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College of Education

News and Features

January 15, 2026

UH Report Finds Houston ISD Enrollment Decline Accelerated After State Takeover

A new UH report finds that Houston ISD’s enrollment decline has accelerated since the state takeover more than two years ago, while experienced educators are leaving the district at higher rates. According to researchers at the College of Education’s Institute for Education Policy Research and Evaluation, the intervention has coincided with significant shifts in both the district’s student population and teaching workforce. “The overarching takeaway is that the student and teacher populations in Houston ISD are very different than they were before the takeover,” said Toni Templeton, senior research scientist at the institute.

Top Stories

December 18, 2025

‘Everyone’s Journey Looks Different’

The fall 2025 graduates from the UH College of Education have turned their passions into purpose, ready to make their mark in the fields of K-12 and higher education, health and wellness, research and beyond. "The College of Education has helped me feel more confident and prepared for my next chapter," said Chantel Le, a health major graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Read more about the College's top graduates.

November 19, 2025

UH Researchers Map Houston’s Mental Health Deserts for the First Time

For the first time, UH researchers have mapped Houston’s “mental health deserts,” revealing inequities in access to care across the city. The study, published Oct. 15 in Frontiers of Public Health, highlights the uneven distribution of mental health professionals and calls for targeted interventions and policy solutions. “So many neighborhoods had no mental health professionals in their ZIP codes,” said Chakema Carmack, senior author and associate professor of health. “It does follow patterns of other lack-of-access variables out there, such as food access, physical care access, clinic access and insurance coverage.”

October 29, 2025

University of Houston Study Finds Challenging Outdoor Fun Boosts Youth Development

New research from UH reveals certain types of fun, particularly those with outdoor adventure components, may offer greater social and emotional benefits for youth. Bradley H. Smith, professor of School Psychology, explores this idea in a study published in August in the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. “I don’t think people take fun seriously enough,” Smith said. “It's a basic human need, and we're better off doing it.”

Latest News

February 12, 2026

College News Briefs

Check out the latest news about our alumni, students, faculty and staff. We highlight awards, promotions, publications and more. Email coecomm@uh.edu to share your accomplishments and updates with the College of Education communications team.

January 15, 2026

UH Report Finds Houston ISD Enrollment Decline Accelerated After State Takeover

A new UH report finds that Houston ISD’s enrollment decline has accelerated since the state takeover more than two years ago, while experienced educators are leaving the district at higher rates. According to researchers at the College of Education’s Institute for Education Policy Research and Evaluation, the intervention has coincided with significant shifts in both the district’s student population and teaching workforce. “The overarching takeaway is that the student and teacher populations in Houston ISD are very different than they were before the takeover,” said Toni Templeton, senior research scientist at the institute.

December 18, 2025

‘Everyone’s Journey Looks Different’

The fall 2025 graduates from the UH College of Education have turned their passions into purpose, ready to make their mark in the fields of K-12 and higher education, health and wellness, research and beyond. "The College of Education has helped me feel more confident and prepared for my next chapter," said Chantel Le, a health major graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Read more about the College's top graduates.

November 19, 2025

UH Researchers Map Houston’s Mental Health Deserts for the First Time

For the first time, UH researchers have mapped Houston’s “mental health deserts,” revealing inequities in access to care across the city. The study, published Oct. 15 in Frontiers of Public Health, highlights the uneven distribution of mental health professionals and calls for targeted interventions and policy solutions. “So many neighborhoods had no mental health professionals in their ZIP codes,” said Chakema Carmack, senior author and associate professor of health. “It does follow patterns of other lack-of-access variables out there, such as food access, physical care access, clinic access and insurance coverage.”

October 29, 2025

University of Houston Study Finds Challenging Outdoor Fun Boosts Youth Development

New research from UH reveals certain types of fun, particularly those with outdoor adventure components, may offer greater social and emotional benefits for youth. Bradley H. Smith, professor of School Psychology, explores this idea in a study published in August in the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. “I don’t think people take fun seriously enough,” Smith said. “It's a basic human need, and we're better off doing it.”

September 22, 2025

University of Houston Awarded $1M to Study Teacher Certification Pathways, Outcomes

UH researchers are at the forefront of developing a strong, sustainable teacher workforce — backed by a $1 million grant from the Houston Endowment. The funding supports the work of UH’s Center for Research, Evaluation, and Advancement of Teacher Education, which will study how school districts are using different teacher certification pathways to improve student outcomes and teacher recruitment and retention.

COE in the News

Houston takeover offers lessons — and warnings — for Fort Worth ISD

Fort Worth Report

Top HISD leaders making big six-figure salaries, some earning $30k bonus checks, contracts show

KTRK – ABC13 (starts around 0:42)

UH study finds mental health needs in Sugar Land-Missouri City mostly met

Community Impact

Drop in students enrolled in early childhood education programs, HISD data shows

KTRK – ABC13 (starts around minute 0:00:36)

Houston’s Mental Health Deserts

Houston Public Media/Hello Houston (starts around minute 1:29:00)

Fort Bend ISD prepares to release a proposal to close and rezone elementary schools

KTRK – ABC13 (starts around minute 1:51)

ABC13 obtains exclusive HISD student enrollment records for 2025-26 school year

KTRK – ABC13 (starts around minute 1:50)

The potential for a state takeover of Spring ISD if grades don’t improve this year at Dekaney High School

Houston Public Media/Houston Matters (starts around minute 15:50)