Texas Education Commissioner Visits Houston ISD Campuses
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath recently visited several Houston ISD campuses, including Kinder High School of the Performing and Visual Arts. During his visit, he spoke with students taking a mariachi class and expressed his impressions of the district’s progress.
A Request for Local Control
The day after Morath’s visit, an elected trustee for the district, Savant Moore, asked him to restore local control of the state’s largest public school system. Moore sent an email to Morath requesting that the transition back to local control begin in June 2025, stating that the community is ready.
Progress in the District
Morath was impressed by the district’s progress during the last two years. He visited three campuses, including Hilliard Elementary School and Forest Brook Middle School, which are part of Superintendent Mike Miles’ New Education System (NES). Morath noted positive changes he saw this year compared to previous visits, stating that the amount of improvement in academic potential and lifetime potential for kids is "pretty spectacular."
Student Concerns
However, some students have expressed concerns about the district’s new curriculum, which includes timed slide shows and scripts for teachers. At a recent school board meeting, a 10th-grader from Sharpstown International School said that school doesn’t feel the same anymore, and that the new curriculum makes learning feel "repetitive and robotic."
State Intervention
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) intervened in Houston ISD in 2023, removing all decision-making power from elected board members and appointing Miles and a board of managers to replace them. Morath said that the district is better serving and educating students now than before the intervention, but he wasn’t clear on when he’s going to end the state’s takeover.
Requirements for Returning to Local Control
There are several requirements that must be met before the TEA will start to gradually allow elected trustees to return to power. These include:
- No HISD campuses can receive failing letter grades from TEA’s annual accountability ratings for multiple years in a row.
- The district’s special education department must operate in full compliance with state and federal requirements.
- The board must operate with "evidence of consistent practices with the highest governing, highest functioning governing teams."
- Wheatley High School, the campus that triggered the state’s takeover, has to receive a C grade or higher from TEA for two consecutive years.
Transitioning Back to Local Control
Once the commissioner says HISD is ready to transition back to local control, it would take at least two years until the board is back to being entirely composed of elected trustees. The commissioner would start by bringing back three of the district’s nine trustees, followed by three more a year later, and finally, the district would fully return to an elected board.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Morath is impressed with the district’s progress, there are still concerns from students and community members about the new curriculum and the state’s intervention. The district must meet several requirements before returning to local control, and the transition process will take at least two years. As the district moves forward, it’s essential to consider the needs and concerns of all stakeholders, including students, teachers, and community members.
