TEA Grants Appeal for Travis High School Accountability Rating (October 28, 2009) The Austin School District today received notification from Commissioner of Education Robert Scott that the appeal of the state accountability rating for Travis High School has been granted. Thus, Travis High School moves from Academically Unacceptable to Academically Acceptable for 2009. This means that 100 of Austin's 113 campuses, or 88 percent, met or exceeded the challenges of the state's increasing accountability standards for 2009.
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Successful Math Camp Kickoff Event Planned at Bowie High School (October 16, 2009) Austin School District officials and University of Texas professor Uri Triesman will join Bowie Math teachers Shannon Hoberer and Mia Iseman and algebra students for an AYD (Academic Youth Development) kickoff event to spark interest in next year's summer math camp. Students and parents who participated in last summer's inaugural program will provide testimonials on how the camp has boosted their math achievement levels. The kickoff will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, in the Bowie cafeteria, located at 4103 Slaughter Lane.
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Grand Opening Celebration for Eastside Memorial Green Tech and Global Tech Schools on October 13th (October 7, 2009) State Senator Kirk Watson and Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen will be among the special guests to attend the official ribbon cutting for the new Green Tech and Global Tech schools at Eastside Memorial High School, at the Johnston Campus. The ribbon cutting will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, in the gymnasium of the school, located at 1012 Arthur Stiles Road.
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Incoming 9th Graders Invited to Eastside Memorial High Open House to Learn About the New Tech Program for Next Year (May 8, 2009) Eastside Memorial High School is hosting an Open House on Saturday, May 9 at 11 a.m. to provide an opportunity for parents and students to meet the principals for the two New Tech schools, to see and use the laptop computers that will be issued to every student, and to demonstrate the types of projects on which students at Eastside Memorial New Tech will be working. The Open House will be in the cafeteria of the school, located at 1012 Arthur Stiles Road.
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High School Redesign: Advisory Evaluation Report, 2007-2008 (April 7, 2009) In the 2007-2008 school year, all Austin Independent School District (AISD) high schools began implementing the student advisory initiative, designed to ensure that all students had at least one adult in their school life who knew them well, to build community by creating stronger bonds across social groups, to teach important life skills, and to establish a forum for academic advisement and college and career coaching.
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AISD Board of Trustees Select Names for the Eastside Memorial New Tech Schools (March 30, 2009)
Eastside Memorial Green Tech High School
The Green Tech school will implement the New Tech program with a T-STEM (Texas Science Technology Engineering & Math) curriculum and an emphasis on the environment, energy issues, conservation and emerging "green" industries.

Eastside Memorial Global Tech High School
The Global Tech school will implement the New Tech program with a Global Studies emphasis in partnership with the Asia Society.

Travis High School Hosts "Real World Connections" Program Friday (March 26, 2009) Travis High School will host a "Real World Connections" networking luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Friday, March 27. The luncheon will include students from Travis High School's Media, Engineering & Technology Academy and participating professionals will be representatives from these career fields. The program will be held in the Culinary Arts Dining Room (#310) at Travis High School, located at 1211 E. Oltorf Street. The goal of the program is to help students connect what they are learning with real world experiences. Travis High School and the AISD Office of Redesign have developed "Real World Connections" to create opportunities for students to interact with professionals who work in career fields that relate to the academies of which students are a part.
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2007-2008 First Things First Evaluation: Year One Implementation (February 25, 2009) In an effort to prepare students for post graduation success, the Austin Independent School District (AISD) has undertaken a transformation of secondary education across the school district. In pursuit of this objective, Office of Redesign staff supported campus staff by assisting them in making structural changes in their schools and in implementing instructional improvement systems based on research-based reform models. One model of school restructuring adopted by AISD is the Institute for Research and Reform in Education's (IRRE) First Things First (FTF) initiative at the LBJ, Reagan, and Travis high schools.
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Community Invited to Submit Names for New Tech Schools at Eastside Memorial (February 16, 2009) After extensive community input to name the new Eastside Memorial High School at the Johnston Campus in 2008, community members now have the opportunity to name the two New Tech schools that will begin at the Eastside Memorial campus in August 2009.
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Travis High School Hosts "Real World Connections" Program Tuesday (February 2, 2009) In order to help make class work more relevant, students need to connect what they are learning with real world experiences. Travis High School and AISD's Office of Redesign have developed a program called "Real World Connections" to create opportunities for students to interact with professionals who work in career fields that relate to the academies of which students are a part. The kick-off event for "Real World Connections" will be a networking luncheon that will take place at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 3. The program will be held in the Culinary Arts Dining Room (#310) at Travis High School, located at 1211 E. Oltorf Street.
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Year-1 Progress Toward Implementing Quality Teaching for English Learners in Austin Independent School District (December 8, 2008) A current initiative of the Office of School Redesign in Austin Independent School District (AISD) aims to improve the performance of English language learners (ELLs) on middle and high school campuses. To address student achievement, professional development opportunities are being provided for teachers of English as a second language (ESL) by WestEdís Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) program. The 2007-2008 academic year was year 1 of a 3-year implementation plan in which Lanier and International Highs Schools began serving as model schools. First-year program evaluation findings include the following:
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PLC Press Release (December 8, 2008) During the 2007-2008 school year, the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, the Office High Schools and the Office of Redesign supported the development of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) on each high school campus in the district. PLCs were to provide a forum for teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches to work collaboratively to improve the quality of teacher instruction and student learning in classrooms. Overall, the evaluation of the PLC initiative revealed positive results for all high schools.
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Principal Selections for New Tech High (November 24, 2008) Trustees approved Superintendent Pat Forgione's recommendation of the following appointments...
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EASTSIDE MEMORIAL PLANS NEIGHBORHOOD WALK FOR SUCCESS (November 14, 2008) Eastside Memorial High SChool teachers, staff, students and parents will join Austin School District leaders and community supporters on the Eastside Memorial High School "Walk for Student Success", beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 15, at the school, 1012 Arthur Stiles Road.
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Hispanic Futures Conference Planned For November 9th (October 31, 2008) The Department of Diversity and Intercultural Relations is sponsoring the first event of its Hispanic Futures Conference series. The conference will take place at the Mexican american Cultural Center, 600 River Street, at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 9.
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Successful Math Camp Kickoff Event Held at Akins High School Tuesday (October 27, 2008) Austin School District officials, former assistant superintendent and school namesake D4. Charles Akins, will join Akins math teachers Stephen Autry and Armando Vazquez along with algebra students for an AYD (Academic Youth Development) kickoff event to spark interest in next year's summer math camp.
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Eastside Parents and Community to Discuss New Tech Highs Proposal (September 30, 2008) The Austin School District's Office of Redesign will host a Parent and Community meeting at Eastside Memorial High School to discuss the recommendation that two New Tech Highs be created on the campus.
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Trustees Select 'Eastside Memorial High School at the Johnston Campus' (August 11, 2008) Austin School Trustees tonigh selected Eastside Memorial High School at the Johnston Campus as the new name for the District's high school.
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PTSA of Former Johnston High School Encourages Students to Attend a Saturday Information Fair to Choose a New School (July 16, 2008) Members of the Parent, Teachers, Students' Association (PTSA) of the former Johnston High School will be available to the news media at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 17 to encourage Austin students to attend the Saturday Enrollment Fair event at the school.
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Trustees Vote to Repurpose Johnston Campus (June 16, 2008) Austin School Trustees voted unanimously Monday evening to submit to Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott a resolution and plan to repurpose Johnston High School for the 2008-2009 school year, as allowed under the rules of the Texas Education Agency.
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Community Meeting Scheduled for Thursday to Discuss New Vision for Johnston Campus (June 11, 2008) The Austin School District will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, to engage the community in a discussion on the future educational plans for the newly repurposed Johnston High School campus.
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Johnston High School Makes Substantial TAKS Improvement (May 30, 2008)
At Johnston High School, threatened with closure by TEA due to four successive years of an Academically Unacceptable rating, students showed Ram Pride in making vast improvements over last year's TAKS passing rates; but District and Campus officials, students and parents, don't know if all of the improvements are enough to reach the required standards. [ MORE ]

Hispanic Futures Conference "Leadership and Change" Saturday, May 31, 2008 (May 29, 2008) "Leadership and Change" is the theme for the final Hispanic Futures conference series. The session will be held on the Austin Community College Eastview Campus at 3101 Webberville Road, on May 31, starting at 9:00 a.m. and concluding at 1:00 p.m.
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Austin Students Invited to African American Men & Boys Conference (May 12, 2008) The next African American Men and Boys Conference will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at LBJ High School, located at 7309 Lazy Creek Drive.
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School District Engages Community in Creating a New Vision for Johnston High School (May 6, 2008) Staff, students and the families of Johnston High School are invited to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at the school, located at 1012 Arthur Stiles Road, to kick-off a discussion about developing a new vision for Johnston High School.
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Austin Students Invited to African American Men & Boys Conference (April 15, 2008) The next African American Men and Boys Conference will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at McCallum High School, located at 5600 Sunshine Drive.
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Hispanic Futures Conference Saturday at Anderson High School (April 4, 2008) "Leadership in the World of Work" is the theme for the next Hispanic Futures conference Beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Anderson High School, located at 8403 Mesa Drive.
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AISD/ACC To Dedicate New Automotive Technology Center at Crockett High School on Tuesday, April 1, 12:30 p.m. (March 31, 2008) Officials of the Austin School District and Austin Community College will dedicate the new Automotive Technology Center at Crockett High School on Tuesday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m.
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AISD English Language Learners Show Academic Progress During 2006-2007 (March 26, 2008) In 2006-2007, AISD enrolled 20,782 English language learners (ELLs), most of whom (96.0%) received Bilingual Education (BE) or English as a second language (ESL) instructional services.
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Austin Students Invited to African American Conferences (February 18, 2008) The African American Men and Boys Conference and the African American Women and Girls Conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, February 23, at Dobie Middle School, located at 1200 Rundberg Lane.
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Austin Groups Unite to Stop Youth Suicide Cluster in Travis County (February 11, 2008) Austin Area School, health and mental health officials released information in a press conference today that a youth suicide cluster is occurring in Travis County.
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Hispanic Futures Conference to Focus on College-Readiness (February 5, 2008) The Austin School District's Department of Education Support Services will sponsor the second in the series of Hispanic Futures Conference at McCallum High School, 5600 Sunshine Drive, on Saturday, February 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Austin School District Hosts Discussions on Success at Lanier (February 6, 2008) The Austin School District is inviting parents, community leaders and current and former students of Lanier High School to engage in a community conversation about how to assist Lanier students in being more successful in school.
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AMD Provides Support in Outreach Effort to Johnston High Community (January 22, 2008) The Austin School District and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) have formed a partnership to organize a series of neighborhood meetings to help parents and supporters of Johnston High School increase student attendance rates and monitor the school's progress.
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Archive

Johnston High School Plans Neighborhood Walk for Success (November 15, 2007) Johnston High School teachers, staff, students and parents will join Austin School District leaders and community supporters on the "Johnston Walk for Student Success," beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 17, at the school, 1012 Arthur Stiles Road. The goal is to reach every Johnston student's home that morning to distribute information to parents about the importance of attendance, and to share information regarding the broad range of support services that are available at Johnston.
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Announcement of Community Meetings at Three AISD High Schools Undergoing Redesign (August 17, 2007)
Parents and community members are invited to meetings at LBJ High School, Reagan High School and Travis High School on Tuesday, August 21st, 2007 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. These high schools are all implementing the First Things First program as part of AISD Redesign. The meetings will take place at the cafeteria at each school.
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Community Meeting at Johnston High School (June 20, 2007)
Superintendent Pat Forgione is inviting stakeholders to a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, in the cafeteria at Johnston High School, 1012 Arthur Stiles Road. The purpose of the meeting is to continue the dialogue with those who share an interest in the future of the high school.
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Former Austin City Council Member to Assist with AISD Redesign (June 7, 2007)
The Austin Independent School District announced today the hiring of Raul R. Alvarez, a former Austin City Council member, to aid the school district in its AISD Redesign work. Alvarez, who began his new position Monday, will be Grassroots Community Coordinator.
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Keep Johnston Open Urge Austin Trustees (June 5, 2007)
"Keep Johnston Open" is the message that Austin School Trustees are delivering to Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley about the struggling school.
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Community Partners to Help Prepare More Local Students for College and Career Success (May 23, 2007)
A new initiative will ensure that the parents, students, community and business leaders across Austin's diverse community are engaged partners in the Austin School District's AISD Redesign plan. The effort, led by three local organizations, recognizes the important shared responsibility of the community and the district in the implementation of high school improvement efforts.
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Statement from Austin School District - Johnston High School (May 15, 2007)
The Austin School District has received preliminary results of the 2007 Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills tests. We are continuing to validate, analyze and disseminate these preliminary district-level, campus-level, and student-level test data.
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Akins High School Showcases Small Learning Communities (February 28, 2007
Akins High School principal Mary Alice Deike and New Tech High Director Connor Grady today lead a tour for Superintendent Dr. Pat Forgione, elected officials, community members and representatives of the news media to see the school's New Tech High, one of six Smaller Learning Communities created at the school as a part of AISD Redesign.
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Austin School Trustees Seek Guidance on AISD Redesign (February 21, 2007
Austin school trustees will hear Thursday from representatives from the Boston Public Schools on the lessons learned there on AISD Redesign. The Thursday meeting will be a Board Development Session, designed to inform the Redesign process in the Austin School District.
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Austin School District Invites Parents to Learn About AISD Redesign February 19, 2007
Austin School District officials today invited parents to three meetings to learn about AISD Redesign at four Austin high schools. The purpose of the meetings is to engage parents in a conversation about what the small learning communities might become at their schools.
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AISD partners with Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement District redesign plan and strengthen all 11 Austin high schools (November 14, 2006)
Austin School Superintendent Pat Forgione today announced a $15.6 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation to support the implementation of AISD's districtwide AISD Redesign plan.
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Austin ISD AISD Redesign Initiative Sets Series of Community Conversations’ About Creating 21st Century High Schools (May 6, 2005)
The Austin School District’s AISD Redesign Initiative will hold a series of “Community Conversations” at area high schools next week to receive input from parents about creating high schools of the 21st Century.
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District to Seek Texas AISD Redesign & Restructuring Grant for Johnston High School (December 6, 2004)
Superintendent Pat Forgione announced today that Johnston High School will be the “vanguard” of the Austin School District’s newly launched AISD Redesign, and that AISD will seek a Texas AISD Redesign & Restructuring Grant from the Texas Education Agency to again make JHS “the Pride of the East Side.”
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Community Conversations to Begin on Effective College & Career Preparations - Superintendent Forgione Announces AISD Redesign Initiative (October 12, 2004)
“Tonight we begin a public process on what the Austin School District must do to more-effectively prepare our students for college and careers, and how we should redesign our comprehensive high schools,” Superintendent Pat Forgione said this evening, announcing the first steps of a comprehensive initiative to redesign Austin's high schools."
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Superintendent Seeks Input on AISD Redesign - Forums Scheduled for November 9 & November 30 (November 2, 2004)
Superintendent Pat Forgione is seeking input from parents, students and teachers on the High School Redesign project. The first two of a continuing series of public forums are scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 30.
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