Tensions mount in Houston ISD as state takeover further disrupts its schools

Earlier this year, the Texas Education Agency announced its plans to take control of the state’s largest school district, Houston ISD. Even in its early stages, experts labeled this decision a “blow” to the district and cited concerns about how it would impact staffing throughout its schools. Now, those concerns are coming to reality.

On Friday, hundreds of teachers, district employees and parents flooded outside Houston Independent School District’s headquarters demanding an end to the state takeover of its schools. Protestors held up signs that said, “HISD: Houston Invaded School District” and “Even Prisons Have Libraries” to name a few, according to the Texas Observer. The gathering was organized by the Houston Federation of Teachers who oppose the administration’s policies led by the district’s state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles.

Today!#HISD pic.twitter.com/UXnSz4RPS5

— Houston Fed of Tchrs (@HFT2415) October 20, 2023

“We do not want our children subjected to substandard learning,” Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson said at the protest. “We are professional educators. We demand to be respected. Miles has made a lot of promises and those promises have been broken. He has created a broken system. We want him out of here. Now.”

Anderson’s statement comes in light of the district’s recent controversial efforts to turn things around for students, specifically for the 85 campuses under HISD’s New Education System (NES) program, including turning libraries into disciplinary centers, removing several principals days before school, and cutting thousands of administrative jobs.

“It almost feels like a cult has taken over my school and my teachers,” one parent told Houston Public Media. “I don’t know what’s going on behind those doors, but my child is there. I’m trapped.”

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According to Houston Public Media, across these 85 schools, teachers are expected to leverage predetermined lesson plans, testing-based performance evaluations for principals and repurposed libraries for students, as mentioned previously.

“Houston educators are appalled about what’s being forced on them and their students,” Anderson said in a statement. “We won’t be silenced; we won’t be cowered by tyrannical rule; we won’t be controlled by fear. This is a school district that is on the path of destruction for nearly 190,000 students. That’s not what parents want, and we will fight to end this hostile occupation for as long as it takes.”

The district responded in light of Friday’s protests and said it “respects the rights of our students, staff, and parents to assemble and express their views through protests.”