Childhood Education

School systems across the country have only one or two things on their plate: the charter schools, budgets, magnet schools, pensions, pre-K and the dropout rate, just to name a few. Houston Early schools are different, and Magnet and the small programs seem to be at the top of the list.

The cream of the crop of the Houston school system are gifted and talented. Currently, 25,000 students are identified as gifted and talented. Beginning next school year;('07-'08), Students identified as such, will attend "Vanguard" program. The programs themselves do not change, but the name will consolidate programs throughout the Houston schools. Houston schools identify students for Vanguard by using a matrix of identification ". This includes test results of the Stanford / Aprenza examination and the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. Report-card points and recommendations from teachers are also taken into account. Houston school students whoHave a limited grasp of English are enrolled in special education, have a socio-economic status are also considered low. Vanguard Schools are continuously monitored to help ensure high quality, more rigorous instruction is provided in all classes. Students are expected to score above level, on the Stanford test. In addition, no students from Houston High Schools' school who are enrolled in a Vanguard school must take a minimum of two advanced courses of instruction(eg Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual credit). "I am excited about the improvements in the programs of Vanguard, said Superintendent of Schools Abelardo Saavedra Houston. "This means that more students will benefit from the rigor and high expectations of programs, and helps in our efforts to create a school culture bound." The school system in Houston has 20 magnet schools enrolling Vanguard gifted and talented students every quarter. All students of MayVanguard apply to schools, regardless of their sub-districts, which number 10. Students who are zoned to a school that is a magnet for Vanguard will automatically attend this school, they will not put their name in the lottery system magnet.

Another program that Houston Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Saavedra pledged to expand the district's Early Childhood programs. The preschool wasrecognized as extremely important for success in school. Houston Schools Prekindergarten now offers to all students on a tuition basis, and some students can attend free. To be eligible for free PreK Houston schools, a student must meet one or more of the following criteria: unable to speak and understand the English language, economically disadvantaged, homeless, a child of a member in active service armed forces or child of a member of the armed forces who has been injured, killed ormissing-in-action while serving on active duty. Starting with the '07-'08 school year, parents enroll their house four children two years (which turned four on or before September 1, 2007) into a full day, 10-month program in Houston schools participating in a state-set fee of $ 405 per month. 16 of the elementary schools offer Prek Houston, one of whom is also a Montessori magnet.