Houston's largest school district has taken a controversial step to skirt certain state education requirements. Houston ISD, under its new 'District of Innovation' status, can now start the academic year earlier and hire uncertified teachers without the usual state-required waivers. According to a report by the Houston Chronicle, HISD's Board of Managers approved the innovative plan in an 8-0 vote, giving the green light for changes that some fear might do more harm than good for students.
The move will allow HISD to implement several waivers from state education laws, such as setting their start date for the school year and the hiring of uncertified high school teachers. Critics argue that this could dilute the quality of education. "The vote by the DAC proved the District of Innovation plan was illegitimate because it rejected genuine collaboration with the community," Daniel Santos, Vice President of the Houston of Federation Teachers, told Chron.com. "As a whole, the DOI plan is dangerous and unsustainable. Despite the false claims of hiring uncertified teachers, implementing a flawed punitive evaluation plan will result in diluting the quality of instruction and exacerbating the exodus of effective teachers."
Despite concerns voiced by many, including Santos, the district's leadership maintains that these steps are necessary for academic improvement and student preparation for the future. They believe that greater flexibility in innovation districts like HISD can lead to better educational outcomes. Board President Audrey Momanaee expressed excitement about the newly gained flexibility, stating to the Houston Chronicle, "We're excited that (the DOI designation) allows for more flexibility around what we can do for our kids to give them the best possible education,"
This DOI plan is a sweeping change in HISD since new leadership came aboard, and though it's touted as a means to improve student achievement, it has been met with skepticism and resistance from the community. The district will now mandate its teacher evaluations, a change that earlier this year sparked a lawsuit by the Houston Federation of Teachers. Superintendent Mike Miles was notably absent during the vote but had voiced his commitment to reshaping the district's approach to education. "One of the reasons for doing DOI at the end of the day is to make sure the kids are first and that we improve the quality of instruction so that we can prepare kids for the year 2035 and also close the achievement gap," Miles stated in September, as reported by Chron.com.
In addition to the academic directives, the board has also tackled the current shortage of certified counselors by approving the hiring of uncertified school counselors for the 2023-2024 school year. This move, while aimed at countering the deficit, has raised alarm among industry professionals who emphasize the importance of proper training in the face of the mental health crises students often face. Elizabeth Rogers, president-elect of the Texas Association of School Counselors, cautioned against the decision. "Taking away certification standards puts students at risk and is a disservice to students," she expressed to the Houston Chronicle.
