HOUSTON, Texas — The state-appointed board of managers of Houston Independent School District approved contracts Thursday night allowing several top-performing high schools and prekindergarten centers to be managed by outside organizations.
The move is authorized under Senate Bill 1882, which permits partnerships between public schools and nonprofit groups or charter networks. District leaders first signaled plans to explore such partnerships for highly rated campuses in October.
Under the arrangement, the district can apply for final approval from the Texas Education Agency. If approved, the partnerships would begin in the 2026–2027 school year and give participating schools greater control over instruction, curriculum, staffing, evaluations, and academic calendars. The agreements may also bring in additional per-student funding from the state.
The approved partnerships include: Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Challenge Early High School, Houston Academy for International Studies, and Energy Institute High School, along with prekindergarten centers to be operated by Collaborative for Children.
Supporters say the added autonomy will help sustain innovation at already high-performing campuses. School leaders told the board the partnerships would allow them to better tailor programs and respond to student needs while preserving what already works.
However, critics raised concerns about accountability and whether the changes could undermine public education. Elected trustee Maria Benzon argued that the law was originally intended for struggling schools, not high-achieving ones, and warned the move could weaken the traditional public school system.
The decision comes as HISD remains under state control, with oversight from the TEA following a takeover initiated in 2023. Eligibility for the partnerships requires schools to have earned an A rating for the past four years and to maintain relatively small achievement gaps among student groups.
