HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The state takeover of Houston Independent School District (HISD) is a major topic of discussion as educators from around the country gather in Houston for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) national convention.
The convention begins Monday at the George R. Brown Convention Center, but the AFT held a pre-convention panel discussion on Sunday focused on the HISD takeover, which was met with widespread criticism.
“This is a power grab,” said Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers.
Jessica Campos, whose three daughters attend HISD schools, expressed her dismay over the changes being implemented by the state-appointed superintendent, noting the lack of an elected school board to provide oversight.
“We had a wonderful school community, and it has been torn apart,” Campos said. “Parents are not allowed to have communication with the teachers. We lost our library.”
In June, Superintendent Mike Miles highlighted improvements in high school test scores since his appointment, stating, “If we keep up growth like this, we’ll be able to transition out into an elected board soon.”
However, many at the panel discussion were skeptical of Miles’ claims and the validity of the test scores.
“Are these scores authentic? Are students, in fact, doing better?” Capo questioned. “There needs to be a deeper dive into these scores before we say that it’s actually working.”
The AFT is also addressing the issue of school vouchers, which are public funds given to families to use for private school tuition. Although Texas does not currently have a voucher program, Governor Greg Abbott has expressed support for one. The teachers union fears that vouchers could be introduced when the legislature meets next year.
“Mostly what vouchers do is they prop up what I call subprime schools,” said Josh Cowen, an education policy professor at Michigan State University. “They’re not very healthy private schools. The private schools that are doing well, the elite academies that we hear about in the movies and the news, they don’t want vouchers, they don’t take vouchers.”
