HISD to start new 'Kinder Bridge' grade level for some students

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Some Houston ISD students could be taking a different path to first grade next year.

The district said it's launching a new Kinder Bridge program aimed at helping struggling readers catch up. HISD said this will be treated as a separate grade level.

It is an additional year between kindergarten and first grade, with a new curriculum for students who are behind in reading.

The district said this will be offered initially at the following seven campuses:

• Blackshear Elementary
• Elmore Elementary
• Hilliard Elementary
• Smith Elementary
• Clemente Martinez Elementary
• Bonham Elementary
• Shadydale Elementary

HISD said other schools can opt in as well if a principal chooses to do so.

The district said students who score well below grade level on literacy assessments would qualify.

Some families can opt in based on factors such as age, students missing kindergarten, or teacher recommendations.

"What we know from research is particularly on reading skills that by the second grade, you really want to have embedded reading skills and really have success at reading," University of Houston Professor Duncan Klussmann said.

Klussmann said this is more common in private schools.

"I have not seen it in a public school setting," Klussmann said. "I really like the fact that they're looking at this system-wide."

Ultimately, HISD said it'll only be available at participating campuses, but the course is fully optional.

"I think the key for really successful bridge programs is that parents are involved in the decision," Klussmann said. "They get to make the decision if that's the right thing for their child."

Kinder Bridge is part of a larger literacy push by HISD for the upcoming school year. Other initiatives include things like accelerated science of reading in kindergarten and first grade and summer reading intensives.

HISD said it already notified families with students who might be good candidates for the program at the Kinder Bridge schools.