Houston’s diversity is a tremendous asset. As Rice University demographer Stephen Klineberg has observed, “It is a big part of what will make Houston a world city. How we invest in the education of Latino and African-American communities will determine whether ethnic diversity increases our competitiveness or tears us apart. Here, more than anywhere else, the future depends on education.”
Research shows that mentoring and family engagement are two powerful ways to support students and remove barriers to success. Mentors not only help young people achieve social-emotional well-being and reduce risk behaviors but also achieve academically and acquire the skills that help them pursue their goals. Intentional efforts to engage families in their children’s education – for example, by expanding their access to information about district programs and resources – also yield long-term rewards.
HISD believes deeply in expanding students’ access to mentors and families’ access to district supports. The HISD Foundation supports funding designated to alleviate inequities related to PTO, staffing, fine arts, extracurriculars, athletics, field trips, after-school clubs, and new teacher funds. The HISD Foundation does NOT support bond-aligned items, operational/ongoing expenses, high-resource schools, maintenance, base salaries, and cash through the Equity/Opportunity Fund.
Students need a variety of supports in order to reach their full potential.