Lawmakers call for hearing on Houston school district concerns
HOUSTON – Several Houston-area Democratic legislators are calling for a formal hearing to address “potential violations of state law” in the Houston school district in the aftermath of the Texas Education Agency stripping elected leaders from the district.
The lawmakers asked in a letter sent this month that the House Committee on Public Education host a hearing to address reports of “unqualified, nondegree holding teachers” working in classrooms and a lack of accommodations for students with disabilities. They also requested independent research proving the benefits of state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles’ New Education System.
The request comes after the state takeover of the district in March 2023 and the TEA’s appointment of Miles and nine members of the board of managers. Because of the takeover, the nine lawmakers who signed the letter said it is “imperative that the state assume full responsibility for HISD students and hold the board of managers accountable. “As their duly elected State Representatives, we must hold a hearing to learn more about these concerning reports and efforts to subvert state laws and requirements,” the letter states.
Reps. Christina Morales, Ann Johnson,
Jarvis Johnson, Penny Morales Shaw, Mary Ann Perez, Jon Rosenthal, Shawn Thierry, Hubert Vo and Gene Wu signed the letter, which was addressed to House Speaker Dade Phelan and the education committee. Phelan and the TEA did not respond to a request for comment on the letter. “Teacher reports and parent concerns are uncovering troubling developments at our schools,” Morales wrote in a statement. “The community can no longer vote on who represents us on the school board, so we as the state representatives must hold the appointed board accountable.”
In a response to the letter, the school district said it was going to stay focused on “the critical work of serving students and families” and said it had already seen positive effects for kids after implementing reforms.
“HISD has invited dozens of elected and community leaders into our schools to see the work happening first-hand,” the district wrote. “We are pleased to share our progress with any other leaders who want to better understand what’s happening in the schools.”
Miles has implemented the New Education System — a controversial model that includes standardized curriculum, the conversion of libraries to Team Centers, and courses focused on critical thinking and the “Science of Reading” — at 85 schools this year. The campuses also have longer hours, timed lessons, higher pay for educators and additional staffers who support teachers. “Teachers have expressed that some of our most at-risk students are not receiving the services and support that they legally have the right to receive,” lawmakers wrote. “They have also shared with us that their students feel discouraged and constantly berated by the continuous assessments and instructional method prescribed in the New Education System."
According to the letter, the district has circumvented the law requiring teachers to obtain a bachelor’s degree, a certification and other requirements to work in a classroom by assigning certified teachers as the teacher of record for more than one classroom.
“These efforts are not only detrimental to the continued learning and development of our students, but also a violation of state law,” lawmakers said.
The Democratic lawmakers also said the district has shared plans with teachers and administrators to address a teacher shortage by hiring community college students as teacher apprentices and learning coaches.
Under the New Education System model, teacher apprentices work with teachers to plan and implement lesson plans, provide instruction and support classroom management, and they can serve as the teacher when the primary instructor is absent.