HISD moves closer to having non-profit organizations manage 4 top-performing schools in the district

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- HISD leaders are moving forward with a plan to have non-profit organizations manage four top-performing local schools.

Superintendent Mike Miles said the partnerships will mean more funding and opportunities for schools.

However, some people worry that handing control to private groups might widen the gap between high- and low-performing schools and let schools run without important oversight.

Challenge Early College High School, Energy Institute High School, Houston Academy for International Studies, and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, or HSPVA, could be operated by nonprofits as early as next year.

"It could absolutely be a great thing if it's handled right. The fact is, though, we don't have any information about what changes and what stays the same, and for me, that's really scary," said one teacher.

ABC13 agreed to keep the teacher's identity private because she's concerned about her job security.

HISD's board has approved moving forward with the partnerships, but the contracts still need approval from both the HISD board and the Texas Education Agency.

According to the TEA, there are currently 95 schools in the state that operate under this type of partnership.

If this goes through, these four schools would be the first in HISD to operate this way.

"These schools have all had four years in a row of an A rating, and I think we can trust them," said Superintendent Miles.

The nonprofits involved are already connected to the schools.

For example, if the board approves, HSPVA would be run by a nonprofit called HSPVA Friends, which has been active since 1978.

The group has a board of directors and paid staff and, through donations, funds specialty teachers, equipment, and scholarships at the school.

If this passes, the board at HSPVA Friends would manage school staff and curriculum.

The district would still track performance and conduct regular audits, but if things go well, Superintendent Miles said the district would take a hands-off approach.

"Senate Bill 1882 was actually put in place many years ago, before you had the voucher system or other pieces of expansion of choice programs. It really has been in place to promote innovation," said Dr. Duncan Klussmann, a former superintendent, now education professor at the University of Houston.

He added that the public won't really understand what these partnerships mean until the agreements are finalized.

According to HISD, approved schools generally receive an additional $700-$ 1,500 in state funding per student each year.

"The money always flows to the district, but in the agreement that the nonprofit signs with the district, it can direct how those dollars now come to the nonprofit," Dr. Klussmann said.

Without contracts in hand, nobody knows yet where the extra money will go.

This teacher worries students won't see the benefit.

"That sounds great, however, it sounds like any extra money we make is going to go right back to the district to pay for things like HR," the teacher said.

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