HOUSTON, Texas – Earlier this year, Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research collaborated with the Houston Independent School District to help strengthen its Sunrise Centers.

These neighborhood-based hubs provide noninstructional support for students and families, from food and school supplies to mental health care and job training.

The district’s Sunrise Centers were launched in the 2023-24 school year, and the Kinder Institute’s collaboration examined their first year of operation, offering recommendations to enhance the impact on students and families.

In May, it became clear that the district—where 80% of students are economically disadvantaged—was transitioning from its Wraparound Services Department, which provided food, clothing, supplies, hygiene items to the Sunri

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