Texas Education Agency extends Houston school district takeover through 2027
Education Commissioner Mike Morath had until June 1 to decide next steps for the state's largest school district, whose former superintendent and elected school board members were ousted and replaced in 2023 due to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus and allegations of leadership misconduct.
Since then, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles has led the district, a controversial figure in Houston who has ushered improvements on state exams while struggling to win over community support.
Still, Morath decided to extend the intervention until June 1, 2027, applauding the district for its improvements but citing the need for more progress. That progress, he said, will have to include no school campuses with failing accountability scores across multiple years, compliance with special education requirements and improved school board governance.
Morath on Monday also announced the appointment of four new school board members, replacing four he selected in 2023.
'With the changes made in the last two years, Houston ISD is well on its way to being a district where all of its schools provide students with the educational opportunities that will allow them to access the American Dream,' the commissioner said in a statement. 'Ultimately, two years has not been enough time to fix district systems that were broken for decades. The extension of this intervention will allow the district to build on its progress and achieve lasting success for students once the board transitions back to elected leadership.'
The Houston Chronicle first reported the extension of the takeover.
Under Miles' leadership, the district has experienced extraordinary staff turnover and plummeting student enrollment. Miles, who inherited a district that for years ran an overall well-performing school system, has faced accusations of shepherding a militaristic educational environment where teachers have limited freedom to teach in ways they see fit and children are exhausted and disengaged from learning.
Miles, on the other hand, has touted student improvement on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test, and progress in the district's A-F accountability ratings as proof that his model is effective, an achievement that Morath and state lawmakers have publicly commended.
During the November election, Houston voters shot down a plan to approve $4.4 billion in academic and infrastructure improvements for the school district — the largest proposal of its kind in state history — which many saw as a litmus test for Miles' support.
First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Unfair ‘highball' property taxes are forcing some Americans out of their homes. Are you getting ‘highballed' too?
If owning a home is the American Dream, property taxes could be a rude awakening for many dreamers. Opinion surveys gathered by the National Council of State Legislatures in 2023 found that property taxes were 'the most hated tax' in the country, because of the lump-sum payments involved and the lack of control taxpayers have over the size of this liability. Unfortunately, a recent analysis by ABC News and its affiliates found another reason to hate the tax: It unfairly impacts some homeowners more than others. According to the report, families in certain neighborhoods pay a disproportionate amount of property taxes and that could be putting them at greater risk of missing payments and losing their homes. Here's a closer look at this shocking discovery and whether you could be living in one of these 'highballed' neighborhoods too. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Highballed property taxes In general, property taxes are based on the local government's assessment of a home's value. However, real estate valuation is highly subjective and experts told ABC News that a tax assessment of a home could be misaligned with its fair market value. It's this subjective gap in valuation that's unfairly impacting some communities. According to ABC's analysis of ATTOM and U.S. Census Bureau data, homeowners who live in predominantly black or brown neighborhoods tend to pay higher taxes than their counterparts in predominantly white neighborhoods. On average, a homeowner in a white neighborhood receives a property tax assessment that is 70% of their home's fair market value. For owners in black or brown communities, the assessment is 80% on average. "We tend to see then, African American and Latino communities are paying higher tax rates," University of Chicago Professor Christopher Berry told ABC News7, explaining that the systematic overassessments could be the result of lower fair market values in these communities. This heavier tax burden could be putting some vulnerable members of racialized communities at great risk of losing their homes. Like 70-year-old Baltimore resident Bonita Anderson, who lost her home in 2022 after falling behind on her property taxes by just $5,000. "I sat down and thought, 'Oh my god, I'm 70 years old and I'm homeless,'" she told ABC News. Unfortunately, the issue could be getting worse as municipalities face increasing pressure to raise tax revenue in the years ahead. Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. The problem could escalate While some homeowners are paying a disproportionate amount of property taxes, counties across the country are facing increasing pressure to raise property taxes for all residents. President Trump's signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) cuts federal funding support for local governments which could compel many municipalities to either cut essential services or raise taxes, according to a report by the National Association of Counties. In other words, many homeowners could see a larger property tax bill and for those being unfairly overtaxed the impact could be magnified. What can you do? If you believe your home's tax assessment is unfairly high, there are ways to resolve the discrepancy. The first step is to review the notice for any errors in valuation and gather evidence of comparable sales in your neighborhood to paint a clear picture of your home's fair market value. The next step is to file an appeal with your county to review the assessment, according to tax software provider Avalara. A lack of awareness of this appeals system could be one of the reasons why some homeowners face an unfair property tax bill. According to a 2025 report by the Cook County Treasurer, commercial property owners in this specific county had greater success in appealing and reducing their property tax bills than residential owners. Also, homeowners in high-income census tracts appealed their property taxes 46% of the time, compared to only 11% for those in the lowest-income census tracts. Put simply, if you live in a predominantly non-white, relatively low-income neighborhood, it could be a good idea to examine your property tax bill closely and consider an appeal. What to read next Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
NY POSTcast Daily Debrief — August 8, 2025
Here is a brief recap of all the great stories you'll find in today's NY POSTcast. But there are so many MORE details in the pod (and even more headlines!) Click the links below to listen or subscribe where you get your podcasts! National Guard to help control DC youth crime The National Guard, as well as other federal law enforcement like the FBI and DHS, is being called to the nation's capital after President Trump threatened to put Washington DC under federal control to control 'youth' crime. The fresh boots on the ground could hit the streets as early as today. Netanyahu: 'We don't want to keep' Gaza Advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering his own details on Israel's plan for total control of Gaza saying 'we don't want to keep it'. The plan includes securing a perimeter and getting rid of Hamas before turning the strip over to 'arab forces' to govern. Diddy eyes career comeback Rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs is planning a big career comeback after he, eventually, leaves jail according to his lawyer. If you want to hear the details on his big plans and the hurdles (a.k.a. the aforementioned incarceration) subscribe to the NY POSTcast! Hosted by acclaimed Emmy-winning journalist Caitlyn Becker, the NY POSTcast sets you up to tackle your weekdays with insight into the biggest news stories impacting your life all in one neat little podcast your day with the news only the New York Post can deliver. You'll get the headlines you need and the stories you want. Every episode includes a deep dive into a headline impacting your world plus, the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime, and everything in between. It's smart, it's fast, and it's fearless. Your daily news download from the New York Post — keeping you informed AND entertained. Find the NY POSTcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Dem challenger calls GOP congresswoman 'ESL puppet' in heated immigration post: 'Vile extremist'
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., responded to comments from a Democratic challenger referring to her as an "ESL puppet" in a post criticizing the Trump administration's immigration policies. "My story is not unique. It's the story of so many Korean Americans and immigrants across the country who are proud Americans and are making our communities better every day. I'm proud of my accent and will keep using my voice to protect the American dream for future generations," Kim told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement. "It's a new low for a child of Korean immigrants to move to a district two hours away to parrot race-baiting, anti-immigrant slurs targeting a fellow Korean American. Young is the most effective federal lawmaker from California and continues to prove she's an independent fighter for her community," Callie Strock, campaign spokesperson for Kim added. Democrat Esther Kim Varet's post Wednesday night included screenshots from a National Republican Campaign Committee X post that says Kim Varet is "radical," "anti-ICE," and "pushing fringe conspiracy theories." It also included screenshots of various news articles about Asian immigrants facing deportation and other woes as ICE doubles down on deportation efforts. "Remember when your own racist MAGA party couldn't tell your much older a-- apart from me [Rep. Kim]?" Kim Varet wrote. "You're a power-hungry Korean-born immigrant that has sold your conscience to the devil – at the price of all hard-working immigrants. You don't work hard, you and your husband are the biggest GRIFTERS representing the swamp – putrid and pussing from the rot that is your soul. "Don't you even realize that OUR shared Korean-American community has the highest number of undocumented immigrants amongst Asians?" she added. "You don't even speak English well enough to hold a single cohesive argument. You ESL puppet. So embarrassing. A real life Judas to our community. You sicken me [Rep. Kim]." The posts quickly caught the attention of the NRCC as it focuses on competitive House races. The comments come as ICE operations continue to be a major topic of debate in the Golden State. Most Republicans argue the efforts are necessary for public safety, while others worry it's harming immigrant communities. "Unhinged Democrat Esther Kim Varet is a hate-filled bigot who embodies the worst of today's political discourse. Californians will reject this vile extremist who has no business representing them in Congress," NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez said in a statement Thursday. In response to the NRCC's comments, Varet told Fox News Digital it "seems like par for the course that national Republicans can't tell Asians apart." California congressional seats could face redrawing for the 2026 cycle, but the fate of redistricting is still to be battled out nationwide. Still, Kim could be in yet another closely watched race after President Donald Trump won the district narrowly in 2024. Kim defeated Democrat Joe Kerr by over 40,000 votes in November. Kim Varet is one of several candidates in a wide Democratic field seeking to challenge the incumbent Republican in the general election, according to Politico. Cook Political Report ranks the race as "Lean Republican."
