By In a recent op-ed published in The Houston Chronicle, Dr. Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education, shed light on the transformative efforts underway in the Houston Independent School District (HISD). Dr. Paige emphasized that American education is at a critical juncture, with significant challenges such as lagging student performance, achievement gaps, and teacher shortages. However, he pointed to HISD as a beacon of hope, thanks to the district’s bold New Education System (NES) reforms.
“The early results of the NES have been nothing short of remarkable,” Dr. Paige wrote. “The mid-year NWEA-MAP exam, a national norm-referencing test, showed significant improvement at all levels. Students in NES schools are outperforming their non-NES peers in growth measures, with some grades achieving a full year’s worth of reading growth. High school students have seen double-digit increases on state standardized tests across subjects including algebra, biology, English and U.S. history.”
These gains suggest that the NES model may be beginning to close the persistent racial and economic achievement gaps in HISD.
Dr. Paige also discussed the controversies and challenges associated with NES, such as the implementation of a standard curriculum, classroom cameras, and performance-based teacher salaries. Despite these issues, he praised the substantial support and investment NES has brought to struggling schools, including higher teacher salaries and extended school hours.
“The Houston experiment should serve as a national case study in bold education policy innovation,” Dr. Paige wrote. “For too long, reform efforts have focused on distant levers of standards, testing and accountability. NES represents a more comprehensive approach, tackling thorny issues of salary, staffing, safety, schedules and pedagogy head-on.”
The significance of Dr. Paige’s commentary lies in his recognition of HISD’s efforts as potentially groundbreaking for urban school reform. He urged educators and policymakers nationwide to look to HISD’s bold initiatives as a model for addressing deep-seated issues in education. Dr. Paige believes that HISD’s approach could provide valuable lessons and inspiration for other districts seeking to transform their educational systems and better serve their students.
Dr. Paige also served as HISD superintendent from 1994 to 2001 and as an interim president of his alma mater, Jackson State University.
