Education

Uncertified teacher hiring soared in Texas schools after the pandemic. Now, it’s slowing down.

A rapid rise in Texas public schools hiring uncertified teachers slowed in 2024-25, though it remains triple pre-pandemic rates, state data shows.

School vouchers, slowing growth and food insecurity: What Kinder Institute researchers are watching in Houston in 2026

The new year will bring big changes to key education, health and housing policies that shape the city.

Working Collaboratively to Understand and Address Student and Family Needs

Researchers will share existing research on student and family support needs and seek input from school districts, nonprofit organizations and stakeholders on what type of information would be useful for them to guide program development, decision-making and support.

1 in 5 Texas students are still missing lots of school — and attendance isn’t getting much better

Roughly 20% of Texas public school students were chronically absent in 2023-24, new data shows, a marginal decline from the prior year and well above than pre-pandemic levels.

Half a million Houstonians could soon change careers. Is the region ready to help them?

Texas’ fastest-growing path to ‘college readiness’ leaves many high schoolers unprepared

College prep courses are booming in high schools, but mounting evidence shows they’re not equipping students for success.

Texas’ early childhood teachers need more specialized training. These new opportunities offer a path.

The Texas Education Agency and several colleges are making moves to prepare teachers for serving the state's youngest students.

What’s Texas State Technical College? A look at the school behind Proposition 1 on voters’ ballots.

Who Remains ‘College, Career, and Military Ready’ in the Context of a Shifting Accountability Framework?

Low-income students are still being left behind, according to a new assessment of the state’s school accountability system.

Texas has a robust system for measuring postsecondary readiness. Here’s how it can get even better.

Kinder Institute research shows the state's "college, career and military readiness" framework could benefit from better collaboration and consistency.

Texas community college bachelor's degree programs are booming. Why aren’t more students enrolling?

Texas community colleges are rapidly adding bachelor’s degree programs, aiming to help workers and businesses fill high-demand, high-paying jobs.

‘Clear need to ramp up’: How Houston can better prepare for the AI boom

To become an AI machine, Houston still has some learning to do.

Understanding Shifting Demographics in Early Education

This event will focus on the changing demographic composition of the Greater Houston region and what these trends mean for the schools, districts and organizations providing support to an evolving student population.

Houston draws talent, but how can it grow more of its own?

Greater Houston’s ever-expanding economic opportunities continue to draw thousands of out-of-towners into the area — with big investments by Apple, Nvidia and Tesla still in the pipeline.

Parental Perspectives and Experiences From HISD's Parent University

This study looks at how parent participants feel about HISD's Parent University program and if it has motivated parental engagement and advocacy in the district.