Texas State Takeover of Houston Schools Sparks Controversy Amid Educational Reforms

In response to declining academic performance and fiscal mismanagement, numerous states have adopted a radical approach by assuming control over underperforming schools.

This school year, Texas took such a step with the Houston Independent School District (HISD). The Texas Education Agency disbanded the elected school board and appointed a new superintendent, Mike Miles, to lead the district.

His mission: to boost standardized test scores, particularly in math and reading, following a significant drop during the pandemic's remote learning period. The state also implemented new systems to evaluate educators and campus leaders' performance.

As HISD approaches the end of its first full year under state control, a growing number of teachers and community members express that the intended improvements are not materializing as hoped.

"It's never been like this. It's never felt so much like you're being strangled," HISD teacher Maria Benzon lamented. "I want everybody to love learning for the sake of learning. And it has become sadly a space of we are learning so we can pass the standardized tests."

Controversial Texas School Takeover

In recent years, 25 states, including Texas, have taken control of school districts due to poor academic performance or financial mismanagement.

One of Miles' significant changes was the selection of 28 Texas schools to operate under the New Education System (NES) model, which introduced several controversial measures.

One such measure was the elimination of librarians in these schools. Cheryl Hensley, whose position as a librarian was cut, voiced her disappointment: "My mission in life is to be a librarian. I'm making sure that these kids love it too. I want to ensure that they find something they want to read and love to read." She described the absence of librarians as "extremely heartbreaking."

Additionally, district officials and administrators began monitoring teachers' lessons to ensure adherence to district-mandated course materials.

This surveillance plays a crucial role in determining educators' job security. Some HISD teachers and principals have reported receiving termination notices before the school year ends.

Benzon shared an incident where she was reprimanded for providing one-on-one instruction to students needing extra help.

HISD defended its policies, stating that NES training encourages all students to sit in the front rows to maximize engagement, with additional support provided through smaller groups and learning coaches.

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Community Pushback and Future Prospects

The changes have also led to a significant teacher turnover rate, with 600 HISD teachers leaving this year-twice as many as the previous year.

HISD acknowledges that two-thirds of the departing teachers were from NES schools but maintains that the model raises expectations and is not suited for everyone.

Despite these challenges, 55 schools opted into the NES model, and others adopted select NES policies.

A-rated Barbara Bush Elementary, for instance, implemented a timed curriculum from the NES model.

This approach, however, has proven stressful for some students, such as Henley Jackson, a fifth-grader with ADHD, who finds the timed sessions overwhelming and detrimental to her grades.

Parents have voiced concerns to the district, feeling that their feedback is ignored. Kristen Hall, HISD's chief academic officer, emphasized that NES aims to enhance classroom instruction and improve student achievement.

She also noted salary increases for NES teachers, stating that the goal is to provide the best education possible.

However, studies suggest that state takeovers do not necessarily lead to academic improvement.

Josh Bleiberg, a researcher and assistant professor of education at the University of Pittsburgh, conducted a national study and found no evidence that state takeovers improve academic achievement.

The Houston Federation of Teachers recently ratified a resolution calling for Superintendent Miles's removal, following a 98 percent vote of no confidence.

The state plans to expand the NES model to include 40 more schools by the next school year, eventually encompassing over half of HISD schools by 2025.

Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, advocates for restoring a democratically elected board, emphasizing the district's diverse culture and the need for tailored approaches.

State takeovers are becoming more common, and Bleiberg suggests that officials must heed community concerns for any school turnaround effort to succeed. "The pushback from community members, teachers, and parents are valued stakeholders in any successful school turnaround effort. Without their trust, positive outcomes are less likely," Bleiberg stated.

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