Texas Reforms Impact Latino and Black Parents as School Choice Debate Rages
Children carry signs to protest the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District | Credit: nbcnews The recent overhaul of Houston's schools by the state of Texas has stirred up a long-standing history of racism and neglect, particularly affecting Latino and Black children. Additionally, it has cast a spotlight on the state's still-inequitable public school funding system. In a sweeping move, Texas has taken control of approximately 85 schools, with the majority serving Latino or Black communities. This intervention has led to standardized teaching methods, revamped curricula, the conversion of school libraries into discipline and study centers, and the reassignment of teachers and librarians. The state argues that these drastic changes were necessary to rescue the schoolchildren in the district, where 62% of the students are Latino and 22% are Black. For years, many students in these communities have struggled with education, often lagging behind their peers in...