As students across Houston prepare to return to school for the 2024-25 academic year, they may notice some changes on their campuses. From longer school years to a reduced number of teachers and staff, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) is gearing up for a new school year under the leadership of Superintendent Mike Miles.
One of the challenges facing HISD as students return to school is the maintenance of HVAC systems to combat the August heat. Superintendent Miles acknowledged that the district plans for HVAC issues to be a daily concern and is seeking to address this through a $4.4 billion bond proposal on the November ballot. Additionally, the district is behind on landscaping, with overgrown grass being a common complaint from community members. Despite efforts from school staff and parents to address the issue, Miles recognized the need to improve the maintenance of school grounds.
Under Superintendent Miles’ leadership, HISD is entering its second year of a state takeover, with the implementation of the New Education System (NES) in more schools. The NES emphasizes discipline, instructional oversight, and testing-based performance metrics. Despite some criticism, the reforms have shown improvements in standardized testing results, with an increase in A- and B-rated schools and a decrease in D and F-rated campuses.
However, the reforms have also led to significant staff turnover, with over 4,000 employees leaving HISD in June alone, including more than 2,400 teachers. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of teachers compared to the previous school year, with 850 uncertified teachers starting the year. While Miles assured that these teachers are working towards certification and that students should not be negatively impacted, some parents expressed concerns about the quality of education with an increasing number of uncertified teachers.
In addition to staffing changes, HISD has made adjustments to the school calendar, starting classes more than two weeks earlier than the previous year. The district also became a “District of Innovation,” allowing flexibility in setting the school start date. Furthermore, HISD reduced the number of bus routes to cut costs and improve travel times for students attending magnet schools outside their neighborhoods.
As the new school year begins, HISD faces challenges such as mold remediation in aging campuses, storm damage repairs, and ongoing maintenance issues. Despite these challenges, Superintendent Miles emphasized the importance of keeping schools open and ready for students, recognizing that every day of education counts for the children in the district. With a focus on improvement and accountability, HISD is working towards providing a quality education for all students in the upcoming academic year.
