Two years into the controversial Texas Training Company (TEA) takeover of Houston ISD, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles declared that for the primary time, no scholar would return to a failing college this fall. However whilst he touted the district’s features, like eliminating F-rated campuses and doubling the variety of A and B-rated colleges, Miles made it clear: the job just isn’t accomplished. Achievement gaps linger. Belief stays fragile. A fractured neighborhood remains to be watching.
In a one-on-one interview with the Defender, Miles mentioned the preliminary 2025 TEA accountability scores information launched by the college district. The info shall be obtainable to highschool programs on Aug. 13 and publicly accessible on TXschools.gov on Friday, Aug. 15.
The Texas Fifteenth Courtroom of Appeals not too long ago dominated that the TEA can launch 2024 A-F accountability scores after a lawsuit from varied districts blocked their launch. Scores have been halted for each the 2023 and 2024 college years as college districts challenged the state’s methodology for calculating efficiency metrics. They argued that there have been stricter standards for receiving an A grade and better scores on standardized exams just like the State of Texas Assessments of Educational Readiness (STAAR).
HISD was not one of many districts that sued to dam the discharge of the outcomes and launched its scores for 2024 utilizing the identical TEA methodology.
By the numbers
Texas’ largest college district now has 197 A and B-rated colleges, up 35% from earlier than the TEA intervened and appointed a Board of Managers and Miles. Their reforms have sparked controversy over the past two years.
This implies practically three out of 4 colleges (74%) in HISD are actually A and B-rated, greater than doubling in quantity from the 93 colleges the earlier 12 months.
The varsity district has additionally eradicated F-rated campuses, a dramatic lower from 56 F-rated campuses in HISD at first of the intervention.
“What meaning is that come subsequent week when the children come again to highschool, not one HISD scholar will attend a failing college,” Miles mentioned. “College students, for the primary time, could have larger alternatives to reach highschool and additional schooling and post-high college.”
These embrace the 82 colleges that have been rated D or F in 2023. Now, 18 D-rated colleges stay in HISD.
“We had an enormous achievement hole and our Black and brown youngsters have been behind their friends,” Miles mentioned. “There was a niche with their friends in Texas. In different phrases, a Black scholar in HISD was doing worse in math and language arts than black college students within the state of Texas by far. Two years later, we’ve narrowed the achievement hole considerably. We’re above our friends.”
Accountability and tutorial reform
Miles credit this enchancment in scores to a give attention to tutorial high quality.
“You must have principals who’re tutorial leaders who can coach lecturers round high-quality instruction,” he added. “And you must have government administrators who coach principals to be additionally tutorial leaders…We additionally be certain that now we have sturdy assist for lecturers.”
Miles’ controversial “New Training System” (NES) reforms mandate a centralized curriculum and a rigorous instructing routine, which incorporates 90-minute courses that start with Studying Aims.
Courses are divided into 40-45 minutes of instruction utilizing A number of Response Methods (MRS), throughout which principals and assistant principals go to school rooms to look at the instruction. Then comes 10 minutes of Demonstration of Studying (DOL) or mini quiz, on which college students are scored. Those that grasp the DOL proceed to “staff facilities” (previously libraries) to follow extra superior workouts supervised by studying coaches for 35 minutes. Those that don’t grasp the DOL stay within the classroom for a “second train,” the place lecturers assessment ideas.
The NES mannequin has been extensively criticized by HISD mother and father and lecturers alike. They are saying the curriculum weighs too closely on exams and timed classes, which impacts scholar and trainer morale.
Miles disagrees. He says in NES colleges, the district offered every thing from ready-made PowerPoint slides to reply keys, giving lecturers extra time to give attention to instruction.
“Within the 130 NES colleges, we even made copies in order that lecturers would spend most of their time on instruction, not on duties that different individuals can do,” Miles defined. “After they go away quarter-hour after the bell rings, they’re accomplished with work and so they can take pleasure in their households and do different issues. However once they’re in school, it’s about high quality instruction.”
That philosophy extends to management, as effectively.
Because the starting of the state takeover of Houston ISD in June 2023, there have been 177 principal modifications. About half of those principals have left the district, with some separating voluntarily and others being requested to resign or going through termination. Particularly, in June 2024, there have been 76 principal departures, probably the most in a single month for the reason that takeover started, based on the Houston Chronicle’s HISD Principal Tracker.
“We eliminated some principals and a few lecturers who weren’t as efficient. As you’ll be able to see, that technique labored,” Miles defined. “The children bought higher instruction and did higher academically. Youngsters want efficient lecturers…if a trainer just isn’t progressing in the direction of proficiency, then these are the lecturers that aren’t gonna be efficient for our children. In order that’s what we’ve been doing. It’s placing youngsters first, not adults first.”
Fairness in traditionally underserved campuses
HISD’s transformation has had a profound affect on Black and Latino college students, who’ve traditionally confronted deep instructional inequities.
Based on Miles, Black college students in HISD have been as soon as performing considerably beneath their friends statewide. He assures HISD mother and father that the hole is narrowing and college students shall be higher ready to attend school and earn high-paying jobs as soon as they graduate.
“While you attend an F college, it’s such as you attend a faculty with an anchor,” he mentioned. “Youngsters who attend an A college within the district are being lifted up…we’re altering that for the primary time. And we’re doing it expeditiously. It’s been solely two years. However the gaps are closing and our children are thriving.”
Board President Ric Campo agreed with Miles that the outcomes demonstrated “Houston’s dedication to offering world-class schooling for all kids.” Different board members additionally weighed in.
“As a member of the Board of Managers, I’m proud to see excellence changing into the norm in each Houston neighborhood,” mentioned Angela Lemond Flowers. “These scores signify actual alternative for households who’ve waited too lengthy for nice neighborhood colleges. Each baby deserves entry to high quality schooling, and at this time’s outcomes present we’re delivering on that promise.”
Challenges stay in belief and staffing
Whereas the tutorial features are plain, questions linger over the sustainability and transparency of the reforms.
TEA’s accountability system, notably the A-F ranking scale, has come below scrutiny from educators and authorized advocates for its methodology.
However Miles insists the system stays legitimate.
“The STAAR examination…is legitimate and dependable. It’s a good measurement of whether or not a scholar can learn at grade stage or do math at grade stage or is proficient within the different topics,” Miles mentioned. “The accountability scores is a mirrored image of the STAAR scores, our commencement charges, closing the achievement hole…the general public can belief TEA. They’re not my scores, they’re not anybody district scores, there’s TEA scores.”
Miles added that whether or not a scholar can learn and do math depends on a trainer’s intuition.
In relation to neighborhood engagement and suggestions, Miles means that HISD mother and father and lecturers use the Shared Determination-Making Committee and trainer advisory committee and college students depend on scholar councils for his or her enter.
“On the district stage, we’ve began various issues to attempt to get much more suggestions,” he mentioned. “We’ve at all times had the district accountability committee, district advisory committee, principal advisory committee, city halls. We’ve surveys virtually month-to-month.”
Enrollment can also be a problem at HISD. Because the state takeover started two years in the past, NES campus enrollment has declined by about 6% yearly. In 2024 alone, HISD misplaced practically 7,400 college students.
The district management accounted for the loss in its price range workshops.
“We’ve budgeted for a decline in enrollment, similar to throughout the nation, enrollment has declined,” Miles mentioned. “Hopefully, we gained’t have as nice an enrollment decline and that’ll be budget-saving somewhat bit. We’re at all times going to be conservative in our price range. We’re at all times going to imagine some worst-case eventualities with a view to guarantee that now we have the cash we have to do [the] transformation.”
Nevertheless, belief, particularly in communities impacted by state takeover and management upheaval, takes time to rebuild, as neighborhood members vocally talk about in school board conferences.
Instructor retention is one other hurdle. Regardless of the excessive workers turnover prompted by the reforms, HISD insists it’s retaining 85% of its proficient lecturers and 89% of exemplary lecturers.
“We’re retaining the proper lecturers,” Miles mentioned. “For brand spanking new or uncertified hires, the district has ramped up coaching and training to carry them on top of things shortly.”
Neighborhood engagement additionally stays a piece in progress. HISD has expanded its advisory councils, launched a revamped web site and rolled out household surveys.
“We’re doing quite a bit to speak, however that’s a endless battle,” Miles mentioned. “As a result of there was a lot change, we want to verify individuals perceive how we’re working and why.”
What’s subsequent for HISD?
For the 2025-2026 college 12 months, Miles mentioned the district will keep the course, specializing in differentiated instruction to assist struggling and superior learners. He additionally plans to construct out profession and technical schooling (CTE) packages, together with well being sciences, cybersecurity, welding and augmented actuality.
As for the way forward for the state intervention, which TEA Commissioner Mike Morath prolonged for at the least two extra years, the trail forward stays unclear concerning when the intervention will finish.
“We’ve already proven and we’ll proceed to indicate that we’re transferring in the proper path and we shall be out of D and F standing right here very quickly,” Miles mentioned. “He [TEA Commissioner Mike Morath] hasn’t shared this with me, however I think after the subsequent two years he’ll begin fascinated by a transition to an elected board.”
