For the last five years, Houston ISD’s governance has been a mess, to be blunt. One superintendent lasted just two years and was followed by two interim superintendents over a three-year period. Meanwhile, bitter trustee divisions were fueled by political infighting, and student outcomes took a backseat. The Texas Education Agency moved to take over HISD in 2019, prompting more backlash and lawsuits. The agency has asked the Texas Supreme Court to hear the case, but it remains unclear whether the court will take it up. Legislation passed this year would allow the state to take over failing campuses if need be.

Adult infighting has upended Houston students’ march toward progress. From 2012 to 2019, for example, third-grade reading scores in the district only increased by 4 percentage points on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam. By contrast, third-grade reading scores for Dallas Independent School District students improved by 9 percentage points during that period.

Sadly, this is the same district that twice won the Broad Prize for Urban Education, the once-coveted, but now-discontinued award that honored districts that were improving the quality of schools in major urban centers. In 2002, HISD won the award under former Supt. Rod Paige for such strengths as improved reading and math scores, clear academic goals, and effective management and accountability systems.

The charter school sector established a firm foothold in Houston as KIPP, YES Prep and others launched and grew. Houston families had more choice inside and outside the district to find the right fit for their children.

A combination of factors upended that progress. The reform movement lost momentum, and some reformers retired, moved on to other cities, or, in the case of exemplary leader Charles Miller, passed away. The ecosystem ran short of champions and outcomes-focused board candidates who were willing to stand up for students. The school board turned over, candidates opposed to the successful reforms gained control, and Houston’s respected ecosystem faded.

Read the full article about school governance by Anne Wicks and William McKenzie at The 74.