An Overview of Hays CISD

Hays Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) is located in central Texas, southwest of the capital city of Austin. The district serves approximately 14,000 students in its nineteen campuses: eleven elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools, and two alternative schools.

The district as a whole received an “academically acceptable” rating from the Texas Education Agency’s Academic Excellence Indicator System in the year 2004. The rating is based primarily upon students’ passing rates on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). All ethnic groups had acceptable passing rates on all sections of the exam, and economically disadvantaged students also achieved the appropriate passing rates. Three of the schools were given a “recognized” rating, indicating that an even greater percentage of their students met the standard on the TAKS test. In the same report, the district was also recognized for having exemplary high school completion rates. In addition to these successes, Hays CISD is pleased to have two students chosen this year as part of an elite group of 13,000 National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Besides its success in traditional academics, Hays CISD has also become an authority in the field of bilingual education. More than 55% of students are of Hispanic ethnicity, and the district has a bilingual magnet program in some elementary classes. Hays CISD is proud to have been chosen to host members of the National Association of Bilingual Education as a part of a field trip during the organization’s national conference, held in Austin on February 2009. Being exposed to Hays CISD’s educational system will help these educators in their effort to improve bilingual and multicultural education across the country.

The district has enjoyed a strong history of success in part because administrators have been consistently dedicated to taking a number of proactive steps to create a strong community and to promote student achievement. Hays CISD’s website includes detailed information about the 40 Developmental Assets that the district has outlined as a means of building the learning community. Students, parents, teachers, and members of the community can find examples of how deliberate changes, both large and small, have made a noticeable impact on students’ academic experiences.

Teaching in Hays CISD

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of children in Hays CISD, several teaching positions are available, especially for secondary education teachers. Because of the district’s focus on bilingual education, a number of bilingual teaching positions are also available to those who are able and willing to offer instruction in both English and Spanish. The district currently has 900 classroom teachers and expects to hire more as student enrollment continues to increase. The district has estimated that more than 17,000 students will be a part of the Hays CISD family by 2010. The primary hiring time for new teachers is in late spring and during the summer, so applicants should continue to check the district’s website for open teaching positions.
The starting salary for new teachers with a bachelor’s degree in Hays CISD is $38,750. For more information about the hiring process and for an online application for employment, please go to the school district’s website: http://www.hayscisd.net/

Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program

If you are interested in teaching in Hays CISD, you must have a teaching certificate or be working toward your certification while enrolled in an alternative certification program. For those who are already working a full-time job or raising a family and for those who just need a flexible school schedule, the Web-Centric Alternative Certification Program (WCACP) provides the perfect opportunity to work toward earning a teaching certificate online.

To qualify for admission into the program, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum 2.5 grade point average. In addition, you must have the necessary credit hours on your undergraduate transcript to qualify for a particular certification area. If you lack the necessary number of hours on your transcript, you can take the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) to qualify for admission into the program.

Our children are the future. Thanks to programs such as the WCACP, you and other future teachers can help make a difference in the lives of children in Hays CISD and across the great state of Texas!