HISD leaders reject partnership plan
Decision could lead to school closings or state takeover; focus now on Texas Education Agency
Houston ISD leaders will not turn over the control of 10 of their longest-struggling schools to any outside organization, leaders said Wednesday, a decision that shifts enormous power over HISD’s future to the Texas Education Agency.
The move in all likelihood means HISD must receive accountability or sanctions waivers from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath to avoid forced campus closures or a state takeover of its school board. The potential punishments follow the failure to improve performance at the 10 schools and the bipartisan passage of a law in 2015 designed to propel academic improvement.
Morath has said many districts and schools will receive accountability waivers due to Hurricane Harvey, but he isn’t expected to announce a decision on reprieves until June — creating weeks of uncertainty about HISD’s destiny.
HISD administrators had sought to stave off sanctions by giving control over the 10 schools to a charter school outfit, Energized For STEM Academy Inc., but district leaders nixed that Wednesday. Their decision came less than 24 hours after a raucous school board meeting ended with
two arrests and about 100 members of the public, nearly all of whom opposed the charter proposal, temporarily forced out of the administration building.
Had HISD trustees voted to surrender control over the schools, all of which serve predominately black and Hispanic student populations in highpoverty neighborhoods, the district could have received a twoyear reprieve from state sanctions. Now, the district must hope that all 10 schools meet state accountability targets this year — an unlikely proposition — or that Morath extends an olive branch to HISD.
“We’re going to be rolling the dice with all 280-some campuses in HISD,” Houston Federation of Teachers President Zeph Capo said. “Maybe we’ll win the game of chicken, but I don’t think that’s the best way to plan for the success of our schools.”
In a statement Wednesday, HISD officials did not explain why they will no longer seek a partner to operate the 10 schools. The district had until April 30 to submit plans to the TEA. HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said the district will “continue to reinforce our commitment to helping students, staff and families” across its long-struggling campuses.
HISD’s announcement came about two hours after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he supports “HISD simply standing down” and not submitting partnership plans. Turner, who hinted at getting involved in a partnership but ultimately opted against it, said he plans to contact Morath to ask for a oneyear waiver. Proposal prompts backlash
The selection of Energized For STEM Academy was met with immediate backlash after it was announced Friday. The organization, which runs four indistrict HISD charters, drew scrutiny over its academic history, staffing levels and connection to a highly unusual real estate deal.
Members of the nine-person HISD Board of Trustees didn’t vote on the proposal Tuesday, but they likely would have rejected it. Several trustees expressed skepticism about the organization’s ability to turn around schools or voiced opposition to partnering with a charter group. Trustee Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca on Wednesday called the proposal “last-minute, incomplete and absolutely not the best option for our students.”
Two trustees who represent districts containing some of the 10 schools backed the proposal, calling it the best available choice that their constituents would support.
By rejecting partnerships, HISD risks triggering a law passed in 2015 known as HB 1842. It mandates the Texas Education Agency must close schools or replace HISD’s school board if any of the district’s schools receive a fifth straight “improvement required” rating for poor academic performance this year.
The 10 schools under consideration for partnerships all risk triggering the law when accountability ratings are released in August. HISD administrators are optimistic that multiple schools will emerge from “improvement required” status, but they don’t expect all to meet standard. The 10 campuses are: Blackshear, Dogan, Highland Heights, Mading and Wesley elementary schools; Henry Middle School; Woodson PK-8; and Kashmere, Wheatley and Worthing high schools.
Accountability waivers due to Hurricane Harvey could ensure the 10 schools don’t receive “improvement required” ratings this year. However, some HISD leaders have suggested several schools that have already received five straight “improvement required” ratings will trigger sanctions under HB 1842 this year, even if they get a break from Hurricane Harvey. Litigation option discussed
In a statement Wednesday, TEA spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said: “Any and all decisions by Commissioner Morath regarding accountability exemptions or waivers for campuses affected by Hurricane Harvey will be announced in June.”
Several HISD board members have said they faced no good options in the face of potential state sanctions. Administrators spoke with several potential partners — large charter school network operators, local universities and the city of Houston — about taking control of the 10 campuses. Ultimately, only two organizations, Energized For STEM Academy and New York-based Generation Schools Network, submitted formal proposals. The rest balked at the short timeline for taking over operations — partners would assume control to start the 2018-19 school year — or issues with red tape.
“We’ve had some successes, but we’ve also probably had some missteps in really having the opportunity to get other entities for us to consider as partners,” HISD Trustee Sergio Lira said. “We’ve unfortunately had to make some quick decisions.”
Many of the most vocal community members involved in the partnership debate have advocated litigation over HB 1842, arguing the law unfairly targets minority students and schools. To date, only one HISD trustee, Jolanda Jones, has voiced support for a lawsuit. Board members have received legal advice surrounding potential litigation, though they’ve been reluctant to divulge details of those conversations because they took place in closed session.
“Suing TEA is more of a longshot at being successful,” Lira said. “From a historical precedent, there have been very few successful cases when the district files against TEA.” Mike Morris contributed to this report.