Laura Isensee

Education Reporter

Laura Isensee covers education for Houston Public Media, including K-12 and higher education. Previously, she was a staff reporter at The Miami Herald and contributed to South Florida’s NPR affiliate. Her work has also appeared in The Dallas Morning News, Reuters and Clarín in Argentina. Laura has won awards for her work in print and radio, including best specialty/beat reporting from the Texas AP Broadcasters Association in 2014.

A native Houstonian, Laura graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Spanish and Plan II, a liberal arts honors program. She earned her master’s in journalism from Columbia University. Her radio stories have aired on national programs, such as NPR’s All Things Considered and Here & Now. She enjoys dancing, biking and exploring new places. You can follow her @lauraisensee on Twitter.

News

HISD Meeting Leads to Scuffle, Arrests and No Partnership Vote

Posted on April 25, 2018 · It's not clear what are the next steps for HISD and its most struggling schools.

News

Ahead Of Board Vote, Houston Teachers Union Raises Questions About Proposed Charter Partner

Posted on April 23, 2018 · The HISD administration has recommended the charter group, Energized for STEM, to take on the management, budgeting, curriculum and turnaround efforts for 10 HISD schools that haven't met state standards in several years

Education News

HISD Considering Two New Potential Partners For Struggling Schools

Posted on April 18, 2018 · Trustees have to send their partnership plans to the Texas Education Agency by April 30 for final approval.

In-Depth

Houston Colleges Offer Food Scholarships to Help Students Ease Food Insecurity

Posted on April 18, 2018 · Since the student market opened at Texas Woman's University in January, about 80 students receive groceries twice a month, just as long as they stay in school

News

HISD Speeds Up Process to Approve Partners for Struggling Schools

Posted on April 13, 2018 · HISD must send any partnership deals to state education officials by April 30.

News

Fort Bend ISD Weighs School Consolidations In Facilities Plan

Posted on April 10, 2018 · In a recent community message, Superintendent Charles Dupre said that he "cannot stress enough that no decisions have been made at this point."

News

Nation’s Report Card: Houston Students Didn’t Make Progress In Core Subjects

Posted on April 10, 2018 · One troubling national trend was a bigger gap between lower-performing students and high achievers

News

Testing Season Starts Without Decision On Waiver For Hurricane Harvey

Posted on April 9, 2018 · Poor scores can have steep consequences for their schools, even potential closure, under the state's accountability system.

News

How To Put Ethics Into Texas’ Draft Special Education Plan

Posted on April 8, 2018 · "We don’t go home at the end of the day and say, 'Yes! I didn’t break the law today,'" law professor Susan Bon said

News

Could Texas See The Next Wave Of Teacher Walkouts?

Posted on April 4, 2018 · Union leaders say instructors in Texas are frustrated with stagnant wages and shrinking state support.

News

HISD Backs Off Budget Overhaul

Posted on April 3, 2018 · The move allows HISD principals to largely retain control over how they spend their campus budgets.

Education News

Houston Mayor Says He’s Been Asked To Get ‘Very, Very Involved’ With HISD’s Struggling Schools

Posted on March 28, 2018 · "I’m deciding to what degree and to how far I’m willing to get involved in the day-to-day operation of any of the schools," Turner said

News

Advocates, Administrators Ask Lawmakers To Consider More Funding In Special Ed Reform

Posted on March 26, 2018 · At the same time, Texas is under a federal mandate to improve access to special education, a state commission is reviewing the school finance system, which could include changes to special ed funding

Education News

Students Organize Massive March For Our Lives Rally In Houston

Posted on March 23, 2018 · The students plan to start the rally at 9 a.m. Saturday at Tranquility Park near City Hall.

News

HISD Trustees Tap Chief Academic Officer Grenita Lathan As Acting Superintendent

Posted on March 23, 2018 · Lathan will take over the state’s largest school district, after outgoing Superintendent Richard Carranza announced his departure to be Chancellor of New York City schools