Texas State Takeover of Local School Districts Expands, Raising Concerns
Texas has expanded state takeovers of local school districts, installing eight new leaders since 2020, with four this spring alone, including the Austin Independent School District. Critics warn of upheaval as districts adopt policies similar to those under Mike Miles, Houston ISD’s state-appointed superintendent, including stricter testing and school closures, despite improved test scores and protests from educators and parents.
Texas has taken over more local school districts than any other state, with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) installing eight new leaders since 2020, including four this spring. The Austin Independent School District became the latest to face a potential takeover last week, joining at least another 10 districts at risk. The state is appointing leaders with ties to Mike Miles, the controversial superintendent overseeing Houston ISD, the state’s largest district, who is also an ally of TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. Under Miles, Houston ISD saw improved test scores—no F-rated campuses and fewer D-rated campuses in the latest state ratings—though critics argue this came at the cost of mass school closures, charter conversions, and rigid teaching methods. Protests have erupted over policies like eliminating librarian positions and repurposing libraries as detention centers, despite Morath’s claim that these centers serve broader disciplinary purposes. Houston ISD officials attributed the rating improvements to ‘difficult decisions,’ noting most campuses are now rated A or B. The new state-appointed superintendents in districts like Beaumont, Lake Worth, and Connally worked under Miles in Dallas ISD and Houston ISD, while others, including Sandi Massey in Beaumont and Ena Meyers in Lake Worth, previously worked for Third Future Schools, a Colorado-based charter network Miles led before Houston. Miles also faced scrutiny for a $120,000 annual consulting contract with Third Future, which he canceled after reports revealed it likely violated a statewide ban on moonlighting by public school administrators. Texas law allows the TEA to intervene in districts with repeated failing ratings or governance issues, replacing local leadership. Maria Benzon, a Houston school board member barred from serving during the state takeover, warned of ‘upheaval and chaos,’ predicting districts will prioritize test scores over other priorities. The trend raises concerns about consistency in education policies across Texas, with critics arguing the state’s approach undermines local autonomy and teacher morale.
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