What happened: The 2023 TEA accountability ratings showed that Midland ISD had 31 campuses rated C through F, compared to just seven rated A or B.

Why it matters: The board adopted a sweeping policy overhaul aimed at boosting academic performance, increasing accountability, and restoring financial stability. Board President Brandon Hodges said the changes are designed to support, not punish, underperforming schools.

Go deeper: Hodges said the new framework applies business principles, including SMART goals and key performance indicators, to drive campus improvement. All schools rated below a B must now submit turnaround plans with measurable academic benchmarks. He stressed the need to stay focused on “academic rigor” and help students reach grade-level proficiency in reading, writing, and math.

“The main purpose of education is to get our kiddos to where they’re not only surviving, but they’re thriving in this beautiful world that God gave us,” he said.

The policy also includes financial guardrails, requiring a balanced budget by year two and capping year-one deficits at 4% of total revenue. The package passed 5–2, with Trustees Tommy Bishop and Sara Burleson opposed.

“Sometimes people don’t like change, but this change, I think, is good,” Hodges said.

What’s next: The board is waiting on 2024 STAAR test results, which are currently tied up in a legal dispute, before deciding whether to continue third-party partnerships under the state’s 1882 program.