KIPP Texas Together: December Family Newsletter

A Message from the ceo

KIPP Texas Families,

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to personally express my gratitude for your unwavering partnership this semester. Your dedication is the foundation of our students’ success, and we celebrate the growth our KIPPsters have achieved together. The winter break is a sacred time for rest, rejuvenation, and celebrating love and joy with your families. I strongly encourage you to step away from the routine and truly connect with your loved ones.

This rest is vital. When our students return in January, we’ll enthusiastically support them as they apply their new skills in practice. We’ll cheer them on as they joyfully showcase their growth toward graduation and reach their academic goals, which we’ll celebrate through spring testing and important milestones.

The energy and love your children receive during this break will fuel their success for the second semester.

Please note our schools will be closed starting Monday, December 22, and will reopen on Tuesday, January 6.

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful holiday, and a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed!

With deepest gratitude,

Sehba Ali

CEO, KIPP Texas

Academics

🌟 KIPP Texas Schools Achieve Excellence: 10 Campuses Named U.S. News & World Report’s Best of 2026 🌟

KKIPP schools are proud to celebrate a major milestone: 10 of our campuses have earned high honors in the prestigious 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings! This impressive list highlights the powerful academic outcomes and exceptional commitment of our students and staff.

Elementary School Award Winners: Dual Honors!

Five of our KIPP campuses achieved the distinguished recognition of being named both a Best Elementary School and a Best Charter School. This dual honor speaks volumes about the high-quality education our young students are receiving.

• KIPP Unity Primary
• KIPP CONNECT Primary
• KIPP SHARP Prep
• KIPP SHINE Prep
• KIPP Journey Primary

Middle School Award Winners: Proven Success!

Our middle schools are building a strong foundation for future success, with five campuses earning recognition as the best in their category.

• KIPP Academy West (Best Middle School Award)
• KIPP 3D Academy (Best Middle and Best Charter School Award)
• KIPP Sharpstown College Prep (Best Middle and Best Charter School Award)
• KIPP Academy Middle (Best Middle and Best Charter School Award)
• KIPP CONNECT Preparatory (Best Middle and Best Charter School Award)

This significant achievement across 10 campuses in the 2026 rankings is a direct reflection of our community’s dedication to preparing every student for college, career, and beyond.

A Look Ahead

• Professional Learning Day (No school for students): Friday, December 19, 2025
• Winter Holiday: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
• Professional Development Day for Faculty (No Classes for Students): Monday, January 5, 2026
• Return to School: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
• Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day: KIPP Texas schools will be closed to all students: Monday, January 19, 2026

2025-26 Academic Calendars

bring joy

🤝 Bring Your Best Friends to KIPP Texas!

The best communities are built by friends, and we believe your family’s positive experience at KIPP Texas deserves to be As the saying goes, “Make new friends, but keep the old!” We know your child is thriving here, and we want their favorite pals to join the fun! By inviting your old friends to enroll at KIPP Texas, you help them access an excellent education and contribute to our growing community.

Share the positive experience—bring your best friends to your school!

Requesting Student Records? Use Scribbles!

Need student records or transcripts? All requests and electronic payments must now be submitted through our online platform, Scribbles.

• Processing Time: Requests are processed on normal business days (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Please allow up to two business days for processing.

• Status Inquiries: If your request is pending after two business days, please contact Maria Vega at Maria.Vega@kipptexas.org for an update.
• Important Release Information:
  • Per FERPA and District policy, records are released only to the student or their parent/guardian if the student is under 18.
  • If the student is 18 or older, written consent and a copy of the student’s ID are required to release records to a parent/guardian.
• Transcripts:
  • Official Transcripts must be sent directly to the college or institution (per Texas TEA requirements).
  • Students may request and receive Unofficial Transcripts.
• Communication: All updates regarding your order, payment, and delivery will be sent via email.

Ensure all information is accurate! Inaccurate details may prevent your request from being processed.

In The news

Learning Smart: KIPP Texas AI Initiatives are Ongoing

We’re excited to share that we are using Artificial Intelligence (AI), a super-smart tool, to make learning even better! Our goal is to use AI in a compassionate way that gives our students and staff the best possible support, making sure you have the skills for the world today and tomorrow. These programs are already ongoing or launching soon as part of our long-term plan for Academic Excellence. For our KIPPsters, this means Playlab is helping teachers create fun, interactive lessons that boost creativity and problem-solving in reading and math (Pilot: Sept 2025–May 2026), and BACKRS is giving students and alumni personalized advice for college, jobs, and long-term success (Pilot: Aug 2025–Dec 2025, with continuation planned).

These AI tools also help our staff focus more on students. We are using an AI Chatbot in Google Workspace to help teachers and staff with daily tasks like writing emails and brainstorming ideas. This makes their work faster and smoother, which means our teachers have more time and energy to focus on your KIPPster in the classroom (Pilot: July 2025–June 2026). We are moving forward carefully, making sure AI is used safely and supports our mission. We believe this is a key step in building a brighter future together!