Houston ISD NES expansion continues
The Houston Independent School District is expanding its New Education System (NES), with nine additional elementary school campuses opting into the model for the next school year. A school district spokesperson announced that the decision came directly from principals who are choosing to join, largely because of the “added support, staffing, and instructional resources” that come with it.
The nine schools include:
- Barrick Elementary
- Bastian Elementary
- Benbrook Elementary
- Burnet Elementary
- Carrillo Elementary
- E. White Elementary
- Foster Elementary
- Garcia Elementary
- Law Elementary
Currently, HISD has 130 schools under its NES model.
“Now, this decision reflects the strong work happening across our campuses and the shared focus on what will best support students every day,” said HISD spokesperson Trey Serna. “Now, we’re seeing progress in schools across the district…They see what’s happening at other NES campuses across the district. They know that the NES model comes with a strategic amount of resources that principals and teachers want to benefit from.”
The NES curriculum comprises time-dependent instruction during classes and test-based evaluations, following a centralized schedule, pre-planned lessons, quizzes, and follow-up teaching. Teachers at NES schools also receive a higher salary than teachers at non-NES campuses.
These campuses saw gains in the Texas Education Agency’s A-F accountability ratings, with no campuses receiving an F rating within HISD. The number of A and B schools has more than doubled in the same period, from 93 in 2023 to 197 in 2025.
On the other hand, HISD parents and teachers have expressed concerns with the NES curriculum through protests and speeches at board meetings, citing rigorous student and teacher evaluations and the closure of libraries as a few of the issues NES campuses face.
PVAMU Gala raises $1.1 million for student scholarships
It was a big night for Prairie View A&M University.
At this year’s Presidential Scholarship Gala, the university raised nearly $1.1 million.
This year’s theme was “Investing in Brilliance.” From student testimonials to performances by the university’s music and theater departments, the night aimed to show where that money would be going.
In a conversation with the PVAMU President, Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande framed the university’s funding sources as a way to remove barriers for students and invest in their talents.
“See, when you invest, you get a return on your investment, right?” she told the Defender. “We’re providing impact reports so people know how their funding is impacting our students. When a student gets a scholarship from the institution or from a donor, it says you believe in them. It says that you believe that they are capable and that you’re investing in them.”
Black Houston(s) Symposium reimagines sports as lived experience
The stories shared at this year’s Black Houston(s) Symposium started in arenas and small towns across Texas. Hosted by Rice University, the two-day event brought together athletes, scholars, artists, and community voices to rethink sports.
One of the most powerful moments came from four Black rodeo cowboys, Myrtis Dightman, Harold Cash, Freddie “Skeet” Gordon, and James Boone, who spoke about navigating segregation and hostile crowds, delving into their hardships and connections.
Panels explored food systems that affect athletic performance and how coaching strategies can shape classroom teaching.
“As a fan and as someone who both played and worked in sports, this year’s theme, A League of Our Own: Sports and Embodiment, was super special to me,” said Erika Thompson, associate director of the Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS), who also worked with Black Houston(s) before. “What I love most about Black Houston(s) is seeing the array of community members, students, faculty and staff come together to share and learn from one another. It’s a magical time, one I look forward to every year.”
