How to Get Involved
Inform Yourself
Learn more about the quality of education in the Houston area. What are the key problems? How are your school district and your public school doing?
Sign up for the Houston A+ Newsletter
The Texas Education Agency website provides a wealth of information about the state’s schools, including testing results and accountability ratings broken down by region, district, and campus. For example, you can learn your school’s Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) results since its implementation in 2003.
The National Center for Education Accountability also provides school and student data, as well as identifying best practices in education
The Northwest Regional Education Laboratory
.
Vote
This is a democracy and your vote counts. Houston A+ Challenge does not sponsor or advocate for any particular political candidate or party, but we urge all Houston-area citizens to become informed about their voting decisions. We provide links to the educational platforms of candidates in local and statewide races, as well as questions that you should ask of your elected officials.
Next elections: November 8, 2006
Local Voter is a non-partisan website that can help you locate who is running in your area and who are your elected officials.
Vote Smart is a national non-partisan website with details and information about national, state, and local level officials and candidates.
Register to Vote in Harris County
Act
If you can make time, we can help guide you towards productive activity for Houston education. Whether this means donating time or money, your action can help improve education, making Houston a better place to live.
Donate to Houston A+ Challenge
Participate in Reach Out to Drop Outs Day 2006. Volunteers are needed for Houston ISD's third annual Reach Out to Dropouts Day, on August 26, 2006, which is sponsored by Houston A+ Challenge. Last year, more than 1,500 volunteers fanned out into neighborhoods around 16 high schools, helping bring 49 dropouts immediately back to school. In 2005, a total of 1,311 dropouts were recovered; 207 graduated. This year, 20 high schools will participate and 2,000 volunteers are needed. To volunteer, contact Jesse Marche at Houston ISD's Student Engagement Department, 713-556-7017 or email jmarche@houstonisd.org. The walk is chaired by Houston First Lady Andrea White, a member of The Houston A+ Challenge Board of Trustees, and Houston ISD Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra.
Volunteer your business for the teacher externship program. Externships put teachers in employers’ workplaces to give them firsthand experiences they can share with students. Because most teachers go directly from college into the classroom, they don’t have the opportunity to see how the skills they teach are applicable to the needs of business. In addition, externships help businesses understand the importance of classroom learning and the resources needed by students to help them prepare for the workplace.
These are some websites that provide opportunities for partnerships, mentoring, and volunteer work in the Houston area:
1-800 Volunteer
The Council for Corporate and School Partnerships
Energize Inc.
National Mentoring Partnership
Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center
Public/Private Ventures
Volunteer Houston
Volunteer Match
At Volunteer Match, for example, they have HISD volunteer tutor opportunities
One Star Foundation
Youth Friends
Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) is Houston ISD’s volunteer department. You can register to be a volunteer through their website.
Public Education Network (PEN) has compiled a list of “50 Things You Can Do to Support Public Education in Your Community”
|
