Today, Explained Texas messed with Houston schools
Jun 8, 2023
Dominic Anthony Walsh, an education and culture reporter for Houston Public Media, and Domingo Morel, a political science professor at NYU, dive into the controversial Texas takeover of the Houston Independent School District. They unpack the challenges schools like Wheatley High face, including claims of racial retaliation and community backlash. The conversation highlights mixed feelings among parents about leadership changes and the implications of state takeovers, questioning whether they truly benefit local education or exacerbate existing issues.
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Wheatley High School's Decline
- Wheatley High School, in a poor part of Houston, has been underperforming.
- Texas Representative Harold Dutton, a Wheatley alumnus, wrote a bill enabling state takeovers of failing schools.
One Failing School Triggers District Takeover
- A 2015 Texas law allows state takeover of a whole district if one school fails standards for years.
- Wheatley High School's continued failure triggered the Houston ISD takeover.
Harvey's Impact on Wheatley
- In 2019, over 40 HISD schools failed state standards, with Wheatley High School being the trigger.
- Wheatley's struggles were exacerbated by Hurricane Harvey's impact.