HISD TAKEOVER: Everything We Know So Far

Beginning this August, the Texas Education Agency took over the Houston Independent School District and appointed Mike Miles as Superintendent, removing the elected board. Here’s everything you need to know about the changes made throughout HISD.

Miles has implemented the New Education System (NES) in 28 schools, with 57 more voluntarily opting into the program as NES Aligned (NESA). The NES regulations include requiring teachers to remove all classroom decorations, follow standardized lesson plans provided by the district, and follow district curriculums–which teachers report are full of errors.

The most invasive development of all is the implementation of recording equipment in each classroom, which is connected to a 24/7 Zoom meeting. If a student is being disruptive, they are then removed from the classroom and taken to a Team Center–which has replaced libraries in many NES schools–where they are monitored by a Learning Coach and expected to engage in class through the Zoom meeting. Team Centers are also available for students who have mastered the lesson’s material early and need to engage with more advanced work. 

Inside the classroom, the standardized lesson plans that teachers are required to implement involve Demonstrations of Learning (DOLs) that students are expected to be able to demonstrate mastery of at the end of class. Each lesson plan is broken up into three-to-four-minute increments, which are facilitated by a district-mandated timer. The Houston Chronicle reports that when a teacher spent thirty seconds wrestling with her electronic whiteboard, “Miles lamented the loss of time that could have been spent learning.” Under Miles, every second in the classroom is accounted for.

Students report that due to how structured their day is, they are not allowed to step out of class to go to the restroom or get a drink of water. Instead, there are designated bathroom breaks for the entire classroom.

Under NES, all librarians have been removed–although students will still have access to their campus library–and when a school is selected to participate in the program, all academic staff will be required to reapply for their positions. This includes administrative staff such as principals, assistant principals, and registrars. The district has claimed that those who are rehired will also receive pay raises.

In June, Miles announced his intention to have the New Education System implemented in 150 schools by the 2025-2026 school year.