HISD

Teacher turnover is a controversial part of Houston ISD reforms. It’s a feature, not a side effect

Posted on · Parents and teachers continue to speak out against reforms and turnover in Houston’s public school system. The protests intensified this week as the state-appointed leaders of Houston ISD removed more teachers from their schools. The debate over these types of reforms is not new — even in Houston.  

HISD

After Houston ISD administrator tells ‘nonbelievers’ to accept reforms or ‘You will not be here,’ students and parents protest 

Posted on · On Friday, an administrator told teachers at Cage Elementary and Project Chrysalis Middle schools to affirm their commitment to the new reform program by the end of the weekend or be reassigned. Monday morning, about thirty protestors gathered in front of the campus to speak out against the directive. 

HISD

TEA-appointed Houston ISD board allows teachers to be terminated if schools close, seeks exemption from state laws

Posted on · The state-appointed leaders of Houston’s public school system say they can’t comply with a new law requiring police officers at every campus, and they’re seeking exemptions for that and other state laws. During the Thursday board meeting, they also geared up for expected school closures in the coming years by approving a policy that allows staffers from those schools to be terminated. 

HISD Mike Miles

HISD

TEA-appointed Houston ISD board wants to lengthen the school year through controversial process rejected in 2021

Posted on · Houston ISD’s state-appointed Board of Managers approved Superintendent Mike Miles’ request to seek a longer school year — a proposal that had previously been rejected. District leadership also tweaked how educators are evaluated in response to a union lawsuit, and a group of protesters interrupted the meeting every four minutes. 

Houston Matters

Teacher pay lawsuit (Sept. 1, 2023)

Posted on · On Friday's show: The head of the Houston Federation of Teachers explains why her organization is suing over HISD’s plan to tie teacher pay, in part, to test scores. And we learn why a few hundred particle physicists are descending on Houston next week.

Houston Matters

Houstonians helping with Idalia relief (Aug. 31, 2023)

Posted on · On Thursday's show: What is now Tropical Storm Idalia continues to roll through the southeast’s Atlantic coast, Houstonians are poised to help folks in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.