Issues

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The Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) is the county’s best kept secret! HCDE provides various important services to the community and to the 25 area school districts it serves. HCDE provides teachers with important training and professional development, helps keep our kids safe by providing afterschool services, and offers adult education courses that help make connections to skilled jobs.

Over 1300 pre-school age children access Early Childhood Education at 15 Head Start Centers throughout Harris County, while quality Afterschool Services are provided to almost 15,000 youth. HCDE’s Adult Education division helps approximately 9000 adult learners obtain their GEDs and prepare for new careers. Over 7000 students with special learning accommodations are served annually at their home campuses with School-Based Therapy Services. HCDE leverages resources effectively, providing $2 in services for every dollar invested by area school districts and tax-payers.

0 School districts served
0 Head Start Centers throughout the county
0 students provided with afterschool services
0 Adults learners served
0 Students receive school-based Therapy Services

Key Points of HCDE’s Services

We must develop better accessibility to Early Childhood Education for our families so that more of our youth have a “head start”!

We must work to expand partnerships that offer afterschool enrichment for our youth so that every kid that needs it has access. Our kids need more options for safe and engaging programs to keep them on the right track during afterschool hours.

Adult basic education, such as GED and ESL, provide a path to better jobs by developing the necessary basic knowledge and skills. Adult Education also provides a path to higher education for those that require a non-traditional pathway toward a college degree or skilled training/certification.

Professional development for teachers help ensure that our districts’ teachers have access to resources and training that will help them to produce the Nation’s best.

Special needs students access to alternative education services helps ensure that we are providing a safety net for those that might otherwise have no other options.

As a Harris County School Trustee, Richard will work to:

  • Develop better access to Early Childhood Education which is critically important for future success!

  • Expand Afterschool Enrichment opportunities for our kids!

  • Promote Workforce Development opportunities so that we can compete globally!

  • Support Professional Development so that our teachers have the tools and resources necessary to produce our nation’s best!

  • Ensure that every Tax Payer dollar is invested cautiously!