The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

“Human Talent is Both the Constant and the Differentiator”

August 29, 2011 by Brittany Baize

1,000 educators from YES Prep Public Schools, KIPP: Houston, and Teach For America gathered on Saturday, August 27^thto celebrate their collective impact in Houston public schools.  The celebration honored fifteen Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award winners – who took home a total of $225,000 in cash awards thanks to the generous philanthropy of Nancy and Richard Kinder. 

Among the special guests and speakers was Jeff Cohen, Editor of the Houston Chronicle, as well as families traveling in to surprise the award winners.  The theme of the evening was summed up when Cohen toasted attendees saying, “When it comes to facing challenges, team beats individual. ”  The three organizations collectively educate about 27,000 students in Houston and have redefined the look, feel, and achievement

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“Options.  Education means options.”

August 25, 2011 by Brittany Baize

YES Prep Public School parents Denik and Terry Hunter couldn't have said it better.  Watch them describe the importance of options in education in this video interview with The Texas Tribune[1].

At YES Prep, options begin with the choice that students and families have in their education provider.  As a free, open-enrollment public school, our charter status provides students and families the opportunity to attend our campuses regardless of where they live.  Instead of being bound by their zip code, any student in the Houston area can enroll for a seat at YES Prep through our lottery system.  The stakes are high: Currently Texas ranks last in the nation in the percentage of adults with high school diplomas[2].  At YES Prep, students and families know that with high expectations and

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Meeting the Demand for a Top Quality Public Education

August 24, 2011 by Brittany Baize

More Demand for Top Charter Schools than Supply: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

FOX News speaks to President Jason Bernal and Gulfton student Abigail Valencia about the demand for top quality charter schools in this video.

High performing charter schools in the state of Texas must overcome a complete lack of facilities funding in order to expand.  In addition, charter schools receive less funding per student than traditional public schools.  You can take action by calling your legislators.  Tell them you want to see more YES Prep Public Schools.  Let them know that you support equal funding for students and facilities for all top quality charter schools.  The return on investment is clear: by increasing the number of low-income students that graduate from college, we're increasing individual lifetime earnings potential and transforming the long-term economic

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YES Prep Alumna, Ruby Serrano, Welcomes New Teachers to YES Prep

July 12, 2011 by Tenesha Villanueva

YES Prep will welcome a strong force of new and veteran teachers this month.  This is the second of 3 letters from YES Prep alumni, welcoming new teachers into the YES Prep family:

 Welcome to YES Prep!

As a former YES Prep student, and now alumni, I would like to formally welcome you as well as congratulate you on becoming a part of one of the best families around!

First off, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Ruby Serrano, and I am a proud recent graduate of YES Prep Southwest! Being a part of the first graduating class was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was very excited to complete my journey as well as a little bit sad to leave my Maverick family. Although I am no longer a YES Prep student, my YES family will always be a part of

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Proof that YES Prep is Transforming Houston

June 23, 2011 by Jeremy Jones

Transform Houston: 10,000 students, college ready. 

We came up with this tagline at a YES Prep leadership retreat during a long, hot summer day in the gym of YES Prep East End a few summers ago.  Since then, it has been a rallying cry for our team and our community.  Its sets the bar high: by preparing 10,000 students for college graduation, we will triple the number of low-income students from our city that finish a four-year college, making YES Prep uniquely positioned to alter the future life prospects of our students and the future prosperity of an entire city.   

Our hope is to literally transform Houston and it is our belief that education is the way to get there.  Right now, the achievement gap is egregious and apparent.  While Houston houses the largest density of medical

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