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Last month, the U.S. Department of Education rejected the Lone Star State’s new educator evaluation system. Texas must create an evaluation system that meets federal guidelines if the state wants to keep its No Child Left Behind waiver. Texas education officials have until March 31 to submit a new set of guidelines.
Those proposed revisions come as Congress works to rewrite the much-criticized 2001 No Child Left Behind law.
On this edition of Houston Matters, we discuss what concerns the federal government has with the state’s educator evaluation system and what's potentially at stake if Texas loses the waiver. We also talk about research out of Rice University examining the model used for No Child Left Behind.
Also this hour: We talk with Dr. Stephen Head, the Chancellor of Lone Star College, and Peter Beard, the Senior Vice President of Regional Workforce Development at the Greater Houston Partnership, about their efforts to encourage and train students for careers in trades amid a workforce skill gap.
Then: A recent University of Houston study examines risk factors for families that can lead to food insecurity– the lack of access to healthy and affordable food. We examine those factors and what motivates Houstonians to seek — or not seek — food assistance.
Plus: A new museum celebrating one Houstonian's passion for bicycles opens Thursday (2/26/15). The Houston Bicycle Museum is located in the heart of the Museum District and features antique bike parts, cycling memorabilia, and — of course — bicycles. Houston Matters' Maggie Martin will have a report.
