HOUSTON, Texas – Many students and teachers in Houston ISD are beginning the school year with a brand new curriculum under the New Education System (NES) created by the state appointee administration.
BACK TO SCHOOL JITTERS: Around 700 Houston ISD students still being assigned new bus stops, routes as first day of school starts Monday
Their daily routines have been overhauled, requiring them to adapt to a new learning approach. This marks the second school year that HISD has been under state control. 130 schools will be designated New Education System schools this year; that’s 45 more than last year.
Teachers and students at these new NES campuses will be implementing what’s described as rigorous instruction. The school day will look much different from last year — classrooms will have timers, teachers will follow pre-planned lessons created at HISD headquarters, and students will work with learning coaches in team centers based on how well they grasp each day’s lesson.
These changes will be noticeable immediately. Last year, students dove right into their schoolwork on the first day, with little time for discussions about their summer experiences. The changes have sparked controversy, with opinions divided.
SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT: Share your back-to-school photos with Click2Pins 📸
Fleming Middle School is going into its second year as an NES campus designated as an NES school. I spent last year dedicated to reporting stories from this campus, documenting the entire year. Our goal was to show you what the New Education System looked like so you could determine whether it’s beneficial for HISD and your students.
The documentary, which you can watch in the video above or by clicking here, offers an inside look at the New Education System through the eyes of students, teachers, and community members connected to Fleming.