A newly formed commission in Texas has recommended tightening restrictions on the state’s authority to intervene in local school districts, specifically targeting the ongoing takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). The 81-page report released this week by the Commission on the Takeover of HISD argues that while state intervention was necessary to address past failures, the current framework diminishes local democratic governance and damages relationships between educators and families. The recommendations come as the district reports significant academic improvements under state-appointed leadership.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) assumed control of HISD in June 2023, appointing a nine-member Board of Managers and selecting Mike Miles as superintendent. This action followed years of academic struggles within the district, which serves as the largest school system in Texas. The takeover was enacted after the TEA determined that the district failed to meet state standards, particularly regarding student performance and financial management. Under the state’s oversight, the district has implemented systemic reforms aimed at raising achievement levels across all campuses.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics and proponents of the state takeover argue that the intervention was necessary to rescue a failing system and that the results speak for themselves. Supporters point to the dramatic reduction in underperforming campuses under Superintendent Mike Miles’ leadership. According to data cited in reports supporting the takeover, the number of F-rated campuses in HISD dropped from 56 to just five in the current year. Proponents argue that reading and math scores have risen significantly since the implementation of systemic reforms, validating the state’s decision to intervene.
Critics of the commission’s findings, including conservative commentators, note that the report’s criticisms are based largely on anonymous testimony rather than empirical academic data. They argue that returning control to local elected officials, many of whom are aligned with the Democratic party, risks reversing the progress made in accountability and student outcomes. The right contends that the state’s role is to ensure that all students, regardless of their district’s political leadership, receive a quality education, and that the takeover was a successful model of state intervention in a crisis.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and education activists associated with the commission argue that the state’s continued hold on HISD undermines local democracy and that the criteria for intervention are too broad. State Sen. Molly Cook, a co-chair of the commission, stated that while failing schools require attention, automatically taking over the state’s largest district due to isolated failures is not a fair standard. "We don't want failing schools," Cook told the Texas Tribune. "But automatically taking over the largest school district in Texas because of one failing school is not a fair measuring stick."
Gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa has incorporated opposition to state takeovers into her central education platform, pledging to remove TEA Commissioner Mike Morath and return HISD to local control if elected. "We will restore the American Dream in Texas by saving our public schools," Hinojosa stated. The commission’s report relies heavily on testimony from parents, students, and educators who allege that the takeover has demeaned educators and restricted curriculum. Other commission members, including Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen and education researcher Steven Nelson, have emphasized the need for community-led governance models that respect local voices over state mandates.
What the Numbers Show
The academic performance of HISD has shifted markedly since the 2023 state takeover. Prior to the intervention, the district had 56 campuses rated as failing (F-rated) by the Texas Education Agency. As of the latest reporting period, that number has decreased to five. Superintendent Mike Miles, appointed by the state, has overseen the implementation of standardized curricula and operational changes aimed at consistency across the district. The Commission on the Takeover of HISD report spans 81 pages and includes recommendations for legislative changes to limit the scope of future state interventions.
The commission is co-chaired by State Sen. Molly Cook, State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons, and Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen. Other members include NYU professor Domingo Morel, community advocate Kay Wasden, and education researcher Steven Nelson. The report specifically highlights concerns that the takeover "diminished curriculum," "damaged relationships," and "destroyed democratic governance." These qualitative assessments contrast with the quantitative data showing improved test scores and reduced numbers of failing campuses, creating a central tension in the debate over the takeover’s success.
The Bottom Line
The release of the commission’s report sets the stage for a significant policy debate ahead of the midterm elections. The core issue is whether the state should retain authority over HISD to ensure continued academic gains or transfer power back to local voters to restore democratic accountability. Governor-elect candidates and legislators will likely face pressure to define their stance on the balance between state oversight and local control in education. If the commission’s recommendations are adopted into law, it could alter the TEA’s ability to intervene in other struggling districts across Texas, potentially setting a precedent for future education governance in the state.