(AUSTIN, TEXAS) — The Texas School Alliance, which represents 45 of the largest school districts in Texas, released the following statement from Executive Director HD Chambers after the Texas Education Agency announced its takeover of Houston ISD:
“The announcement from the Texas Education Agency regarding the replacement of the locally elected school Board with a state-appointed school Board is troubling. However, this significant decision should not overshadow the strong and stable leadership that Superintendent Millard House has brought to Houston ISD. Since the arrival of Superintendent House two years ago, Houston ISD schools have made notable gains in academic achievement. Over the last two years, the number of HISD campuses with a rating of D or F has decreased from 50 to 10, and in the most recent district ratings, HISD received a B. The number of HISD campuses receiving an A rating has increased from 39 to 96 since 2019. The performance of Philis Wheatley High School has also improved in recent years from an F to a C. Superintendent House, as well as the educators and students of Houston ISD, deserve all the credit for those gains.
“The fear that many have expressed is that this intervention could halt and reverse the progress Superintendent House and HISD’s staff have made amid some very challenging circumstances. TEA would serve HISD students, staff and parents well by minimizing the disruption a change in leadership will add to an already disruptive decision.”
Houston ISD is a member of the Texas School Alliance. The Texas School Alliance (TSA) is a school district member organization that comprises 45 school districts in Texas and educates more than 2.2 million students or 41 percent of the state’s total enrollment. As a superintendent-led organization, TSA utilizes a thorough process to research and consider significant policy issues – ranging from school finance to teaching and learning to assessment and accountability. TSA also studies specific topics and works on issues that will improve educational quality for Texas students, particularly those in large and urban districts. Our members cover the breadth of Texas’ geographic expanse, with members from the Rio Grande Valley to the Texas Panhandle, from near the eastern border to far west Texas. The membership includes urban, mid-urban, and city- town districts and includes school districts that are both property wealthy and property poor. More information is available at TexasSchoolAlliance.org.
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