Texas State Takeover of Houston ISD
A Chronology
2019- September 2023
OVERVIEW
Ray-Hart, Jordan and Rebecca Hennes. “Timeline: Major moments in TEA's takeover of Houston ISD.” Houston Chronicle, 1 June 2023. Tavitian, Antranik et al. “Houston ISD back to school: Scenes from Day 1 of the new year.” Houston Landing, 28 Aug 2023. Photographic essay. Dunlap, Miranda. “We toured 4 overhauled Houston ISD schools this week. Here’s a look inside.” Houston Landing, 1 Sept 2023. Baumann, Anna. “HISD teachers say they are fearful after first week under Miles' leadership: 'Every day, I'm crying'.” Houston Chronicle, 1 Sept 2023. Library Support Texas Library Association. Statement Opposing HISD Elimination of Librarian Jobs and Library Services. 31 July 2023 American Library Association (ALA)/American Assn of School Librarians (AASL). ALA and AASL Respond to Houston Independent School District’s Decision to Eliminate 28 School Libraries and Respective School Librarians in Houston. 1 Aug 2023. #TracieDHall [Executive Director of ALA]. “Without a doubt, the teacher-librarian possesses the specific skillsets we need to realize the full transformational potential of K-12 education at this moment in our history. X (formerly Twitter), 31 Aug 2023. NYC Teacher 2 Librarian. Lankenau, Regina. "Librarians Do a Lot More Than Check Out Books, Superintendent Miles (Opinion)" Houston Chronicle, 25 July 2023. ![]() Rare Opportunity. [Editorial].” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 26, 2019.
Editorial Board. “HISD at a Crossroads: Learning from Others and Our Own Past. [Editorial].” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 27, 2019. Editorial Board. “HISD at a Crossroads: HISD Needs Improvement, but Where to Start? [Editorial].” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 29, 2019. Editorial Board. “HISD at a Crossroads: A Call to All Houstonians to Participate. [Editorial].” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 30, 2019. |
Thank you to Amy Douthitt Maddux, who posted this explainer of the Takeover on Supporters of HISD Magnets & Budget Accountability Facebook group on 9/4/2023.
The TEA takeover is rooted in a law passed in 2015 called HB1842. Authored by Harold Dutton, HB1842 was intended to force school districts to improve schools that had been underperforming on state accountability ratings for multiple years. Under HB1842, if a school underperforms for five straight years (or more because there was a phase-in period for schools already underperforming when the law was passed), the TEA Commissioner must either close that school or appoint a board of managers to run the entire district. Because several HISD schools already had multiple years of underperformance, it was expected that HB1842 would be triggered by 2018. But the TEA did not give accountability ratings to many schools that year due to Hurricane Harvey. (The legislature also enacted SB1882 in 2017, which allowed school districts to stave off takeover by selecting a “partner” to run underperforming schools. Several other Texas school districts took this route; HISD did not, so we are omitting detailed discussion of SB1882 here.) So HB1842 was not triggered until 2019, based on Wheatley HS’s 7th straight year of underperformance. Wheatley was the only school that triggered the automatic sanctions of HB1842 (other schools had multiple years of underperformance but not in a manner that triggered the statute). The TEA announced in November 2019 that it would appoint a Board of Managers based on HB1842 as well as an investigation that determined that the then-Board violated the open meetings act, attempted to influence how contracts were awarded, and took action on district issues individually without consulting other board members. The process of selecting a Board of Managers began. The takeover did not happen then, however, because HISD sued and obtained an injunction. The legal issues in that case have been discussed elsewhere in this group (search “lawsuit” if you want to know more), but essentially most issues were based open questions about how to interpret HB1842. The case was litigated for three years. But in 2021, the legislature amended the statute, effectively superseding the legal arguments in the case. The Texas Supreme Court remanded the case to the trial court in January 2023 based on the amendments, and in March 2023 the then-Board voted to end the litigation. That paved the way for the takeover to proceed. (For a deeper dive that includes a timeline with more details that are left out of this discussion, check out this article.) Now that the takeover is here, how does it end? There are three exit criteria given by the TEA: (1) no multi-year failing campuses, (2) a special education program in full compliance with all state and federal statutory requirements; and (3) evidence of improved governance that demonstrates procedures and behavior focused on improved outcomes for all students in Houston ISD. After two years, the Commissioner will assess whether all three criteria have been met. At that time, a decision will be made whether the Board of Managers will be extended or whether a phased transition back to local control will begin. A phased transition means that once the Commissioner is satisfied that all of the exit criteria have been met, he will select three elected trustees to roll back on to the Board (and which three appointed Managers will be replaced). (This is why Board elections are proceeding on a normal schedule and are important - please vote!) Three elected trustees will be phased in, per year, over three years, until full control has been returned to the elected Board. (see the graphic below) |
Considering Related Questions 2019
Morel, Domingo. "The Made-up Crisis Behind the State Takeover of Houston's Public Schools." The Conversation, January 10, 2020.
Morel, Domingo. “State Takeover of Houston Public Schools Is About Race and Politics Not Students [Opinion].” Houston Chronicle, Jan. 16, 2020. [NOTE: “Domingo Morel, a professor at Rutgers University who grew up in Providence..” from Boston Globe, July 11, 2019.]
Morel, Domingo. "The Made-up Crisis Behind the State Takeover of Houston's Public Schools." The Conversation, January 10, 2020.
Morel, Domingo. “State Takeover of Houston Public Schools Is About Race and Politics Not Students [Opinion].” Houston Chronicle, Jan. 16, 2020. [NOTE: “Domingo Morel, a professor at Rutgers University who grew up in Providence..” from Boston Globe, July 11, 2019.]
THE BUILD-UP
Carpenter, Jacob. "Scathing State Review Calls for Major Changes at HISD to Improve Consistency, Finances." Houston Chronicle, Nov. 8, 2019.
Downing, Margaret. “Not to Pile It On But the Texas Legislative Board Assessed HISD and It’s Not Good News.” Houston Press, Nov. 8, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. “‘Better Than People think’: Despite TEA Takeover Plan, HISD Scores Well Compared to Peers.” Houston Chronicle, Nov. 8, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. "Children At Risk Rankings: More Houston Area Middle, High Schools Earn A and B Rankings." Houston Chronicle, Nov. 18, 2019.
Isensee, Laura. “The State Will Take Over Houston’s Independent School District.” NPR, Nov. 22, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. “Morath: HISD Needs New Board to Reverse ‘Chronic Neglect’ of Students.” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 17, 2019.
GOING TO COURT
Zelinsky, Andrea. “Houston ISD Takes Its Fight Against State Takeover to Federal Court.” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 5, 2019.
Swaby, Aliyya. “Houston School District Asks Federal Judge to Put Brakes on Likely State Takeover.” Texas Tribune, Dec. 5, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. “Austin Judge Temporarily Blocks State Takeover of HISD Board.” Houston Chronicle, Jan. 8, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. "Scathing State Review Calls for Major Changes at HISD to Improve Consistency, Finances." Houston Chronicle, Nov. 8, 2019.
Downing, Margaret. “Not to Pile It On But the Texas Legislative Board Assessed HISD and It’s Not Good News.” Houston Press, Nov. 8, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. “‘Better Than People think’: Despite TEA Takeover Plan, HISD Scores Well Compared to Peers.” Houston Chronicle, Nov. 8, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. "Children At Risk Rankings: More Houston Area Middle, High Schools Earn A and B Rankings." Houston Chronicle, Nov. 18, 2019.
Isensee, Laura. “The State Will Take Over Houston’s Independent School District.” NPR, Nov. 22, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. “Morath: HISD Needs New Board to Reverse ‘Chronic Neglect’ of Students.” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 17, 2019.
GOING TO COURT
Zelinsky, Andrea. “Houston ISD Takes Its Fight Against State Takeover to Federal Court.” Houston Chronicle, Dec. 5, 2019.
Swaby, Aliyya. “Houston School District Asks Federal Judge to Put Brakes on Likely State Takeover.” Texas Tribune, Dec. 5, 2019.
Carpenter, Jacob. “Austin Judge Temporarily Blocks State Takeover of HISD Board.” Houston Chronicle, Jan. 8, 2019.