Each of the more than 200,000 children who entered a Houston ISD school this morning is participating in one of the most dramatic education reform efforts undertaken in this country. We've been following the conversation since the takeover was announced in March. We've written over 20 editorials and published numerous op-eds from leaders in the community. Our readers have also had a lot to say. Many have criticized - and supported - Miles' work by submitting a letter to the editor. You can catch up on all of it here.
Jim Schutze reminds us to focus on the substantial stuff, not "scandalettes." He writes with the experience of having been a Dallas-based columnist when the new state-appointed HISD superintendent, Mike Miles, was enacting reforms in the Big D. Schutze saw a pattern up there of min-scandals obscuring more important questions, and it's repeating here. Forget about Miles' musical performance at an overcrowded teacher training conference. Schutze writes that we should be paying attention to the Aug 10 vote of the HISD board of managers "to approve what Miles is calling the biggest pay-for-performance teacher compensation system ever adopted anywhere in the United States."
Doctors, business executives and even journalists get bonuses based on performance. Why shouldn't teachers? The challenge is in measuring the right outcomes. In our editorial today, we set out our expectations for Miles as the dust clears from his summer of upheaval.
Are you a teacher, family member or student at an area public school? We want to know what you are seeing and experiencing. Email us at viewpoints@houstonchronicle.com.
- The Editorial Board
Our picks
Photo by: Jon Shapley, Staff Photographer
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board
Zoom rooms, teacher hiring sprees, reorganized special ed. In three months, state-appointed HISD Superintendent Mike Miles has led major and at times chaotic changes. Now we want positive outcomes.
 Photo by: Eric Gay, AP | | By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board A pathbreaking journalist, diplomat and woman of business, Jane Cazneau's life and writing remind us that the U.S. can't act unilaterally. | |
 Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photographer | |
 Photo by: D-Keine/Getty Images | |
 Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer | |
 Photo by: Keith Morgan Photo) | | By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Also: Ted Cruz falls for the freeway shark, undercover Granbury ISD trustee channels Nancy Drew and Democrats gets some GOP love with Republican National Convention win. | |
 Photo by: Morry Gash, Associated Press | |
 Photo by: BOB OWEN/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS | | By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board No matter what the crime, those in prison shouldn't cook in oven-like conditions. Texans must call on their leaders to improve conditions. | |
 Photo by: Annie Mulligan, Contributor | | By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Texas Sen. John Cornyn is part of an emerging consensus that treatment and harm reduction are as important as stopping fentanyl at the border. | |
 Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer | | By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Districts across Texas are going into debt trying to pay for teacher raises, special education and armed security guards now required on every campus. | |
From our readers
 Photo by: Brett Coomer/Staff Photographer | | Deborah Moran, Houston: "The solution is to flip the disincentive with pricing reform. When CenterPoint asks for a rate increase and politicians say no, we are encouraged to consume ever more energy, and Texas gets ever hotter." | |
 Photo by: Win McNamee, TNS | | Gonzalo Martinez, La Porte: "The first GOP debate was, for lack of a better word, entertaining. There was no real substance to it." | |
Send us your letters and op-eds
| We want to hear from you! Have an opinion or a response to one of our stories? Learn how to submit your op-eds or letters here or shoot us an email at viewpoints@chron.com. | |
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