1. Equity in Access to Quality Educational Quality EducationalPrograms Houston Independent School District

2. Quality School Choice Options HISD is a district of choice with many school options for children... in Neighborhood Schools Middle College High Schools

3. Neighborhood Schools Where you are zoned to attend based on your address No need to apply Attend with students in your neighborhood – Close knit parent groups – Transportation provided based on distance between home address and school Comprehensive programs – Core subjects – Variety of Electives – Fine Arts & Athletics – Special programs – Second language learners – Special needs

4. What are HISD Charter Schools?  Schools with a charter (contract) with the state to run a school using state funds to operate  Some charters have connected with HISD  They operate with the approval of the HISD Board of Education and within the jurisdiction of HISD.  Not regulated the same way as the other HISD schools.  Held accountable for academic achievement but exempted from many of the restrictions that apply to the traditional public schools.  Some have other goals like fewer dropouts and higher percentage of students going to college.

5. Single Gender Prep Academies Both the Young Men’s College Prep Academy and the Young Women’s College Prep Academy schools opened in the fall of 2011. Both schools: – Focus on advanced academics curriculum and college readiness. Offer Pre-AP/AP courses – College Guidance – Leadership Development

6. Pre-Kindergarten Programs Positively affect and nurture the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of young learners Not bound by attendance zones Entrance criteria Tuition-based options are available Get a Jump on Success!

7. What are Magnet Programs? Vanguard/GT International Baccalaureate (IB) STEM International Schools Languages Fine Arts College Prep Montessori

8. Explore Your Options HISD encourages students and parents to carefully explore all their program choices. Choose carefully, as once you commit to a program, you are committing to a one-year transfer to that school.  Guiding Questions for Students:  What do I like to do? Read, dance, explore?  In what subjects am I most interested?  What are my academic goals? College, technical school, work force?  What are my life goals? Equity in Access to Quality Educational Programs

9. Important Dates and Deadlines MAGNET PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE- November 4, 2013 Northwest Mall (9500 Hempstead Highway) All Schools: 10:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m. PARENT MAGNET AWARENESS WEEK- November 4-8, 2013 Tours for parents available at each Magnet Program daily at 1:00 PM MAGNET SCHOOL CAREER DAYS- October through December, 2013 Magnet high school coordinators make program presentations at all middle schools APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED BEGINNING November 4, 2013 Applications for all Magnet programs accepted online beginning November 4, 2013 APPLICATION DEADLINE- December 20, 2013 Applications must be entered in online system no later than December 20, 2013 for guaranteed consideration in the first round. Applications entered after December 20 th will be accepted on a space- available basis. PARENT NOTIFICATION- March 28, 2014 Application status information sent to parents on March 28, 2014 PARENT RESPONSE DEADLINE- April 11, 2014 Parents must notify Magnet school of choice of student’s “intent to attend” by April 11, 2014

10. How to Apply Online Submitting Applications as a Parent Create an Account Agree to Requirements & Policies Student Information Family Information Sibling Information Recommendations Signatures Review and Send Complete Parent Dashboard Submitting a Second Application for a Student Submitting an Application for a Second Student

11. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Step 1 - Gather required documentation Entering Kinder Proof of age by 9/1/2014(birth certificate preferred) Pre-K progress report(if applicable) Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence Entering Grades 1-5 First grading period of current report card Previous year’s final report card Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence Entering Secondary (6-12) First grading period of current report card Previous year’s final report card Previous year’s Stanford and STAAR scores Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence Magnet Application

12. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Vanguard Magnet Application Vanguard Entering Kinder Proof of age 5 by 9/1/2014 (copy of birth certificate preferred) Test date preferences Parent Recommendation Form Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence

13. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Vanguard Magnet Application Vanguard Entering Grades 1-5 1 st & 2 nd grade applicants - end of semester report card 3 rd, 4 th, & 5 th grade applicants – previous year’s final Report card, May 2013 If G/T identified, attach identification matrix and GT status report Nationally-normed Achievement Test(Stanford/Aprenda or ITBS(Within the last 12 months) Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test-2 (NNAT-2)(current year’s score) Only one teacher recommendation form may be submitted Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence Any necessary testing will be scheduled by the first choice school

14. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Vanguard Magnet Application Vanguard Entering Grades 6-8 Previous year’s final report card, May 2013 Nationally-normed Achievement Test(Stanford/Aprenda or ITBS(Within the last 12 months) Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test-2 (NNAT-2)(current year’s score) If G/T identified, attach identification matrix and GT status report Only one teacher recommendation form may be submitted per application Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence Any necessary testing will be scheduled by the first choice school

15. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Vanguard Magnet Application Carnegie Vanguard High School  Students who are not currently identified as G/T in HISD: Previous year’s final report card, June 2013 Attached teacher recommendation form in a sealed envelope with signature across seal Nationally-normed Achievement Test(Stanford/Aprenda or ITBS(Within the last 12 months) Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test-2 (NNAT-2)(current year’s score) If G/T identified, attach identification matrix and GT status report Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence The Carnegie Vanguard Coordinator will contact applicants to schedule any required testing  G/T Identified applicants must attach the following: HISD G/T Middle School Identification Matrix or G/T profile sheet-may be obtained at the student’s current HISD school G/T Status Report Proof of HISD residency is required for all applications o Apartment rent receipt. utility bill, or statement of residence

16. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Step 2 – Either hand deliver or mail the required documents from Step 1 to one of the Magnet schools to which you have applied. If you have applied to one or more Vanguard Magnet schools, your documents must be either hand delivered or mailed to a Vanguard Magnet school from your list.

17. I’ve Submitted My Application. What Are My Next Steps? Step 3 – If you have applied online, make sure to monitor your SmartChoice account and the e- mail address that you provided when you created your account. If you submitted a paper application, call the schools to which you applied to see if there are any additional steps that are required.

18. What Do I Do If I Need Assistance? Great Choices. Great Programs. Great Futures. Houston Independent School District Questions? We’re Here to Help. Office of School Choice 713-556-6734 Magnet Office 713-556-6947 magnet@houstonisd.org