1 week Ago By John Becker
In Houston, Rice University and HISD (Houston Independent School District) are teaming up to boost the district's Sunrise Centers, which offer crucial services like food, mental health care, and job training to students and their families. With seven centers currently operational and an eighth on the way, the Sunrise Centers serve as a neighborhood hub for support, easing burdens and allowing kids to concentrate on learning. This partnership is cemented with research and data analysis courtesy of Rice University's Houston Education Research Consortium, as reported by Click2Houston.
The concept is simple: equip the Sunrise Centers with the resources they need to assist families effectively. According to Click2Houston, these centers are strategically co-located with community institutions like the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Youth Development Center, reflecting a tailored approach to providing aid. Despite the project's ambition, HISD admits that accessibility is an issue in certain high-need areas.
Erin Baumgartner, director of Houston Education Research Consortium, emphasized the importance of this initiative in a statement obtained by Click2Houston: "Given that Sunrise Centers are now going to be the primary way HISD supports the needs of students and families, we hope that this research collaboration can help the district and its community partners create a strong program that puts critical services within reach of every student."Houston Education Research Consortium's research, conducted in collaboration with HISD, has proven invaluable in pinpointing where the gaps are – and how to bridge them. They provided HISD with actionable data to guide smart site selection and transportation planning.
The Rice research team, led by Gabriela Sánchez-Soto, laid it out clearly in a statement reported by Rice University News: "This is a project where we collaborated in designing every step of the study to meet their needs, and the needs of their students. And every piece of the research is being used — right away."The partnership doesn't end with initial research.
Looking forward, Houston Education Research Consortium and HERC plan to correlate the effectiveness of Sunrise Centers with student outcomes, such as attendance and academic performance, functions which are, no doubt, intertwined. According to a report from Rice University News, Sánchez-Soto told the publication, "We’ve invested a lot of research resources into this because we know it’s going to bring positive outcomes for families." With the expansion of these centers on the horizon, the HISD, thanks to its partnership with Rice University, is laying the foundation for a more comprehensive and equitable support system that doesn't just address academic needs – but fosters the well-being of the whole student.
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