KERA American Graduate initiative

Series produced by KERA

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Charting the journey from childhood to graduation

As part of a national public broadcasting project American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen, KERA is focusing on ways to keep kids on the path to graduation. This multiyear initiative to fight the dropout crisis will play out on all of KERA’s platforms, with news stories and community outreach through radio, television, web sites, social media and events.


42 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Dallas Arts District, Credit: THUNDERKISS PHOTOGRAPHY/FLICKR
There’s a big push in education to boost students’ math skills. One group hopes to do that by taking elementary and middle school kids on a series ...

  • Added: Dec 20, 2016
  • Length: 04:47
Caption: Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath spoke at the Dallas Regional Chamber. He was joined by Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, Desoto ISD Superintendent David Harris and Uplift CEO Yasmin Bhatia., Credit: Stella M. Chavez
The former Dallas Independent School District trustee showed the audience at the Dallas Regional Chamber luncheon some charts and said what they re...

  • Added: Dec 20, 2016
  • Length: 02:48
Caption: A new Fort Worth reading coalition wants to get 100 percent of third graders reading on grade level by 2025., Credit: Stella M. Chavez
In Fort Worth public schools, just three out of every 10 third graders are reading at grade level.

  • Added: Dec 20, 2016
  • Length: 04:23
Caption: Texas Sen. Konni Burton (R-Colleyville), Credit: Robert White/Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A proposed bill from a Tarrant County lawmaker is causing a stir in education circles.

  • Added: Dec 08, 2016
  • Length: 05:11
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For decades, college has been touted as the best path to economic success for young Americans. But according to our guest this hour, this push towa...

  • Added: Dec 08, 2016
  • Length: 48:34
Caption: Duncanville Superintendent Marc Smith surrounded by students , Credit: Bill Zeeble
Superintendent Marc Smith is creating new programs and partnerships he hopes will help Duncanville schools stand out. With 13,000 students, Duncanv...

  • Added: Dec 08, 2016
  • Length: 04:08
Caption: Sarai (left) and her teacher Esther Martinez, Credit: Bill Zeeble
In North Texas, some schools are experimenting with teachers making home visits. In Irving, one teacher’s been doing just that for years.

  • Added: Dec 08, 2016
  • Length: 03:41
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With little training under his belt, Nicholson Baker signed up to become a substitute teacher in Maine. As a part of KERA’s American Graduate initi...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2016
  • Length: 48:25
Caption: Alejandra Miranda, North Lake High Community College in Irving, Credit: Stel
Texas legislators are debating whether to repeal the Texas Dream Act. Signed by then-Governor Rick Perry in 2001, the law allows certain undocument...

Bought by WDBM


  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 04:03
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Dixon School of the Arts, Credit: Flickr.com
More than 230,000 students attend charter schools in Texas. And, on average, those students show less progress in reading and math than their peers...

  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 02:22
Caption: Chance Hawkins and Edgar Ortiz, Credit: Stella M. Chavez
For a kid with severe physical disabilities, having an aide at school can make a huge difference. It can affect whether a student stays in school o...

  • Added: Aug 04, 2015
  • Length: 03:58
Caption: Shanterrica Piper got her GED thanks to a program at Alley's House, a Dallas nonprofit, Credit: Courtney Collins
Stuart Spitzer, a Republican from Kaufman, kicked up a controversy about sex education during a recent marathon budget debate in the Texas House. H...

  • Added: Apr 21, 2015
  • Length: 03:14
Caption: Harpool Middle School students, Credit: Bill Zeeble
There's a new after-school club in Denton ISD where kids can play computer games. But, they're not just staring like zombies into screens. This is ...

  • Added: Apr 20, 2015
  • Length: 03:17
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Here’s a question. Do you know the difference between your amygdala and the hippocampus? There’s a group of 3 year olds in Oak Cliff who do.

  • Added: Nov 24, 2014
  • Length: 03:07
Caption: GED Testing Center, Credit: Bill Zeeble/KERANews
A quarter of Dallas adults never graduated from high school. The Dallas Public Library hopes to change that with a new GED testing center unveiled ...

  • Added: Nov 19, 2014
  • Length: 01:49
Caption: Charles Johnson and Desmond Davis, Credit: Bill Zeeble/KERANews
North Dallas High School is home to about 100 homeless kids because it’s near three homeless shelters and organizations that serve families in need...

  • Added: Nov 19, 2014
  • Length: 02:27
Caption: Melissa and William Richardson
A brother and sister in their 20s finished high school last month in Richardson even though learning disabilities slowed them down. They got high s...

  • Added: Nov 19, 2014
  • Length: 04:30
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Texas is considering new social studies textbooks for public school students for the first time since 2002.

  • Added: Nov 14, 2014
  • Length: 37:54
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Teachers are charged with one of the world's most important jobs. Krys Boyd talks this hour about how we can better serve our teachers with Dana Go...

  • Added: Nov 14, 2014
  • Length: 48:31
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Twenty percent of new principals leave the job within two years. Krys Boyd talks this hour about the challenges faced by the leaders of our schools...

  • Added: Nov 14, 2014
  • Length: 48:32