept. 9, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

For AISD, Some Positive Signs Amid Poor Ratings

Two high schools and six middle schools miss state targets

"...If the latest Texas Education Agency school rankings are accurate, many schools in..."

Aug. 5, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Schools: Under Siege

School districts around the state remember the Alamo

"...wrote, "I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna." Two weeks before the..."

March 4, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

A Closer Look at AISD's Ratings

Many schools improved over the last year – but not all

"...good news is that the district itself was classified "academically acceptable," while 109 of the 110 campuses either met..."

Aug. 6, 2010 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

ACC Board Elections: Meet the Candidates

The candidates on taxing districts, remedial boot camps, and student culture

"...for three seats on the Austin Community College board of trustees are coming up on May 8 (early voting..."

April 16, 2010 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Headlines

"...While local boosters may be ecstatic over the prospect of a prosthetics company coming to Austin (see above), the..."

Jan. 29, 2010 News Feature

Some Reforms Left Behind

Lege looks to account for school accountability

"...Supporters of the legislation say it opens up new pathways to..."

April 3, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Bringing the Group to the Vision

As Pat Forgione prepares to say farewell, he looks back on his AISD decade

"...30 retirement, he's still a workaholic. The only slab of time he had for a real sit-down was a..."

Feb. 27, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

AISD Scores TAKS Victories

TAKS ratings improve for many AISD schools

"...District is winning the uphill battle with the controversial Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests. On Aug. 1,..."

Aug. 8, 2008 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Strategy for Saving Low-Performing High Schools

AISD drafting strategic response to performance issues at its high school campuses

"...At a special-called meeting Monday night, AISD's top academic officers outlined what the data, crunched and tweaked in..."

Dec. 21, 2007 News Feature by Kimberly Reeves

Incorrect Test Scores in Piece on Johnston High

"...appeared in The Austin Chronicle entitled "The Slow Dying of Johnston High" [News], by Kimberly Reeves. Although the article..."

Dec. 19, 2007 Postmarks

The Slow Dying of Johnston High

State accountability standards may close a school on the edge of survival

"...the community to pull together to save the pride of the Eastside might have been a turning point for..."

Nov. 30, 2007 News Feature by Kimberly Reeves

Naked City

"...Quote of the Week..."

Oct. 26, 2007 News Feature

Another Side of Travis Heights

In a South Austin apartment complex, residents organize for change

"...the Travis Heights neighborhood. The complex fits the stereotype of Section 8 subsidized housing, critics say – an unattractive,..."

Oct. 19, 2007 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Naked City

"...Quote of the Week..."

Aug. 31, 2007 News Feature

Pearce Gets a New Principal

High test scores at what cost?

"...Northeast Austin. Troutman is quite familiar with the challenges of working in a large urban school district. He comes..."

Aug. 24, 2007 News Feature by Justin Ward

SB 1031: The new exams

"...Plano Republican Florence Shapiro (effective Sept. 1), will kill off the roundly hated Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills..."

June 29, 2007 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Johnston's Backup Plan

In light of latest Johnston High test scores, district draws up contingency plan in anticipation of decision from state on underperforming school's future

"...The release of the latest test scores from Johnston High has Austin..."

June 8, 2007 News Feature by Justin Ward

Naked City

"...Quote of the Week "I thought this was the Year of..."

April 6, 2007 News Feature

Kealing: Equal but Separate Plans

Parents of magnet and comprehensive program students have differing visions for Eastside middle school

"...Kealing Middle School students and parents gathered inside the offices of the nearby Booker T. Washington housing projects to..."

April 6, 2007 News Feature by Justin Ward

On the Lege: A $156 Million Disaster

The Accenture scheme blows up in the state's face

"...It took more than a year of blunders before Health and Human Services Commission officials last..."

March 23, 2007 News Column

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