Houston ISD nixes partnership plans, risking school closures or state takeover

Houston ISD leaders will not turn over control of their 10 longest-struggling schools to any outside organizations, district leaders announced Wednesday, a decision that shifts enormous power over HISD's future to the Texas Education Agency.

The move, in all likelihood, means HISD must receive accountability or sanctions waivers from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath for the district to avoid forced campus closures or a state takeover of its locally elected school board. The potential punishments follow HISD's failure to improve performance at the 10 schools and the bipartisan passage of a new education law in 2015 designed to propel academic improvement.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/Houston-ISD-nixes-partnership-plans-raising-risk-12864425.php