Thousands of Houston-area students returned to radically different campuses Monday as a new era begins in Texas’ largest school district.
, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.He wants to succeed in the classroom, following in the footsteps of his valedictorian older sister. He aspires to star on the football field, hoping to catch the eye of college coaches watching his game film.
While most Houston ISD classrooms will look roughly the same as last school year, 28 campuses largely located on the city’s northeast side are undergoing a dramatic overhaul this year under Miles. Among the many contentious changes at those schools: more money for educators, a new bell schedule, more standardized lesson plans, stricter discipline policies and the conversion of libraries to areas partially set aside for misbehaving children.
Historically, local leaders have blamed the poor performance on inadequate funding from Republican state legislators and the effects of intergenerational poverty, among other factors. But Miles has rejected those claims, arguing that Houston ISD officials failed to implement systems and policies that would lift up students.
While the punishment is largely tied to Wheatley, also located on the city’s northeast side, Miles has said drastic change is needed at long-struggling schools like Kashmere and North Forest. Kaylan McGregor, an incoming junior at North Forest High School, exits Pacsun clothing store with new back to school clothes from Deerbrook Mall in Humble on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.Houston ISD officials denied a request to interview the principals of Kashmere and North Forest, both of which are entering their third years leading their respective schools.
North Forest received a C grade in 2022, largely because many students earned industry certifications that boosted the school’s rating.This year, teachers at turnaround schools like North Forest and Kashmere will earn median salaries topping $80,000 — compared to roughly $65,000 in the rest of the district — and receive a $10,000 stipend. Miles has said he expects the change will lure some of Houston ISD’s most-effective teachers to work with students who need help the most.
“They’re going to see all these faces that they don’t know,” said Kamden’s mother, Latreise Berry. “As a parent, I know they employ good people. … We’re just used to our teachers and staff.” Houston ISD officials haven’t released information about how many educators were replaced at Kashmere, North Forest and the other overhauled schools. District payroll data from early August shows about 15% of staff members won’t be returning this year, a low turnover rate for Houston ISD’s historically low-performing schools, though it’s not clear whether those figures were up to date as of Monday.
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