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For so many issues, we get presented with two opposing and seemingly irreconcilable sides. Let's look at the takeover of Houston ISD by the Texas Education Agency.
As soon as the state announced that it would appoint a new superintendent and sideline the elected board, opponents portrayed it as anti-democratic. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott undermined voters who have consistently put progressive Black and Latino leaders in power. While Abbott promotes a voucher-like program across the state, his takeover of HISD looks like a piece of this larger agenda. It seems he's smoothing the way towards bankrupting the system, converting public schools into charters and funneling tax dollars to private schools. Every aspect of Superintendent Mike Miles' plan is seen through this lens. To top it all off, his conversion of libraries into "team centers" where misbehaving students will be sent to watch class over Zoom seems to perfectly encapsulate everything that's wrong. For the critics, the plan appears to be all about discipline and control.
Defenders of the takeover point to the bipartisan support for the state law that enabled it. A Democrat frustrated with the way HISD allowed the schools in his area to fail students for years led to its passage. Even if HISD scored an overall B rating, any serious look at assessments shows that far too many students struggle with basic reading and math schools. Isn't it time for rapid change? The reading curriculum at many of these schools was not based on the phonics-heavy "science of reading" system that's been proven to work. Miles' system of paying more to teachers who perform has a track record of working.
This editorial board has looked at research, interviewed the superintendent, attended board meetings, and talked with teachers, students and parents. We've gathered our work here along with op-eds and letters from readers that allow you to dig deep into the debate. Our Sunday editorial looked at a state takeover in Massachusetts that worked by finding a "third way." There are some clear lessons for Miles, and for all of us. Hint: It involves sitting down face-to-face and talking with perceived adversaries.
- The Editorial Board
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