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Hello Families! 槭
This week 熱えapp students celebrated Earth Week, which is a great way to raise awareness about the environment. 蚎鳶
Also this week was the start of STAAR testing season! Good luck to all 熱えapp students.
In this issue we have an update you can read more about our request for an informal review of the Texas Education Agency's special education conservatorship.
A new partnership to offer discounts and incentives 猓o help teachers and staff battle the high cost of housing.
地nd everyone is invited to join the 2024 community budget conversations. These are happening virtually on Tuesday, April 25 & Wednesday, April 26 in English and Spanish.
Now, lets get started
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Family Newsletter
By Nayeli Santoyo & Collaborators泭Apr 21, 2023
Smart Brevity簧 count: 5.5 mins...1484 words
Hello Families! 槭
This week 熱えapp students celebrated Earth Week, which is a great way to raise awareness about the environment. 蚎
In this issue we have an update you can read more about our request for an informal review of the Texas Education Agency's special education conservatorship.
地nd everyone is invited to join the 2024 community budget conversations. These are happening virtually on Tuesday, April 25 & Wednesday, April 26 in English and Spanish.
Now, lets get started
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1 Big Thing: 熱えapp requests informal review of TEA Special Education Conservatorship
On Monday, 熱えapp requested an informal review of the Texas Education Agencys March 31, 2023, Final Report that recommended a conservator to help address special education issues in the district.
What theyre saying: We believe that the least disruptive way to build momentum toward sustainable, transformational improvements to special education is to allow our most recent plans and improved systems to fully take hold, said Superintendent Segura.
Catch up quick: We have been working closely with TEA for more than a year to catch up on our backlog of Special Education evaluations.泭
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In early January, we requested that TEA assign a monitor to make recommendations and partner with us in our work around special education evaluations and services.泭
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In late March, TEA responded with its intent to assign a team of conservators, which is a level of escalation above a monitor.
The details: We are still learning what a conservatorship could look like but TEAs report told us that the duties and powers assigned to the Management Team should be expansive enough to direct all areas affecting, or affected by, special education, even if not made immediately obvious by its name.
The bottom line: The district takes full ownership of the problems that have led TEA to issue sanctions. We are focused on resolving the backlog as quickly as possible and making sustainable, transformational improvements to our Special Education program.泭
Go deeper with our TEA conservator FAQs and Board President Singhs message to the community.泭
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2. New website debuts with apartment discounts 砪 for 熱えapp teachers, staff
A new partnership between 熱えapp and the Austin Apartment Association (AAA) offers discounts and incentives at apartment complexes around Austin, to help teachers and staff battle the high cost of housing.泭
Home sweet cheaper home: 熱えapp staff can now access an to find complexes that offer discounts and incentives for 熱えapp employees.
By the numbers: So far, 37 apartment complexes are offering special deals for 熱えapp employees, and AAA is working to recruit more complexes for the program.泭
Context: The new feature is the result of collaboration between 熱えapps Human Capital Employee Experience & Sustainability team and the 熱えapp Real Estate Office.
Go deeper: In a recent, employees noted housing needs and cost of living 颯 as a significant barrier to recruitment and retention.泭
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3. An Iraqi 氣 teacher gives families a voice at Travis Heights Elementary School
As 熱えapp celebrates Arab American Heritage Month, we profile Sura Jasim, who works at Travis Heights Elementary School as a Parent Support Specialist, a link between the school district and parents.
Sura Jasim still remembers what it is like to arrive in this country without knowing anyone, feeling insecure and perhaps most importantly not being able to understand the U.S. educational system. That was Jasims experience when she and her family first arrived from 氣Iraq. But for the past four years she has made it her mission to prevent those same feelings for newcomer families at Travis Heights Elementary.
We help the parents have a voice in the school and also direct them where to go when they have an issue, said Jasim, a Parent Support Specialist (PSS).泭
Whats a PSS? 熱えapp has over 70 PSSs across the district, primarily in Title I schools. PSSs work directly with families, campus staff and community members to help families support their childrens educational goals.
From Baghdad to Austin: Jasim arrived in Austin with her husband and two children in 2015. Back home in Iraq, she had a career as an elementary school science teacher. But because of violence and insecurity, Jasim, her husband and their two children left Baghdad to start a new life in Texas.泭
Link in the chain: For Jasim, being the communication link between parents and their children's school is something she is passionate about and does with a lot of love. She encourages parents to ask for help when they need it.泭
Travis Heights is Community: Although she misses her home country, Jasim feels that Travis Heights Elementary School has become her new 颯home, a diverse community that helps fill the void left by her homeland. Jasim describes the school community as a world of different languages and 妗 cultures together under one roof, where celebrations of diverse cultures are highly valued and appreciated.
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Jasim loves to teach the students about 氣Iraqi culture and traditions.
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She is also grateful to Principal Michelle Amezquita-Navarro, who she says believed in her by giving her the opportunity to be part of the school.泭
Homecoming: Jasim is planning a trip home to Baghdad this summer, her first in four years. Shell visit family, friends and above all to relive the memories that she misses so much and carries in her heart.
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4. More than 120 熱えapp parents, guardians graduate from Maestro en Casa program
Graduates and Parent Support Specialists during Maestro en Casa Graduation Ceremony 2023.
Tears of happiness, harmony and a sense of pride were shared during the Maestro en Casa graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 15 at the 熱えapp Performing Arts Center.
By the numbers: This year, more than 120 熱えapp parents and guardians completed the 6-month program. In total, over 900 熱えapp parents and guardians have graduated from Maestro en Casa.
This program has improved me in many ways, it has created confidence that I have the ability to succeed in learning this beautiful language, said graduate Jose Daniel.泭
Maestro en Casa
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Helps parents and guardians of 熱えapp students learn English
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Classes are free of charge
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Most classes are taught by Parent Support Specialists, on-campus staff who help families support their childrens educational goals
Families who take the classes not only learn basic English, but also learn how to deal with common situations and master vocabulary for important everyday topics.
Go deeper: Learn more about and how to participate in the program.
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(KXAN)
(KVUE)
(Statesman)
(Univision 62 Austin)
(Texas Tribune)
(Univision Austin)
(KUT)
(Community Impact)
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This weekend, Nayeli plans to go to Fiesta San Antonio for the first time with her family佞領-weather permitting. 傭勤扆
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