Issues

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.

Urban Edge’s most-read stories in 2025: Public housing, population growth articles top the list

These seven Urban Edge articles garnered the most reader interest in a busy year for Houston.

Houston mothers and children face high rates of food insecurity. We’re working on a plan to help.

Three local nonprofits and area mothers are joining to develop plans for curbing food-access issues for families, with some early lessons already gleaned.

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.

Who are Harris County’s unauthorized immigrants? These charts detail their diverse backgrounds.

New estimates from the Migration Policy Institute shed light on Harris County’s 600,000-plus unauthorized immigrants.

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.

How can Houston help more locals climb the income ladder? 3 economic mobility experts offer their take.

The region's first Economic Mobility Summit spurred conversation and ideas for helping more Houstonians improve their long-term earnings outlook.

FEMA buyouts vs. risky real estate: New maps reveal post-flood migration patterns across the US

New research and maps show most people with homes in flood-prone areas sell their properties instead of taking a federal buyout.

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.

Harris County flood resilience plan aims to ready residents, businesses for next big storm

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.

Congress’ debate over ‘Obamacare’ subsidies stands to impact 1 million Houstonians

For more than 1 million Houstonians benefiting from Affordable Care Act subsidies, the argument in Washington over continuing the support hits close to home.