From early childhood education to outcomes after graduation, our education research strives to address inequity and help guide district policy.

Latest Urban Edge Stories

Texas’ approach to virtual learning is another step backward for equity

Texas Senate Bill 15 is awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature. Originally intended to set in place policy to fully fund virtual schooling for districts around the state, the passage of this bill could have been a proud moment for Texans, a response to the immediate needs of school districts during the pandemic.

Perspective
: Sep 4, 2021
COVID-19 and Cities, Education

Without mask mandates, Texas undermines school districts' efforts to undo pandemic learning gaps

The Texas Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on local mask mandates means the state has officially told public schools to start the 2021-2022 school year as if the COVID-19 pandemic never happened. More correctly, as if it was still not happening. Others have already pointed to the health risks posed by not having a mask mandate in place at schools, and schools around the Houston area have already had to close because of outbreaks. But beyond the dangers posed to the health of students, staff, and families, the state’s approach is undermining schools’ ability to accelerate students’ learning and close gaps created and compounded over the past 18 months.

Perspective
: Aug 30, 2021
COVID-19 and Cities, Education, Health

Community Bridges work demonstrates the need for nonprofits to be responsive, accessible despite disparities

With 25 years of service, the Girls Empowerment Network's focus on listening and being responsive to its clients drove home a key lesson: For any nonprofit to be effective, it needs to continually make its services accessible to people. 

Perspective
: Aug 18, 2021
Education, Urban Disparity

Latest Research

The Relationship Between School-Year Mobility and School Performance in the Houston Area

Report: Dec 1, 2021
Education

Consistency in Campus Student Mobility Predicting Campus Mobility at Houston Area Public Schools

Report: Nov 17, 2021
Education

School Suspension and Juvenile Justice Contact in the Houston Independent School District

Report: Oct 26, 2021
Education

Experts

Head shot of Erin Baumgartner

Erin Baumgartner

  • Associate Director for HISD Research and Relations, Houston Education Research Consortium
713-348-2660
Profile
Head shot of Ruth Lopez Turley

Ruth N. López Turley

  • Director, Houston Education Research Consortium
  • Associate Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research
  • Professor of Sociology, Rice University
  • Founder, National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships
  • Kinder Fellow
713-348-5713
Profile

Related Initiatives

Houston Education Research Consortium

The Houston Education Research Consortium is a research partnership between Rice University and several Houston-area school districts to guide data-driven, equity-minded policy.

The National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships

NNERPP aims to develop, support and connect partnerships between education agencies and research institutions in order to improve the relationships between research, policy and practice.