In this issue: Mariachis and Cornyn, Opt Out , Labor Canvass for teachers this weekend Do you enjoy Mariachis and advocacy? Join United We Dream on TUE to demand that Sen Cornyn supports a pathway to citizenship! Come out on Tuesday, April 6th - 11AM CT outside of Senator Cornyn’s Office located in 5300 Memorial Drive, Houston TX 77007!   Read more

COVID cases are spiking again, but the TEA Commissioner is pushing parents to take the first round of STAAR next week! Read below for Opt Out 101 Read more

Senator Paul Bettencourt has declared war on public education. The newest state takeover bill (SB 1365) and the charter bill (SB 28), both authored by Senator Paul Bettencourt, will be heard in committee today (3/25.)  These bills give the Texas Education Agency (TEA) commissioner more power than ever before to dismantle school districts and to commandeer state and federal funds with impunity. Read more

Can you come to the Ride for Public Ed and Phone Jam at the Houston Region 4 Building (proxy for TEA) on Monday, March 15th? RSVP here. Read more

Earlier this week Diane Ravitch wrote in her blog that “The Biden administration chose a pro-testing advocate, Ian Rosenblum of Education Trust New York, to announce the decision that states must administer the federally mandated tests this spring." Read more

Despite outcry from communities and educators across Texas, Governor Abbott has not cancelled the STAAR exam this spring. Families, students and educators need support and protection from COVID, not more tests. The good news is, families can stand up and opt out. Only Governor Abbott (TEA) can cancel STAAR by requesting a federal waiver, but HISD has the power to lessen the harmful burden too. Tell the trustees to share a more accurate message about STAAR with families. Read more

Pushing an unrelenting district-based assessment schedule, HISD seems completely disconnected from the day-to-day impact of COVID on students and their families.  Read more

Read CVPE's letter to the HISD School Board Policing Task Force, proposed by HISD School Board President Sue Diegaard during the Summer 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations. Included in the letter are recommendations for changes needed in HISD regarding policing and the group's rationale behind the recommendations.  Read more

What is so hard about being thoughtful and supportive towards teachers, other staff and students in the middle of a pandemic? Can you speak at the HISD Board meeting on Thursday to demand that HISD take COVID seriously? Read more

In the face of mounting evidence that schools are superspreaders, please email the governor today to demand he protect children, teachers, staff and communities. Read more