Ian McKenna, a fifth-grader at Oak Hill Elementary School in Austin, has been awarded a $500 grant to create a "Giving Garden," to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to children and families in his community and raise awareness about local hunger.

He is one of 100 students in the nation to receive the Sodexo Foundation Youth Grant through Youth Service America. The grant will support Ian in leading a team of Oak Hill students in a garden project that addresses childhood hunger.

Dear Team AISD, 

Thank you for your support and help to bring 40,000 new and free books to Austin ISD students! If you signed up with First Book,
a non-profit that provides free and low-cost books to children who come from low income households, you will be able to come to the Allan Facility on Saturday, March 29, to choose great books for the students you work with.

No. Parents may not have students opt out of any testing. While AISD and others might be empathetic to some of their feelings, by law there is no "opt out" for students. Please see the applicable law from the Texas Education Code pertaining to statewide accountability testing for your review and consideration:

AISD families, staff and community members are invited to attend budget meetings in April to learn about AISD's 2014-15 preliminary budget. The meetings will also provide the community with the opportunity to learn about: 

• Strategic investment in priorities 
• Projected shortfalls
• Long-range financial planning

The meetings are:

Thursday, April 3
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Crockett High School Cafeteria
5601 Manchaca Road

Austin ISD and AISD Literacy Work Group, Education Austin, and First Book teamed up to bring 40,000 free books to Title I campuses earlier this year, and the books are now ready to be distributed to campuses.