Event highlights key education indicators, honors Jim Postl, launches data-driven insights reports for Houston
Houston, TX – Good Reason Houston hosted the 2023 State of Schools Luncheon on October 19, 2023, at The Briar Club in Houston. Some 300 Houstonians attended, uniting educators, community leaders, and education supporters for a common cause.
Superintendents and district leaders from Houston-area school systems, including Houston ISD, Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, Channelview ISD, KIPP: Texas, Pasadena ISD, and YES Prep, joined public representatives from the state legislature, the State Board of Education, and local school district trustees.
During the luncheon, Good Reason Houston CEO Cary Wright addressed three significant factors impacting this year’s education data: the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the revamped STAAR assessment, and impending updates to the A-F school rating system. These factors underscored the challenges educators face and the expectations for student success.
Good Reason Houston shared five key indicators critical for assessing public education success. These encompass the regional Snapshots that Good Reason Houston compiles annually:
- Pre-K Enrollment: Advancing early education access and equity.
- School Quality: Ensuring excellence in educational environments.
- Student Achievement: Cultivating academic excellence and growth.
- College, Career, and Military Readiness: Preparing students for diverse future paths.
- Postsecondary Completion: Empowering students to achieve higher education goals.
The luncheon featured a Q&A with Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles, moderated by retired H-E-B President and Good Reason Houston Board Chair Scott McClelland, providing valuable perspective on education challenges and opportunities from the largest school district in the state.
Good Reason Houston also honored Jim Postl, former President and CEO of Pennzoil-Quaker State and a dedicated Board Member of Good Reason Houston, with the Champion for Change award. This award recognized his exceptional contributions to and investment in improving public education.
With a commitment to data-driven decision-making, Good Reason Houston launched the first of its ongoing series of Insights reports. These reports aim to equip the Houston community with deep-dive analyses to inform strategic choices and catalyze positive change within the city’s public education system.
Good Reason Houston invites stakeholders interested in exploring the presented indicators and metrics to schedule a meeting with an expert from the Research and Data Strategy team. For inquiries, please contact Manager of Communications, Jahnara Khan, at jahnara@goodreasonhouston.org.
About Good Reason Houston
Good Reason Houston works to build awareness of, advocate for, and advise public school systems on measures that will improve the quality of public education available to every child in every neighborhood of Houston.
