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PPS of Houston, Texas
Parents for Public Schools of Houston was originally established in 1992 as Houstonians for Public Education. At that time no citywide organization existed that advocated for public school children or offered all parents at every school in the Houston Independent School District the opportunity to share with each other their experiences, concerns, priorities and network together. The formation of this non-profit, voluntary association provided an avenue for parent input into HISD policies and programs.
In the spring of 1997, this local group elected to join the national organization, Parents for Public Schools. Today they remain the only citywide parent-based organization that provides access to all levels of administration and policy making in the Houston ISD.
PPS of Houston coordinates projects that help parents and the community better understand how the Houston ISD works and how they can participate in the process including regular luncheons with guest speakers from the district and other related education arenas. The chapter also offers the community a way to be heard on issues affecting HISD when they hold impartial candidate forums with the League of Women Voters. In the summer of 1999, they also hosted an open forum on bilingual education.
Over the years, PPS of Houston has sponsored several bus trips to the State Capitol in Austin. The legislators know that these parents want adequate and equitable funding for public education and expect sound educational policy that benefits all the children of Texas. And they know that PPS Houston's parents are watching!
Each year the organization monitors the HISD budget process and submits a list of PPS priorities. PPS surveyed parents and presented proposals on such issues as improving the performance of shared decision-making committees on every campus. PPS's continued interest in parent involvement in the schools resulted in collaboration with HISD administrators to establish Project Reconnect. This district project aimed to reinvigorate parent and community involvement in Houston's schools.
Currently, PPS Houston is nurturing more formalized collaborative relationships with a wide range of organizations throughout this huge metropolitan district.
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PPS Members:
 Advocate for policies that raise student achievement for all children in all of Houston's schools
Work for change at the district level
Help parents get involved in their children's schools
Monitor school board meetings
Serve on district-wide committees (PEER Committees)
Foster collaboration, dialogue and problem-solving on potentially divisive issues
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