KIPP Texas says EMS treated the student after a Dec. 12 playground medical emergency.
HOUSTON, Texas — A southwest Houston mother alleges staff at KIPP Mosaic Primary did not call 911 when her 8-year-old daughter lost consciousness during an asthma attack on the playground Friday, Dec. 12. The girl was later evaluated at a hospital and released with a heart monitor, the family said.
The dispute centers on who summoned emergency medical services and whether the campus followed the child’s medical plan. KIPP Texas confirmed a student suffered a “medical incident” and said EMS responded and provided care but did not specify who called. The child’s mother, Kahtoyha Barnes, says the school phoned a parent before dialing 911 and that a relative ultimately made the emergency call. The matter raises fresh questions about school response protocols and how campuses handle known medical conditions during the school day.
According to the family, third-grader Kyrie Randall was running at recess when she struggled to breathe and collapsed. “I took a breath, and then that was my last breath,” Randall told local reporters. Barnes said the school first reached the girl’s father and, when staff later reached her, described the child as “going in and out of consciousness” and noted the nurse was not on site. “Did you call 911?” Barnes said she asked. “There was a pause and then, ‘No,’” she recounted. Barnes said she directed her mother to call 911 while she headed to the campus. When she arrived, she said she did not sense urgency and asked staff for her daughter’s inhaler as medics reached the school.
In a written statement, KIPP Texas said student safety is its “top priority” and that on Friday, Dec. 12, school officials evaluated the situation, contacted a parent, and that EMS “responded and provided care.” The network said it would work with the family to ensure a medical plan is in place, citing student privacy laws for limiting details. Barnes disputes that characterization, saying a plan has been on file since pre-K and alleging it was not followed. The family said the child was taken to a hospital for evaluation and discharged with a portable heart monitor to track any irregularities. It was not immediately clear whether the device was precautionary or tied to a new diagnosis; the family said the child is asthmatic and has other conditions, but did not release medical records.
KIPP Mosaic Primary is part of the statewide KIPP Texas public charter network, which serves thousands of students. Charter schools, like traditional districts, maintain campus emergency procedures and student care plans. Most Houston-area campuses keep stock rescue medications and train staff to recognize signs of respiratory distress, but policies vary by network and campus. The episode comes amid broader concerns about school nurse staffing and how quickly adults escalate to 911 for life-threatening symptoms. Barnes said her daughter’s plan should have guided staff actions during recess and in the front office where the child was taken after collapsing.
As of Saturday, Dec. 20, no agency had announced a formal investigation. The family said they are considering next steps. Barnes said she wants “accountability” and referenced job consequences and potential criminal charges, without specifying a statute. KIPP’s statement did not mention disciplinary reviews or retraining but said it would work with the family on the plan. Any official review would typically examine call logs, staff statements, nurse schedules, and time stamps from the ambulance run to determine when and by whom 911 was called, as well as whether school protocols were followed.
Parents outside the campus Friday described a tense scene as medics arrived. Some said they saw adults helping a child in the front office. “We were all worried,” said neighbor Marina Alvarez, who was near the entrance as an ambulance pulled up. Barnes, who arrived while medics were still on scene, described “panic” and said she raised her voice trying to locate her daughter’s inhaler. “I want to make sure this does not happen to another child,” she said. In a brief interview, KIPP representatives reiterated that emergency responders provided care and said the campus would review internal processes.
As of Sunday morning, the student was home wearing a heart monitor that the family says she must keep on daily for now. The school network has not answered follow-up questions about who placed the emergency call or whether any employees face review. The next development is likely an internal campus report or additional statement from KIPP Texas in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 21, 2025.