Mayor Annise Parker, former Mayor Bill White and former Rockets players Robert Reed and Rodney McCray were part of today's effort.
"We are going to become the first school district in this country to create a no excuse culture across our school system," said Houston ISD Superintendent Dr Terry Grier.
The volunteers talked about the district's new twilight academy to help students take classes at night and on weekends.
The effort was started right here in Houston and has grown to include school districts in at least seven other cities.
