The Texas Schooling Company (TEA) introduced that it’ll lengthen its intervention of Houston ISD for one more two years. It additionally appointed 4 new members to its state-appointed Board of Managers, extending their authority till June 1, 2027. In the meantime, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles will proceed in his present position.
TEA mentioned it adopted “a evaluate of native suggestions and a complete analysis of Houston ISD’s (HISD) progress” earlier than saying the takeover extension.
“Houston ISD has at all times been a district with a few of the highest performing colleges within the nation, nevertheless it was additionally a district that allowed a few of its colleges to fail college students for over a decade,” Commissioner of Schooling Mike Morath mentioned in a press release. “Finally, two years has not been sufficient time to repair district programs that had been damaged for many years. The extension of this intervention will permit the district to construct on its progress and obtain lasting success for college students as soon as the board transitions again to elected management.”
He famous within the assertion that HISD made enhancements in offering particular training providers and pupil educational efficiency.
What’s subsequent?
For the state takeover of HISD to finish, the varsity district should meet three exit standards, together with:
Having no multi-year “academically unacceptable” or failing campuses
Compliance with particular training necessities
Higher board governance specializing in pupil outcomes
Moreover, Wheatley Excessive Faculty, which triggered the TEA takeover, should earn a “C” grade or increased for the subsequent two years.
In line with HISD’s personal unofficial accountability scores, which it has launched since TEA’s scores are blocked attributable to ongoing lawsuits, 170 campuses obtained an “A” or “B” grade, bettering from 93 colleges the earlier yr, whereas 41 colleges earned a “D” or “F” scores in 2024, dwindling from 121 colleges the yr prior. Miles has additionally touted pupil take a look at scores on the State of Texas Assessments of Educational Readiness (STAAR) take a look at.
New board members
Per state legislation, the TEA commissioner can “at any time” change a board member.
Board members Cassandra Bandy, Rolando Martinez, Audrey Momanaee and Adam Rivon will transition off the Board of Managers and can be changed by:
Edgar Colón, a full-time lecturer in Political Science on the College of Houston-Downtown since 2008, who teaches programs on authorities, constitutional legislation and nonprofit administration and has led his personal authorized observe in public finance and company legislation since 2003,
Lauren Gore, a Harvard Legislation graduate who was appointed to the Texas Southern College (TSU) Board of Regents in 2024,
Marty Goossen, who retired as Vice Chairman of J.P. Morgan Non-public Financial institution in 2024 after working in Houston’s monetary sector since 2006 and served on the boards of the Asia Society Texas, the Museum of Wonderful Arts Houston and the United Approach of Better Houston,
Marcos Rosales, a trial lawyer and companion at Beck Redden LLP who beforehand served as common counsel of a multi-industry enterprise enterprise and on HISD’s Group Advisory Committee
Board President Ric Campo, Secretary Angela Lemond Flowers and members Michelle Cruz Arnold, Janette Garza Lindner and Paula Mendoza will stay on the Board of Managers.
“These new board members – advocates for the scholars of Houston and their communities – will be part of the remaining board members in shifting the district ahead with a continued concentrate on pupil outcomes and assembly the exit standards,” mentioned Morath, thanking the 4 departing board members.
Moore welcomes the brand new board members, urging them to concentrate on “all kids, no matter zip code, background, or campus. Your choices will impression generations.”
Board of trustees
Whereas HISD’s 9 elected trustees presently serve in an advisory capability to the Board of Managers, they may progressively regain management of the district as soon as HISD satisfies TEA’s exit standards.
In November 2023, HISD elected 4 trustees, Savant Moore, Plácido Gómez, Dani Hernandez and Patricia Ok. Allen for a four-year time period. The subsequent election for the remaining districts, presently served by Elizabeth Santos, Sue Deigaard, Kendall Baker, Bridget Wade and Myrna Guidry, will happen in November 2025.
Combined reactions
“To our group: don’t be discouraged. This extension doesn’t mark defeat—it’s merely a reminder that the work of bettering public training is ongoing,” wrote present HISD trustee Savant Moore. “Many people are being known as to serve in new methods and in new places of work, to reshape the way forward for training throughout Texas. Hold displaying up. Hold volunteering at your neighborhood colleges. Hold attending faculty board conferences. Your voice issues now greater than ever.”
The president of the lecturers’ union, Houston Federation of Academics, known as Miles’ overhauled New Schooling System a “No Schooling System.”
“It’s clear to me in the present day that TEA and Mike Miles gained’t really feel like their job right here is completed till there’s no instructor left in Houston ISD,” Anderson mentioned. “Houston voters despatched a message final yr, rejecting the $4.4 billion bond this appointed administration tried to shove down their throats. Sadly, it doesn’t look like Miles, the board of managers, or Commissioner Morath listened to that message.”
Veronica Garcia, govt director for Houstonians for Nice Public Colleges, mentioned the progress made by HISD within the final two years is just not sufficient.
“The trail ahead should embrace deeper, extra clear engagement with the communities that HISD serves. Households, educators, and college students need to be a part of shaping the choices that have an effect on their colleges and their futures,” Garcia mentioned. Actual transformation would require collaboration — not simply from the district itself – however from all of us who care about public training in Houston.
Citing knowledge that claims solely 17% of Houston ISD graduates are incomes a residing wage only a decade after leaving highschool, CEO of Good Cause Houston, Cary Wright, mentioned it’s a “wake-up” name for the district.
“It’s a reminder that far too a lot of our college students are nonetheless being left behind, and that we now have extra work to do to make sure each little one in Houston is ready for a future full of risk,” Wright mentioned. “If we’re going to really change outcomes for Houston’s kids, we’d like the complete weight of this group behind them. Which means households, educators, nonprofits, enterprise leaders, and elected officers all stepping up—collectively—to help our college students and colleges.”
