Future of Houston ISD’s struggling schools now in hands of Texas Education Agency

The Houston ISD Board of Education meets Monday, April 30, 2018 in Houston. The board did not vote to send a plan to the Texas Education Agency by the Monday deadline, which could have prevented the state takeover or closure of 10 long struggling schools. less The Houston ISD Board of Education meets Monday, April 30, 2018 in Houston. The board did not vote to send a plan to the Texas Education Agency by the Monday deadline, which could have prevented the state ... more Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Future of Houston ISD’s struggling schools now in hands of Texas Education Agency 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

The fate of Houston ISD and its 10 longest-struggling schools now lies with the Texas Education Agency.

Texas’ largest school district missed an April 30 deadline to submit plans to the TEA detailing how it would hand operations of those 10 schools to a third-party group, according to Houston ISD spokesman Tracy Clemons. If approved by the TEA, such a plan would have triggered a two-year grace period and protected the district from state takeover and the 10 schools from closure.

Now, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath must decide how to proceed. His options, as prescribed by law, are limited. Morath can either appoint a board of managers to takeover the elected school board, or he can order schools closed.

Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan declined a request for comment, and Houston ISD trustees were in a closed executive session that lasted from 6 p.m. until late into Monday night.

A decision from the TEA could be months away.

Q&A: Could Texas take over Houston ISD? And why are people so upset?

Source: Texas Education Agency | Data compiled by Jacob Carpenter | Created by Rachael Gleason/Houston Chronicle Source: Texas Education Agency | Data compiled by Jacob Carpenter | Created by Rachael Gleason/Houston Chronicle

Morath said he would announce in June whether to grant a one-year reprieve from accountability ratings to districts affected by Hurricane Harvey, including Houston ISD.

A few HISD leaders have suggested seven of the 10 schools still could trigger sanctions even with a waiver this year because they have been rated “improvement required” for poor academic performance for five or more years.

The TEA and Houston ISD also will not know if any of the 10 schools managed to meet the state’s academic standards until August, when the scores on the state’s battery of standardized tests are released. That means the state could move to close schools weeks before the school year is scheduled to begin.

Lauren Callahan, a spokeswoman with the TEA, said there is no set timeline for Morath to announce actions against schools and districts that could trigger state action.

“Everything is considered on a case-by-case basis,” Callahan said. “Any decisions that need to be made will be made on a case-by-case basis.”

Trustees and HISD administrators dropped a proposal to partner with Energized for STEM Academy Inc. after the board failed to vote last Tuesday on the matter during raucous school board meeting. About 100 people who opposed to the partnership proposal crowded into the board chambers, and Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones ordered law enforcement officers to clear the room after some in the audience cheered and jeered during public comments.

Several refused to leave, and officers detained three women before releasing one and transporting two to the Harris County Jail. The two women were released Wednesday after their charges of trespassing and resisting arrest were dropped, according to Houston ISD, and Skillern-Jones issued a public apology.

HISD officials revealed Energized for STEM was the sole group that would be considered for the partnership on April 20, five days before the board was scheduled to vote on the matter. Some trustees complained they did not have enough time to review the proposed plan or the charter-school nonprofit, and some community members fumed that having a charter school group assume operations of HISD schools would pave a path toward the privatization of public education.

MORE: Charges dropped against two women arrested at Houston ISD board meeting

Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said the district’s process for selecting a partner and finalizing a plan left much to be desired. The district collected feedback at 11 community meetings in neighborhoods where the 10 troubled schools are located, but officials kept the final proposal close to their chests until last Friday.

“The unfortunate circumstance here is the potential plans and partners weren’t allowed to be open and transparent and vetted by the community, parents and teachers, so they could provide the necessary input about whether they support or did not support any of the plans,” Capo said.

Houston ISD sought a partnership to run the 10 schools after learning in September that a series of state laws passed in 2015 could lead to dire consequences. HB 1842 mandates the TEA either close schools that have failed to meet the state’s academic standards for five or more years, or assume control of any school district that houses as few as one school in that category.

The 10 schools at risk of triggering state action are Blackshear, Dogan, Highland Heights, Mading and Wesley elementary schools; Henry Middle School; Woodson PK-8; and Kashmere, Wheatley and Worthing high schools. They serve nearly 7,000 students combined, and all are located in predominately black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

Lydia Stewart is familiar with the pain that comes with school closures. Grimes Elementary closed when her now 17-year-old daughter attended the school almost a decade ago. Now her 7-year-old son's school, Mading Elementary, is on the chopping block.

"They had ample time to find another solution than the one they came up with. Why wait 8 months to come up with only one solution and shove it down our throats?" Stewart said. "Maybe (the school board) needs to be replaced, but I can't see the schools closing. I really can't."

Stewart said her son enjoys Mading Elementary, and she admires his principal and teachers. But if Mading Elementary is closed, Stewart will not take her chances on another Houston ISD school. Instead, she'll try to save enough money to send him to a private Catholic school.

"I don't want to put my kids through this any more," she said.

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