Discovery Sale: 6 Months for 99¢Go beyond the headlines with unlimited access. Sale Ends Nov. 16 |
Hello Houston,
On Election Day, our team was covering the results for Houston ISD's elected board of trustees, with one conservative incumbent winning and two new faces joining from the "End the Takeover" slate. Plus, more leadership shakeups at nearly 40 school positions around Houston, including a "pro-public education" slate in Cy-Fair ISD.
And with more uncertainty over SNAP benefits, HISD expanded its breakfast offerings and expanded its after-school supper program to nearly 100 more campuses.
Must-reads:
- Former HISD parent launches Mandarin immersion private school as demand in Houston soars
- HISD to open K-12 school choice applications for 2026-27 year in December. Here's what to know.
 | Claire Partain, HISD reporter |
Photo by: Houston Chronicle
These four high schools will 'move forward' with outside partnerships in 2026-27
Four top-rated high schools may soon enter a new era of management under HISD's "defined autonomy framework."
Next school year, Challenge Early College, Energy Institute, Houston Academy for International Studies and the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts — all with “A” ratings for at least four years — plan to partner with nonprofits for greater control over budgets and instruction while remaining public schools.
Three others — Carnegie Vanguard High School, DeBakey High School for Health Professions and Eastwood Academy — are taking a planning year to decide if they want to participate in 2027-28.
HSPVA and Energy Institute High Schools already found their partners: HSPVA Friends and Friends of Energy Institute. The other two are looking to either form or identify a nonprofit board to manage their schools next year.
Some draws of the partnership are the potential for more state funding, more resources for "innovative practices" and more principal autonomy. In exchange, they have to meet new performance metrics.
We've been talking to parents and community members about the plan, like former HSPVA principal Scott Allen, who supported a partnership model even before the state takeover of HISD.
For others, there are caveats and skepticism. Carrie Willard, an HSPVA parent, said she was initially intrigued, but is wary due to changes at schools under state-appointed leadership: “My skepticism comes from that lack of trust.”
HISD intends to bring proposals to the board of managers in February, and the Texas Education Agency also has to approve the plans, according to documents we obtained.
Reporter's Notebook
When I asked Kanavis Egland why he decided to become Sterling High School’s band director, I didn’t expect him to start choking up.
Through tears, he said he fell in love with music as a Houston ISD student, where he thrived in the district’s band programs at Codwell Elementary, Thomas Middle School and finally, Sterling High School.
When a Sterling teacher asked him what he wanted to do five years after graduating, he said he dreamed of coming back to his hometown and leading Sterling’s “Wall of Sound” band.
“The reason why I wanted to be back here at Sterling is, number one, that it’s home," Egland said. "But I also want the students to have that same passion and that same love for music that I did.”
Read how he’s built one of HISD's best marching band programs just two years.
- Megan Menchaca
What Else Happened This Week
|
|
|
|
The Calendar Ahead
• Nov. 13: HISD Board of Managers regular meeting at Hattie Mae White at 5 p.m.
• Nov. 20: HISD Board of Managers hearings at HMW at 5 p.m.
• Nov. 24-28: No classes
• Dec. 9: Phase one of school choice applications opens
Meet The Team
Photo by: Susan Barber
Our HISD coverage is fueled by reporting from Megan Menchaca, Nusaiba Mizan and Claire Partain. Laura Isensee is our education editor, and Jennifer Radcliffe is local news editor.
You can reach out to any of them by emailing them at their firstname.lastname@houstonchronicle.com, filling out this survey or by replying directly to this email.
|
