Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This case study provides an early look at the ongoing state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), focusing on leadership challenges, policy implementation, and community responses. Based on interviews with school leaders, teachers, and community advocates, the study highlights the disruptions caused by top-down reforms and the tensions they have created. While many educators expressed frustration over a lack of alignment with local needs, supporters pointed to improvements in instructional leadership. The case also examines concerns about the disproportionate effects on Black and Latine students and the governance shift to a state-appointed board. By capturing perspectives at this stage of the takeover, this study invites discussion on the role of state intervention, local leadership, and the broader implications for public education.

Keywords

Change Management educational justice state takeover Houston ISD public education reform

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Cassidy

A. N.

Nelson

S. L.

(2024). Takeover as the third way: Race as the antecedent and consequence of state takeover of public schools and school districts. Harvard Latin American Law Review, 27, 1.

Fredberg

Pregmark

(2016). The paradox of innovation and urgency. IMIT Research Report, 2(Mar), 1–8.

Fullan

(2007). Leading in a culture of change. John Wiley & Sons.

Hall

G. E.

Hord

S. M.

(2020). Implementing change: Patterns, principles, and potholes (5th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.

Houston Independent School District. (n.d.). New Education System (NES) schools. Teach in HISD. https://teachinhisd.org/new-education-system-schools/

Ishimaru

A. M.

(2019). Just schools: Building equitable collaborations with families and communities. Teachers College Press.

Khalifa

(2020). Culturally responsive school leadership. Harvard Education Press.

Kotter

J. P.

(2007). Leading change: Why transformation efforts fail. In Museum management and marketing (pp. 20–29). Routledge.

Kretzmann

J. P.

McKnight

(1993). Building communities from the inside out.

10.

Ladson-Billings

Tate

W. F.

(1995). Toward a critical race theory of education. Teachers College Record, 97(1), 47–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146819509700104

11.

Nelson

S. L

. (2018). Could the state takeover of public schools create a state-created danger: Theorizing at the intersection of state takeover districts, the school-to-prison pipeline, and racial oppression. Nat’l Black LJ, 27, 1.

12.

Ray-Hart

Hennes

(2023, June 1). Timeline: Major moments in TEA’s takeover of Houston ISD. Texas Tribune. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/timeline/houston-isd-takeover/

13.

Schueler

B. E.

Bleiberg

J. F.

(2022). Evaluating education governance: Does state takeover of school districts affect student achievement? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 41(1), 162–192.

14.

Serrano

Lopez

(2023, June 1). Texas Education Agency picks Mike Miles for Houston ISD superintendent as state takeover begins. Texas Tribune. https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/tea-picks-mike-miles-for-houston-isd-superintendent-as-state-takeover-begins

15.

Skrla

Scheurich

J. J.

Garcia

Nolly

(2004). Equity audits: A practical leadership tool for developing equitable and excellent schools. Educational Administration Quarterly, 40(1), 133–161. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X03259148

16.

Ward

(2023). Using theory-based evaluation to understand what works in asset-based community development. Community Development Journal, 58(2), 206–224. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsab046

17.

Warren Mark

. (2014). Transforming public education: The need for an educational justice movement. New England Journal of Public Policy, 26(1), 11. https://scholarworks.umb.edu/nejpp/vol26/iss1/11

18.

Wright

J. S.

Kim

(2020). Reframing community (dis)engagement: The discursive connection between undemocratic policy enactment, minoritized communities and resistance. Journal of Education Policy, 37(2), 186–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2020.1777467

Navigating the Intersection of Change Management and Educational Justice: Lessons From the Houston Independent School District Takeover

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References