Advocacy in Action: Putting Houston Students First

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Across Houston, parents, educators, and advocates are stepping up to shape policies that put students at the center. From expanding access to early learning to ensuring every classroom has a great teacher, we’re building momentum for real change in our schools.

Here’s a look at recent advocacy wins—and how you can stay involved in the months ahead.

Early Learning: Investing in Our Youngest Learners

In January, Houston-area parents, educators, and advocates came together to explore the critical role of Pre-K in shaping a child’s academic journey—especially for students in historically underserved communities.

Local Pre-K teachers shared how early learning experiences, especially in social-emotional development and foundational literacy, prepare students for success in kindergarten and beyond. Research shows that Black and Latino children who attend Pre-K are twice as likely to be kindergarten-ready compared to their peers who don’t.

As Houston continues to grapple with equity challenges, early childhood education remains one of the most effective levers for improving student outcomes.

✅ Take Action:

• Contact your state senator to support increased Pre-K funding via House Bill 2 (HB2)

• Sign up for our legislative updates  to stay informed

Teacher Quality: Supporting and Retaining Great Educators

In February, Good Reason Houston participated in a powerful panel focused on teacher effectiveness—one of the most urgent issues facing Houston-area schools today.

The panel, hosted by The Education Trust in Texas’ Educator Advisory Council, featured educators, principals, and staff from Houston ISD, Aldine ISD, and Spring ISD who spoke candidly about the growing challenge of teacher turnover, which now ranges from 17% to 34% across Houston-region ISDs. The panel shared insights on how to support teachers through:

• Calibrated, fair evaluations

• Student growth indicators

• Ongoing professional development

• Incentives through programs like the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA)

In March, our advocacy continued as we, along with coalition members, submitted a joint letter to Houston ISD in support of the newly approved Teacher Excellence System (TES)—a more robust framework for evaluating and growing teacher talent.

✅ Take Action:

• Learn more about TES and how it’s being implemented in HISD

• Encourage your district to adopt fair, student-centered teacher evaluation practices

What’s Ahead: April–May Highlights

Good Reason Houston, through our work with The Citywide Coalition on Education, will continue convening advocates and community members around key issues this spring. Upcoming sessions will focus on:

• Houston ISD Progress Monitoring – how we track student learning

• Budget Basics – understanding where the dollars go

• College, Career & Military Readiness – preparing all students for what’s next

✨ Additional Highlights:

• Good Reason Houston will be featured through our  Parent Action Network at the April PTO meeting at Blackshear Elementary supported by the Parent Teacher Collaborative.

• In May, join us for Funding Our Future: A School Budget Conversation, where you can step into the role of a board member and navigate the tough trade-offs of school budgeting.