According to U.S. News and World Report data on more than 24K high schools, Leander Independent School District in Central Texas is recognized for producing state and national high-ranking secondary schools. For many of us, the accolades like “acclaimed,” “top district in TX,” “Leander Bands,” Leander Football,” “award winning,” “LISD Schools” weighed heavily on our decision to call LISD “home” for our most precious cargo, our children. While there is much to be thankful for, there is no doubt that LISD students have regressed and have some catching up to do in this innovative and destination district, LISD. But what if there are even more barriers, hidden ones, affecting EEE in LISD?

RIGHT NOW, there are numerous mistakes on LISD high school student transcripts. Perhaps, less mistakes at some LISD schools than others. Still, the transcripts are a mess, the Key is a mess, the alignment and format also a mess. I just got one mistake fixed on my child's transcript last week, but there are several others to go. The double utilization of College Board AP code “P” as well as the Cycle 4 Semester 2 passing grade signifier “P” on LISD transcripts is unacceptable. Why is LISD Leadership not employing 21st Century tools and reporting methods? Mistakes and negligence rob LISD students of opportunities. Even before Covid, in LISD, it’s a free for all from campus to campus. Schools are allowed to change grading policies mid-way, use grading policies as they please, it’s as if there are no standard operating procedures, no looking further down the road for implications or consequences, no sharing of best practices with sister districts in a timely manner. So, who endures the direst consequences when Leander ISD Leaders and Board fails to provide clear communications, initiatives, budgets, provisions and directives? LISD students and overwhelmed, underpaid educators.

As taxpayers and stakeholders who recognize LISD Leadership is not meeting expectations and continues to make careless mistakes, this petition demands that LISD take immediate action:

1. Offer multiple ways to inform LISD parents and guardians of grading procedures and graduation information, adhering to Education Code T2, Ch.26 Sec. 26.004. Help primary and secondary stakeholders create an Education Binder for their student(s).
2. Be transparent. Mail report cards to parents and guardians at the completion of EACH grading term.
3. Mail a copy of high school transcript (w/o SSN displayed) to parents and guardians EACH January and EACH June of the current school year.
4. Continue to provide an additional 5 digital transcripts to LISD students to use free of charge (apply this LISD new provision broadcasted on 10/26/2020).
5. Develop a standard system for reporting discrepancies on transcripts at each campus and provide confirmation of said corrections to ensure compliance by the school, allowing for an immediate local audit system, which leads to accurate and up to date data for each student.
6. Reformat LISD TX transcript in order to increase readability by college admissions/scholarship representatives and others. Revamp the transcript “Key.” Reduce a 2-3 page transcript to 2 pages, preferably 1 page if possible. Format to PORTRAIT view/print mode.
7. Beginning in SY 2020-21, FINAL GPA/RANK will be closed on the last day of Senior Finals (180 attendance/instructional days, final GPA should be tabulated by computers on or about day 175/177, NOT an entire six (6) weeks PRIOR to graduation). LISD must adopt a different and lawful Final GPA policy immediately!
8. SOFTWARE PROGRAMS & COMPUTERS will calculate student GPA and RANK, not the students, not LISD admin.
9. Account for and factor-into current LISD GPA the Cycle 4 SY 2019-20 grades that were finalized prior to March 15, 2020, minimizing the negative impact caused to LISD secondary students during the pandemic. This applies to LISD 10-12th graders.
10. Re-establish reporting AP Exams “Acknowledgement” for score results of 3 and higher on transcripts, in order for students to stand out among their TX and national peers.
11. Rename/recode any courses on transcripts that do not plainly denote the course title (e.g. GTT1, TACS1, APTACSAM). It’s a problem when even the student cannot recognize the name/code on their very own transcript. If this is a fixed PEIMS issue, advocate @TEA on behalf of TX students. 
12. Include the code “PAP” next to courses taken at that level just as “AP” is already annotated on transcripts for courses taken at the AP level.
13. Change the On-Ramps “B” code to a more relevant one (e.g. UT, PAP, etc.).
14. Continue Ranking LISD high school students in order to remain competitive, especially within the state of Texas. Do not lessen LISD students’ opportunities even more, as one LISD School Board Trustee is suggesting. LISD students are being disadvantaged enough.
15. Implement a “standard and mandated” grading policy for LISD secondary schools to follow. At no time, should "Campus Grading Policy trump[s] LISD Policy." This must change. Students should not be lost or left to juggle information that affects the development of work ethic, accountability for learning and establishment of routines. LISD must provide clear expectations and goals to students.
16. Grading policy must include equal/standard/district-wide percentages for the type of work produced, categories and weights should also be standardized in order for continuity and equity to take place. Furthermore, categories need be defined in the course catalogue (e.g. OTP 5%, Participation 15%, Homework 20%, CBA 20%, Quizzes 25%...).
17. Hire more counselors and have them meet students at minimum 3 (three) times a year during select times (e.g. math class BOY, yearly conferences, math class EOY) and cultivate an open-door policy between students and counselors. The current 20 minutes per year does not suffice to steer students to the path of success. See proposed SB 178 & SB 179.
18. Make Professional Communications/MAPS a requirement during the student’s Junior year (11th) not 9th, providing aid for FAFSA, college applications, scholarship essays, to finalize or truly focus on college preparedness, career readiness and global workforce engagement beyond high school.
19. Remove the grossly misinterpreted Hazlewood Act sentence “free tuition for dependents of veterans” from all LISD publications, instead implement an Accountability Department to include a Military School Liaison Officer to offer transitional support. Consider working towards Purple Star and “Our Community Salutes” programs in LISD.
20. Hire the appropriate number of core teachers and specialized staff at EACH campus. Plan to maintain 90% of non-missed instruction at all campuses, especially for on-level core subjects and advanced academics. Missed instruction due to poor HR planning and deliberate ineffective manning, leads to inequities in our schools.
21. Implement a district-wide Quest Program (e.g. REACH, Arts Academy) and other innovative and creative programs that engage all levels and aptitudes. Focus on STEM district wide. Use funds wisely and for the benefit of students.
22. Make up missed PSAT opportunity for Freshman. NLT Semester 2 end of Cycle 5 SY 2020-21. Plan ahead. Put it on LISD calendar. Do not take this opportunity away from Freshman. Work with College Board, make it the SAT if you have to. Shame on LISD for excluding Freshmen on 10/29/2020 if other districts did not. 
23. Top 10 graduating students will graduate “on stage” and will each serve a role during LISD graduation ceremony at their respective schools.
24. Remove "ACADEMIC TOP 10" frames at the 6 LISD high schools. Eradicate the stigma and unhealthy LISD GPA EPIDEMIC that has been instilled for so long and introduced to students as early as middle school. When LISD displays pictures and names of recurrent students, LISD is essentially releasing PII/GPA/Rank (for the public to deduce), which negates FERPA protections, student privacy.
25. Use special program funding to directly impact student learning at all times in LISD.
26. Secure and comply with LISD teacher pay raises on a yearly basis. Teachers are the heart of the team, their livelihoods and health is a first priority!! (Pay Auxiliary Staff fairly)

When the Covid school closures took place in the middle of March 2020, one of the only timely responses from LISD Leadership was not to count Cycle 4 grades. For a good portion of LISD students finished with the football season, marching band competitions, and other beloved but time-consuming activities, this was their best cycle of grades to date, also C4 grades were from the LAST time students were in a normal classroom setting. When the decision was made, one school board trustee was quick to point out that doing so, not honoring C4, could place Leander ISD high school students at a disadvantage when compared to other districts within the state. For if only 1 (one), just 1, TX School District has indeed honored their students’ January 2020 through March 2020 report card grades, completed and published grades, LISD student data will not be representative of the actual academic growth, dedication to programs and their resiliency in remote learning settings, as compared to peers. Again, Cycle 4 grades were already finalized and reported when LISD shutdown March 15, 2020. If Leander ISD truly inspires “Leading to a Bright Future,” then Cycle 4 grades from last school year need to be accounted for, using the same GPA formula pre-Covid.

And, it’s not just the decision to dishonor C4 grades that is holding LISD students back. LISD did not begin school for LISD “high schools” as scheduled on the LISD school calendar. Apparently, LISD Leadership and LISD Policy makers are allowed to sidestep to the detriment of secondary students, allowed to discredit our kids and not honor an entire 6 WEEKS of schoolwork as LISD deems necessary. Excluding 6 weeks of student work and exams IS standard “policy” for LISD Final GPA purposes. Not honoring the final 6 weeks of 12th grade student work for some Seniors but not all is unconstitutional. LISD must do for some and not all, in order to maintain a high graduation rate. LISD reverts and/or makes changes on a whim with no regard to implications, nor seeks parent approval and teacher feedback prior to making drastic changes. Recently, we have also heard from parents that LISD curriculums are not up to par or sometimes even down right inappropriate. Homeowners pay a mini fortune in property taxes in the LISD zone! Where are the high paying folks tasked to run LISD, and why is there no audit within LISD and from external sources? While you can’t always please “everyone,” LISD has some major improvements to accomplish, in order to do right by ALL 42,000 plus LISD students and to assure all stakeholders that excellence, student learning and fairness are at the core of every decision made by LISD and the Board.

Public, please sign this EEE in LISD petition to provide the best possible outcomes for the future of each and every Leander ISD student. Signing this petition will be a step closer in the accountability of LISD systems which currently fail to be transparent and only serve to broaden disparity across the district. ALL students deserve equal opportunity and a quality education from LISD Leadership in order to perform at their best and be accurately recognized for their hard work and perseverance.
Please sign this petition for the countless of students and families, whose children might not reach their highest potential due to negligence, defiance and careless mistakes.

LISD is comprised of over 40 schools. Help support a truly #1LISD. Meaningful change relies on taking action NOW. Thank you for signing.

Passionate about advocating for Safe & Quality Education for K-12 students, military-connected students, or making a difference in the American Educational Experience? Reach out to: TXstudentAdvocates@gmail.com, thank you.