Latest news with #HISD
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Texas parents filed a lawsuit Monday against a Houston school district they say "repeatedly" violated their requests to address their daughter as a girl. The lawsuit, filed by Sarah and Terry Osborn, alleges that school officials in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) referred to their daughter by a masculine name and with male pronouns for at least two years after the parents instructed them not to. According to the filing, during their daughter's freshman year at Bellaire High School, the student's theater teacher asked the Osborns what pronouns to use for their daughter. After instructing the teacher to only use female pronouns, the parents thought that was the end of it. But over the next two years, the parents discovered that school staff continued to address their daughter as a boy during the school day, without their knowledge or consent. Virginia School District Accused Of Religious Discrimination In Transgender Locker Room Case "The Osborns only discovered HISD's actions because they found schoolwork that referred to their daughter by a masculine name," the complaint stated. Read On The Fox News App Despite several meetings with staff and the school principal, the lawsuit alleges that school officials continued to ignore the parents' requests. "For at least two school years, pursuant to the policy, over half a dozen HISD employees referred to the Osborns' daughter as a boy without their notice or consent—in fact, notwithstanding their express objection," the complaint said. The lawsuit alleges that the school principal, district superintendent and its counsel did not respond to the parents' request to provide documents explaining its gender policy and whether it included a parental notification requirement. States Support Parents In Legal Case Over School's Secret Gender Transition Of Child "HISD has a widespread practice and official policy of treating students, including the Osborns' daughter, as the opposite sex without parental notice or consent; against their express instructions; and while actively concealing that treatment from parents. That practice or policy violates the Osborns' fundamental parental rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, because it burdens their sincerely held religious beliefs and is not neutral or generally applicable, it also violates their First Amendment, free-exercise rights," the complaint stated. "The Osborns want to help their daughter in the way they think best. But the actions of HISD and its employees are preventing them from doing that," it added. The parents say the school's actions violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. They are asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction to demand the district honor their wishes to not refer to their daughter as male. Faith-based legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing the parents in the federal court case. The Bellaire High School counselor and principal are also named as defendants in the suit. ADF senior counsel Kate Anderson said in a statement, "Parents have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without fear of government interference. Schools should never hide vital information from parents, let alone go against their express instructions related to the well-being of their children. School officials should support parents, not replace them, and we are urging the court to make sure HISD updates its policy to respect these parents' constitutional rights." The HISD told Fox News Digital, "Given there is pending litigation, at this time, the District is unable to discuss any aspect of this incident."Original article source: Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Fox News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Texas parents filed a lawsuit Monday against a Houston school district they say "repeatedly" violated their requests to address their daughter as a girl. The lawsuit, filed by Sarah and Terry Osborn, alleges that school officials in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) referred to their daughter by a masculine name and with male pronouns for at least two years after the parents instructed them not to. According to the filing, during their daughter's freshman year, the student's theater teacher asked the Osborns what pronouns to use for their daughter. After instructing the teacher to only use female pronouns, the parents thought that was the end of it. But over the next two years, the parents discovered that school staff continued to address their daughter as a boy during the school day, without their knowledge or consent. "The Osborns only discovered HISD's actions because they found schoolwork that referred to their daughter by a masculine name," the complaint stated. Despite several meetings with staff and the school principal, the lawsuit alleges that school officials continued to ignore the parents' requests. "For at least two school years, pursuant to the policy, over half a dozen HISD employees referred to the Osborns' daughter as a boy without their notice or consent—in fact, notwithstanding their express objection," the complaint said. The lawsuit alleges that the school principal, district superintendent and its counsel did not respond to the parents' request to provide documents explaining its gender policy and whether it included a parental notification requirement. "HISD has a widespread practice and official policy of treating students, including the Osborns' daughter, as the opposite sex without parental notice or consent; against their express instructions; and while actively concealing that treatment from parents. That practice or policy violates the Osborns' fundamental parental rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, because it burdens their sincerely held religious beliefs and is not neutral or generally applicable, it also violates their First Amendment, free-exercise rights," the complaint stated. "The Osborns want to help their daughter in the way they think best. But the actions of HISD and its employees are preventing them from doing that," it added. The parents say the school's actions violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. They are asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction to demand the district honor their wishes to not refer to their daughter as male. Faith-based legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing the parents in the federal court case. The Bellaire High School counselor and principal are also named as defendants in the suit. ADF senior counsel Kate Anderson said in a statement, "Parents have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without fear of government interference. Schools should never hide vital information from parents, let alone go against their express instructions related to the well-being of their children. School officials should support parents, not replace them, and we are urging the court to make sure HISD updates its policy to respect these parents' constitutional rights." The HISD told Fox News Digital, "Given there is pending litigation, at this time, the District is unable to discuss any aspect of this incident."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bill to replace STAAR exam with new testing system
AUSTIN, Texas - A major shift in student testing could be coming to Texas classrooms. Lawmakers in the state House have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would eliminate the STAAR exam and replace it with a new assessment system aimed at reducing testing pressure and giving teachers faster feedback. House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), would end the use of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) — the standardized test used since 2012 for students in grades three through 11. In its place, students would take three shorter tests spread throughout the school year. The bill passed the House on a 143–1 vote. "What we found is when you have assessments and accountability without a focus on instruction, you simply have high-stakes testing," Buckley said during floor discussion. Supporters say the new tests would provide results within 24 hours, allowing teachers to immediately identify areas where students need help. The assessments would also be designed to allow comparisons between Texas students and their peers in other states and countries. Opposition to STAAR has grown among educators and parents, especially in large districts like Houston ISD, where critics argue that the current testing system creates unnecessary stress without improving outcomes. Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-Houston) questioned how the bill would affect districts like HISD, which is currently under control of the Texas Education Agency, and subject to increased testing oversight. "How will HB4 help or hurt HISD given that it's currently under TEA control and subject to constant testing and reporting demands?" Jones asked. Buckley responded that the bill would create a uniform standard across Texas, regardless of local governance models or interventions. What's next The bill now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are divided over the timeline. According to the Texas Tribune, while the House calls for the new system to begin this fall, the Senate has proposed delaying implementation until 2028. The Source Fox 26 gathered information from the 2025 Texas Legislative Session.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Students discover disturbing truth about their cafeteria meals and demand action: 'Younger generations … have to think about their future'
Students in the Houston Independent School District are challenging the area's choice of lunch trays. According to the Houston Chronicle, a trio of fourth-grade students, Celine David, Maddie Wood, and Dora Cabarcas, are leading the charge against the district's single-use, Styrofoam lunch trays. "We believe that HISD school district should provide schools with better, environmentally friendly, healthy and safer materials for our school cafeteria," Wood said. Polystyrene is a serious problem for the environment; it contributes massively to the Earth's plastic pollution problem, as it sits in landfills for centuries because it doesn't fully decompose naturally. What it does do, though, is break apart, creating tiny particles of plastic that wind up in the environment, polluting the soil and waterways, and wreaking environmental havoc. On top of that, while it can be an effective and food-safe material to make trays out of, hot or fatty foods can cause it to leach chemicals, making it far less safe. These students aren't the only ones trying to find ways to combat plastic pollution. A company in Europe is trying to push for more recyclable plastics used in containers, while researchers in Japan are working on a biodegradable plastic that dissolves in salt water. And a Finnish company is exploring the possibility of making plastic using carbon capture technology. The trio of students met with Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles in early April and noted that switching to reusable or biodegradable trays would remove 22 million Styrofoam trays from landfills each year. They proposed several alternatives, including reusable plastic or bamboo trays, as well as trays made from sugar cane that could have a cheaper upfront cost. "Older people might think, 'Oh, well, it doesn't really bother me if the world gets covered in trash, because I'm not going to be alive then,'" Cabarcas said. "But the younger generations, they have to think about their future and the future of younger generations, because they're still going to be alive on this planet for a long time to come." Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
HISD eliminates wraparound services department, shifts to integrated support model
HOUSTON - In a significant shift aimed at streamlining services and maximizing resources, the Houston Independent School District announced Thursday it is dissolving its Wraparound Services Department and eliminating the wraparound specialist model in favor of a more integrated student support system. The move comes as HISD realigns its approach to student care amid tighter budgets and evolving district needs. According to HISD's website, Wraparound Services was designed to deliver high-quality, comprehensive support and resources to students and families, enhancing student readiness for learning and preparing them for success through 2035 and beyond. Students who may need food, clothing, or counseling support were able to receive immediate assistance under these services. Created to serve a district of more than 270 largely autonomous campuses, the wraparound model is no longer compatible with HISD's current centralized and collaborative structure, district officials said. Leaders also cited inconsistent service delivery and a lack of demonstrated impact on student outcomes as reasons for the change. "We are not cutting services — we are changing how those services are delivered," said Najah Callan, Deputy Chief of Family and Community Partnerships. "Our goal is a more effective, complete continuum of care for our most vulnerable students." Under the new model, existing school personnel — including nurses, counselors, and office managers — will be responsible for identifying and addressing student needs. HISD's 130 New Education System (NES) campuses, which serve many of the district's most at-risk students, will maintain extended hours and robust support staffing. HISD also plans to expand its network of Sunrise Centers, which act as "centralized hubs" for student and family services. The district currently operates several such centers and has received board approval to expand to eight locations for the upcoming school year. The Student Assistance Form (SAF), which allows educators, parents, and community members to request support for students, will remain available. Some educators and union leaders say the decision could negatively impact students and families who rely on campus-based support. "I knew when they started cutting out these wraparound services and opening these Sunrise Centers, it wouldn't be the answer," said Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. "Parents have told us the centers are closed during the day. When I was a teacher at HISD, our wraparound specialist on campus was a godsend. We had children who needed immediate service — food, clothes — and that specialist was there." In 2021, then-Superintendent Millard House announced that every campus would be assigned a wraparound specialist, funded in part by federal COVID-19 relief dollars through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. HISD leaders said that one-time funding has now expired. Despite concerns, district officials say the new structure will deliver more consistent and efficient support by leveraging existing campus and district resources. HISD stated in Thursday's memo they have a continued commitment to collaboration with community organizations. Interested partners are encouraged to contact John Meade, director of community partnerships, at partner@ The Source FOX 26 received information on the changes in HISD from their district office. Reporter Sherman Desselle spoke with educators in the district.
