Nearly everyone has given up on urban K-12 reform. Politicians no longer talk about it. There’s but one city, Houston, attempting wholesale reform and early results are incredibly promising. Cities from across the US are starting to pay attention.
In 2023, after years of falling outcomes, Texas took over HISD, dissolved the elected school board, and appointed a new superintendent. Freed from short-term electoral pressures, the district was able to make difficult but necessary reforms, particularly with personnel.
Houstonians knew the district was failing and wanted change, but not this change. The community was outraged by the state takeover and even more so with many of the changes. The conflict was palpable: state vs city, Republican vs Democrat, white vs black/brown.
The first year was incredibly tense around the city. There were protests. People pulled their kids out of the district for other options. The press was scathing. Everyone was waiting for the takeover to fail. But it didn’t.
After the first year, the number of A and B rated schools rose from 93 to 170. The number of D and F rated schools fell from 121 to 41. Local criticism quickly became more muted. With substantial gains in year 2, criticism has quieted further.
School reform is hard. Many efforts have failed or fizzled out. The head will eventually leave, and local governance will return. The big question is whether the gains will endure.
Meanwhile, politicians in most other places have given up, settling for poor outcomes rather than making tough, unpopular decisions to improve them. That’s certainly not the right answer. Houston might be a blueprint for cities and states with the will for change.
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Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $25,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?