In March of 2023 the Texas Education Agency (TEA) moved forward with plans to take control of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest district in the state and one of the largest in the country. The controversial decision sparked a series of accusations and finger pointing from just about everyone: local and state politicians, school board members, teachers, administrators, parents, even students.

The situation is complex, to say the least. Here's how we got here, and what this could all mean for the future of education in Houston.

What exactly is happening? 

Citing a series of alleged violations, the state-run and -controlled TEA—a group appointed by Texas’s Republican governor, Greg Abbott—decided to force out an elected group of nine HISD school board members. This takeover gives TEA considerable power over key decisions affecting all schools in the district, including budgets, policies around curriculum and library books, and the hiring and firing of staff (including the superintendent), among many others.

What led to the decision?

The battle has been simmering since 2019, and stems from years of what the TEA considers dysfunction, corruption, and a general failure on HISD’s part to properly provide adequate education to all children in the district. According to TEA leadership, headed by commissioner of education Mike Morath, the primary reason for the takeover was the years of poor testing results at schools like Wheatley High School, which by 2019, had recorded five consecutive years of failed accountability ratings. Another is what TEA has described as unethical, even illegal, behavior by HISD board members, including making critical decisions behind closed doors and allegations of tension between Black and Latino HISD board members.

Why is it so controversial?

While it’s not unheard of for a state to wrest control from a school board, it’s extremely rare. Of the more than 10,000 school districts in the country, there’s only been “about 110 or so state takeovers,” in history, according to a CNN interview with Domingo Morel, an associate professor of political science and public service at New York University. Moreover, state takeovers often have mixed results at best or, at worst, fail to achieve the stated goals entirely.

What has Houstonians most upset?

To many, the TEA’s actions challenge the fundamental tenets of the democratic process and raise many sticky questions about the legality and ethics of a government-led takeover of a school district and the consequences of strong arming—or, in this case, circumventing entirely—the voting process.

Is this just a political stunt?

Maybe. The nine school board members who currently serve on HISD all campaigned and were elected to their positions by the people of Houston, and should, in theory, also represent the city's diverse demographics. According to a fact sheet for the 2022–23 school year, Houston Independent School District's student population is around 62 percent Hispanic, 22 percent Black, 10 percent white, and 5 percent Asian. Much of the city has voted blue in recent elections, and the city’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, is a Democrat.

On the other side, TEA is led by Morath, who is white and was appointed by Governor Abbott, a staunch Republican who is also white. Many Houstonians critical of TEA’s takeover claim the move is just an attempt to push a conservative political agenda on the embattled urban district. 

What's the reaction been?

As with most things these days, there's been a rush of statements issued both against and for the takeover.

The #HISD takeover is a shameful political attack by Gov. Abbott & Morath on Houston parents, educators, & all supporters of Public Edu. Houstonians should hold Abbott responsible if any of our schools stop improving or regress under TEA’s watch.” My full #txlege statement pic.twitter.com/f4BxAgbqry

— Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) March 15, 2023

I encourage parents and the community to unite against a campaign to sabotage public schools.
It’s not too late to save #HISD schools in the best interest of the children and stop a takeover by the state. pic.twitter.com/VKWzyH3ZKF

— Houston Mayor's Office (@houmayor) March 11, 2023

What happened to no taxation without presentation??? I pay property taxes to fund school with board members I VOTE FOR. Don't take over our schools!! Stop the TEA Takeover of HISD!!!#GregAbbott_TX @GovAbbott @TeamHISD @HoustonnISD #TEA #HISd

— rinxy (@Rinxy) March 2, 2023

The state takeover of Houston’s schools is about race, power and profit.
The state creates an artificial crisis based on flawed standardized tests.
Then it sets seemingly “objective” exit criteria to strangle a district long enough to privatize most of it.
#HISD https://t.co/Qfl1H8CHh4

— Daniel Santos (@mr_dsantos) April 14, 2023

Texans of all races and backgrounds agree: Our elections should matter. 

We join students, parents, and advocates like @TexasAFT, @HoustonCVPE, and @NAACPHOU in resisting the hostile takeover of Houston ISD. https://t.co/ymGZPYtqjP

— ACLU of Texas (@ACLUTx) April 14, 2023

@hisd #patriciaallen what happens when they SUCCEED & prove HISD board was failing? Why not look forward to more success for the children? Is that out of your possibilities? FAILURE is the answer? I think that's why the takeover. pic.twitter.com/8R9Cx5ahqT

— txpas (@tegepastx1) April 15, 2023

I agree, but the takeover of HISD and conservatorship appointments for AISD are partly justified based on a backlog of timely evaluations and reevaluations.

— David DeMatthews (@DrDeMatt) April 12, 2023

So what happens now?

By June, TEA plans to install state-appointed managers (yet to be named) to replace the elected school board members as well as the current superintendent, Millard House II. Morath has noted that while the current HISD board of trustees no longer have any voting or administrative authority, they will be allowed to finish out the school year.

"Our goal is not to disrupt the great things that are happening at Houston ISD, because there are a lot of great things happening at Houston ISD. But, our goal is where there are students that aren't being well served, to make sure that we have the right structures of support," Morath told ABC News.