Elizabeth Sander

Houston

Education Reporter at Houston Chronicle

Education reporter (she/her) @houstonchron. Past: @expressnews @columbiajourn - Contact me at [email protected]

Articles

See the highlights of Cy-Fair ISD's budget proposal for the 25-26 school year

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

Board members, top, listen as Amanda Pallanez, at podium, speaks critically against the district's reduced bus routes during the regular meeting of Cy-Fair ISD school board meeting Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Cypress, TX. Michael Wyke/ContributorMembers of the public listen during a Cypress Fairbanks ISD school board meeting, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Cypress.
Humble ISD board appoints trustee to serve second term who lost May election

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

Humble ISD Trustee Ken Kirchhofer says he is in favor to move to vote on whether to terminate Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen's contract because Fagen broke his trust throughout time during a school board meeting Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at Humble ISD Board, Business & Technology Center in Humble. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographerThe Humble ISD board unanimously appointed trustee Ken Kirchhofer to fill a vacant board seat after an extended executive session Tuesday night.
See how Katy, Fort Bend, Cy-Fair and Conroe ISD performed on 3-8 STAAR tests

1 week ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

Fourth grade students work on a lesson in Vianca Maldonado’s bilingual class at Highland Heights Elementary on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographerKaty, Cy-Fair, Fort Bend and Conroe ISDs, which educate a combined 365,000 students — consistently scored above state averages on the elementary and middle school STAAR scores released Tuesday. However Houston, Fort Bend and Cy-Fair ISDs saw the most growth from last year.
See how Katy, Fort Bend, Cy-Fair and Conroe ISD performed on 3-8 STAAR tests

1 week ago | yourconroenews.com | Elizabeth Sander

Fourth grade students work on a lesson in Vianca Maldonado’s bilingual class at Highland Heights Elementary on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographerKaty, Cy-Fair, Fort Bend and Conroe ISDs, which educate a combined 365,000 students — consistently scored above state averages on the elementary and middle school STAAR scores released Tuesday. However Houston, Fort Bend and Cy-Fair ISDs saw the most growth from last year.
Katy ISD outperforms most other Texas schools in new STAAR data

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander |Anastasia Goodwin

Students look for their home room on the first day of school at Nelson Junior High in Katy Independent School District on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 in Katy. The Nelson faculty and staff welcomed 904 students to the new school. Brett Coomer/Staff photographerMost large Houston-area districts saw slight declines over the past two years on STAAR test data released Tuesday, but most still outperformed state averages.
This Fort Bend ISD trustee is out, despite controversy over her resignation

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

FBISD trustee Sonya Jones during a meeting in Sugar Land on Monday, April 14, 2025. Elizabeth Conley/Houston ChronicleTrustee Sonya Jones in Fort Bend ISD has officially resigned from her post after a month of confusion surrounding whether she was giving up her seat. Jones announced her resignation via social media in mid-May, saying she had received an opportunity that she could not pass up.
What Fort Bend ISD leaders are proposing for next year's budget

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

Fort Bend ISD takes public comments as they prepare to vote for a gender policy in Sugar Land on Monday, April 14, 2025. Elizabeth Conley/Houston ChronicleA new $8.5 billion school funding bill will stave off at least part of the Fort Bend ISD's projected $34 million deficit. The legislation, which includes funding for teacher raises, school safety and special education, has been criticized for only addressing raises for certain employees.
Houston area charters got more F ratings from TEA than traditional schools

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

One of the classrooms on display during a day of ribbon cutting ceremonies and tours of the new building at Reve Prep Charter School Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/ContributorMore charter school districts in the Houston area received an F rating from the Texas Education Agency than traditional school districts, according to a Chronicle data analysis.
Houston charter school closed by TEA due to special education concerns

2 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

Students, staff and vistors enter at the main entrance lobby during a day of ribbon cutting ceremonies and tours of the new building at Reve Prep Charter School Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/ContributorSoutheast Houston's Reve Prep charter school had one year to turn around its special education department, shortly after the death of the school's founder and on the eve of opening its $13 million building. But one year wasn't enough.
Election recount in Humble ISD confirms initial vote totals

3 weeks ago | houstonchronicle.com | Elizabeth Sander

Humble ISD school board president Chris Parker, pictured here in January, was confirmed last week to have won her bid for re-election after an election recount requested by her challenger reflected the race's initial results. Still, election challenges may loom if the opponent, Natalie Carter, goes forward with an official election contest.