Houston Education
Research Consortium

The Houston Education Research Consortium is a research-practice partnership between the Kinder Institute and 11 Houston-area school districts to guide data-driven, equity-minded policy. HERC uses a jointly developed research agenda that involves both researchers and school district leaders working together on critical issues to improve educational equity. The research center follows a long-term, rather than project-based, collaboration to solve longstanding problems with a focus on informing decision-makers directly.

Our commitment to Houston ISD
As a new superintendent and Board of Managers are appointed to Houston ISD, Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research remains committed to informing district leadership in its efforts to improve student outcomes. Learn more.

Initiatives

The Equity Project

Student Mobility

Long-term English Learners

Prekindergarten

Study on Social and Emotional Skills

Postsecondary Readiness

Wraparound Needs

Research

Equality of Pre-Kindergarten Educational Opportunities: Examining Student Differences in Access to High Quality Pre-Kindergarten (Parts 1 and 2)

This two-part study confirms the broad variations of pre-kindergarten offerings across the state's largest school district, Houston Independent School District.

BRIEF: October 30, 2017 EDUCATION

The Benefits of HISD Pre-Kindergarten: The Relationship Between Years of Exposure and School Readiness

This report analyzes the impact of pre-kindergarten on school readiness using longitudinal data.

BRIEF: April 12, 2017 EDUCATION

Social Capital, Race, and Magnet School Attendance

This report looks at the interaction between race, social capital and magnet school attendance.

BRIEF: February 1, 2017 EDUCATION

College Advising Program: CSA Feedback

A collection of interviews with college advisers offers reflections and improvements for a program meant to get more students into post-secondary school.

BRIEF: July 1, 2016 EDUCATION

The Significance of Teachers’ Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching and Their Math Background on Students’ Math Achievement

This report looks at the effect of specialized teacher training in math for students' academic performance.

BRIEF: June 1, 2016 EDUCATION

Evaluating the Impact of School Closures in Houston ISD, Part 1: The Effect of School Closures on Patterns of Student Attendance and Achievement

This report looks at the impact of 27 school closures in the Houston Independent School District between 2003 and 2010.

BRIEF: March 1, 2016 EDUCATION

The Effect of Rigorous Teacher Evaluations on Workforce Quality (Parts 1 and 2)

The two studies also looks at the impact of the initaitive on student achievement.

BRIEF: March 1, 2016 EDUCATION

Variation Across Schools in Disability Classifications Process, 2006-07 to 2011-12

This report examines the classification process for special education in the Houston Independent School District.

BRIEF: March 1, 2016 EDUCATION

Does a Self-Affirmation Intervention Reduce Stereotype Threat in Predominantly Black and Hispanic High Schools?

This report looks at the effectiveness of interventions meant to combat negative stereotype threat in schools where students of color are the majority.