Miles, addressing hundreds of teachers at an annual teachers' convocation, said this is to have more than one career and technical education center in the district. The groundbreaking would be in 2026-27.
This move toward another career and technical education center follows the failed $4.4 billion bond that would have included $375 million for three new career and technical education centers — $125 million per center.
The Barbara Jordan Career Center will also see upgrades with more emphasis on the use of drones and cybersecurity in its CTE programs.
Clad in matching primary color T-shirts, teachers celebrated the beginning of the school year with pompoms and signs. The presentation featured performances of the Sound of Music's "I Have Confidence" and songs by Miles' son. The presentation, apparently related to previous skits set at a diner, included messages of building confidence in new hires, creating a "wholesome" environment for children, and employing teaching strategies from state-appointed leadership's reforms.
A Houston ISD spokesperson denied the Houston Chronicle's request to cover the teachers' convocation, saying that the event at Delmar Stadium was "at capacity."
The annual convocation also covered the district's growth in state exam (STAAR) and state A-F accountability ratings assigned to schools after HISD announced on Tuesday there were no F-rated campuses in forthcoming official 2025 ratings from the state. There is, or will be, about 17 billboards celebrating academic achievements and the number of A- and B-rated schools, Miles said.
'SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING SCHOOLS'
Miles also announced English and math teachers at about eight volunteered middle schools will participate in "synchronous learning schools."
The students, twice a month starting second semester, will use the video platform Zoom to learn lessons presented at another school. That way, those students' teachers can have two days per month allocated for additional professional development and work from home. This announcement elicited some cheers in the audience.
"Synchronous learning" will occur at both New Education System schools, formally carrying out Miles' reforms, and schools outside the system.
'FUTURE 2 SCHOOLS'
Miles briefly noted the opening of two magnet schools, which he called "the next iteration of what school should look like for our kids." He said this would open a year from now, with details forthcoming.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
Miles also said the administration is trying to hand a list to the Board of Managers with no more than 10 "small" schools for closure due to failing facilities.
"We are trying to whittle that down to get it under 10. Not sure I can do that," Miles said. "But we'll see. But that, we will give to the board probably in December, that list of schools."
The mention of school closures follows the district's decision to close an undetermined number of schools in 2026-27. The state's largest school district lost nearly 7,400 students in the 2024-25 academic year, representing HISD's largest enrollment loss since the COVID-19 pandemic. HISD reported that it had 176,731 students enrolled on Oct. 25, which is about a 4 percent enrollment decline from the previous year.
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