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| CASE Report
Smart Brevity ®
count: 4.5 mins...1168 words
CASE is a collective of Houstonians committed to ensuring that every student within Houston Independent School District (HISD) has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education.
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The HISD Intervention: A Review of Year One
 The first year of the HISD intervention is complete, and there is a lot to reflect on. HISD has undergone what is likely the largest and quickest wholescale turnaround effort for a major urban school district in our nation’s history, and its chronically underserved schools are finally seeing the dedicated investments that they have long needed.
Many of these developments have been reported on during KPRC2’s year-long case study of Fleming Middle School. KPRC2 has just released a documentary reviewing Fleming’s first year under the intervention, and we encourage you to watch it here.
Here are a few highlights from year one of the intervention:
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Academic Achievement- The most important metric to consider when evaluating the intervention is student academic achievement. All of the efforts of teachers, parents, and community stakeholders are done with the intent of helping students learn and grow academically, so that they are prepared to lead fulfilling lives upon graduation and entering into the workforce.
Although the intervention is just now reaching the one-year mark, academic achievement has already shown marked improvement.
Results speak for themselves: According to the Houston Chronicle
, “HISD's [mid-year] results show that, on average, students in all grade levels saw above-average growth, with the largest increase among white students and students at NES schools.” KPRC2’s report
went even further, stating that “Across all NES campuses, the [grade-level] passing rate jumped from 3% in September to 22% in December.”
This kind of progress is exactly what students need, and show that the intervention has HISD’s schools on the right track. In the coming weeks we will see STAAR scores released, and continued academic improvement is expected to be seen there as well.
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Efficient Operations- HISD released its bombshell Efficiency Report
several months ago, which detailed decades of inefficiencies in numerous areas of HISD’s operations. The thorough, detailed look at how HISD has operated as an organization shed light on multiple areas needing improvement, which HISD has begun tackling.
Issues such as improving chronic staff absenteeism, shoring up dysfunctional transportation systems, and replacing low-quality curriculum with grade-level, high quality instructional material are all measures that have been taken in the wake of the report’s release.
Check out our write-up on the Efficiency Report here.
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Effective Governance- “Effective governance” is one of the factors that the state will use to determine when the intervention may be wound down and the district can return to local control. What we have seen under the intervention is a cohesive, collaborative Board of Managers whose top priority is student success.
The dysfunction exhibited by HISD’s board in years’ past has not surfaced since the intervention began, and if year one is any indication, the Board of Managers will continue to govern successfully, professionally, and will always prioritize students.
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Special Education Compliance- Special education compliance is another metric the state will review to ensure that the intervention is on the right track. According to reports
, HISD is doing much better at identifying students with special needs and providing services to those students.
HISD has also invested in its special education students by raising minimum special education teacher salariesto $80,000
- well above state and national averages. This will ensure that HISD can compete with other districts to attract the very best talent for our students..
The intervention has been a big change for everyone involved in HISD, but it is undeniably producing positive results for students. If current trends continue, year two of the intervention could provide even more cause for optimism amongst the HISD community.
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HISD Unveils $4.4B Bond Proposal
 HISD presented detailed plans for a proposed multibillion-dollar bond yesterday evening, sharing the information for the first time at a southside public hearing.
The Houston Chronicle’s story is here.
By the numbers:
The total bond package would be worth $4.4 billion. Here’s how that breaks down:
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$2.05 billion would go toward school upgrades, defined as rebuilding, renovating and modernizing facilities. Campuses with "urgent facility needs" would be in line to get upgraded for the first time in over a decade.
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$1.35 billion would be invested in ensuring "safe and healthy campuses." This would include upgrading HVAC systems, security measures, and addressing environmental hazards.
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$1 billion - would go toward expanding Pre-K and career and technical education. Technology upgrades are also included, such as securing student data, expanding broadband access, and accessing AI, according to a district handout.
Why it matters:
HISD’s crumbling infrastructure has been reported on at length ( AC issues
, heating issues
, and hazardous materials
). Obviously, these conditions are not suitable for teaching and learning, and students and teachers deserve to have healthy, safe, and comfortable spaces to operate in. HISD’s high schools have not had significant investments since 2012, and elementary and middle school investments have not occurred since 2017.
Since most school districts seek bonds at 5-year intervals, HISD’s schools are long overdue for a bond.
What they’re saying:
Toni Cervantes, an HISD parent and PTO leader, said "I'm really involved, like parent engagement-wise with the campus and then leading the PTO, and I can tell you first-hand these kids need air. We need AC. We need more flexible classrooms with more modern technology and equipment. Our teachers do the very best job every day when they come in with what they have to work with. But our kids, our teachers, the staff, they deserve so much more."
What’s next:
The next bond meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. June 4 at Fondren Middle School and 6 p.m. June 5 at Fleming Middle School. The Forest Brook Middle School meeting has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. June 10. The committee will also hold a virtual meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday on the bond.
Here
is HISD’s official information page for the 2024 bond.
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Public Hearings on Bond Continue
 The HISD community will have several more chances in the coming weeks to weigh in on the district’s plans for a bond.
HISD has established a Community Advisory Commitee
that will continue to meet periodically over the next two weeks to gather feedback from the community and to share information on the details of HISD’s plans to renovate campuses across the district.
The committee is chaired by three local leaders: Judith Cruz (former HISD trustee), Garnet Coleman (former state representative), and Scott McClelland (retired president of HEB and cofounder of Good Reason Houston, an education nonprofit).
Check out the Houston Landing’s full story here. The Houston Chronicle’s report is here.
Why it matters:
Community support and input is critical to the passage of any bond. The upcoming public hearings will allow interested community members the chance to gather information, speak with decisionmakers, and offer recommendations.
This feedback will help inform the planning process and ensure that the district allocates resources in alignment with the needs of the HISD community.
What’s next:
Here is the meeting schedule for the Community Advisory Committee:
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June 1: virtual meeting, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
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June 4: Fondren Middle School, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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June 5: Fleming Middle School, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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June 10: Forest Brook Middle School, 6 pm to 8 p.m.
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