|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Past 2 a.m. Friday, at the end of a marathon nine-hour board meeting, Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles read a statement to a practically empty room, walking back plans he had defended just days before.
HISD was reversing course on the use of its “proficiency screening” process for principals, he announced, and would not use the measure as a reason to fire campus leaders — a change that came after community members argued the practice would violate the law.
“The proficiency screener rating will not be used in the evaluation of principals or other campus administrators in any adverse employment decisions for 2023-24,” Miles said. “This communication supersedes any prior communications regarding the same.”
The announcement reversed plans outlined during a Monday press conference in which Miles had said principals whose proficiency screening scores fell in the bottom 10 percent districtwide would not be asked to return to the district. Those who fell between percentile 11 and 20 would be able to stay only at the discretion of their supervisor, he said.
During a Friday afternoon press conference, Miles said his change of course was due not to legal concerns, but to the feedback he heard from the community, including at Thursday’s board meeting when 150 people registered to speak.
“There were a number of new voices in the room and, just like always, we take every comment seriously, we’re listening,” Miles said. “So, the board and I made some adjustments.”
Last Saturday, community members sent a legal memo to HISD’s board of managers and Texas Education Agency leadership, alleging the principal rating measure violates state law because it was not approved by the board and was not in place when the school year began.
On Monday, Miles dismissed those points as “misconceptions,” drawing a distinction between the proficiency screening tool and the board-approved formal evaluation process for principals.
However, attorney Christopher Tritico argued that if the district planned to use the proficiency screening to make employment decisions, it would have to go through formal approval measures outlined in state law and local policy.
Tritico successfully litigated a similar case for the Houston Federation of Teachers last August, arguing Miles’ new teacher evaluation scheme had not gone through the proper legal processes. The lawsuit ultimately blocked Miles from implementing his planned teacher appraisal tool this school year.
“He’s doing the exact same thing that he already lost a lawsuit over,” Tritico told the Landing on Monday. “If (principals) are going to be fired if they don’t pass the proficiency, then that is the evaluation process, and you can call it whatever you want.”
The community outcry over the principal ratings began earlier this month, after the Houston Chronicle reported HISD had told nearly half of its principals their mid-year scores were not high enough to secure them a role next year, and they would have to improve by the end of the year in order to stay, according to leaked information. The list of principals who had not yet secured their roles included leaders from several of the district’s top-rated campuses.
Dozens of community members and at least two public officials expressed frustration over the principal ratings during public comment at Thursday’s board meeting. State Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, addressed the board and said the issue has raised “significant concern” among her constituents.
Naomi Doyle-Madrid, an HISD parent and a member of the District Advisory Committee, said she used to be optimistic about Miles’ plans, but since has changed her mind.
“Today, I’m not only sad, but I’m mad,” Doyle-Madrid said. Among a lengthy list of complaints was “a forced distribution, potentially illegal proficiency screening tool for (assistant principals) and principals.”
Miles’ Friday announcement came after he and the board of managers went into a four-hour closed-door session. Miles said HISD will not dismiss campus administrators based on their proficiency scores this year, but did not specify plans for future years.
If HISD seeks to change its principal appraisal system for 2024-25, state law requires the district to consult several advisory groups and receive approval from the board. Any new appraisal would have to be implemented by the first day of instruction in August.
Asher Lehrer-Small covers education for the Landing and would love to hear your tips, questions and story ideas about Houston ISD. Reach him at asher@houstonlanding.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
