Texas think tank critiques Houston parent coalition for alleged socialist tactics

<p>The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a conservative think tank, has issued a report criticizing the Community Voices for Public Education (CVPE), a Houston education advocacy coalition. TPPF claims that CVPE employs tactics aligned with socialist ideologies to promote policies in public schools.</p><p>TPPF researchers argue that CVPE, which presents itself as a grassroots organization of parents, teachers, and community members, functions as a front for teachers' unions and leftist organizations aiming to maintain the existing educational framework.</p><p>Kate Bierly, campaign director for TPPF's Next Generation Texas Campaign, stated, "There are several policies that they're advocating for which are questionable at best, but very harmful," in an interview with Fox News Digital.</p><p>CVPE has opposed the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) 2023 takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which is Texas's largest school district. The TEA intervened due to years of academic underperformance at specific campuses, a move that has faced accusations of political overreach from critics.</p><p>Despite the criticism, state metrics indicate academic improvements since the intervention, with reading and math scores on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) showing gains among grades 3 through 8 over the past three school years. The number of A- and B-rated campuses in HISD increased from 93 to 197.</p><p>Bierly noted that F-rated campuses decreased from 56 to five, and the district's overall rating improved from a C to a B. She commented, "The results were amazing. But from this, several critics emerged ... suggesting destructive replacement policies. One of the main groups behind these proposals is CVPE."</p><p>According to Bierly, CVPE employs tactics similar to those used by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has gained political traction in recent years.</p><p>In addition to opposing the state takeover, CVPE advocates against mandatory STAAR testing and encourages parents to boycott the exams. The group also calls for reducing campus policing, advocating for student arrests only in severe cases, and promotes participation in walkouts and political protests.</p><p>TPPF alleges that CVPE instructs parents on organizing student demonstrations outside schools, while CVPE asserts that peaceful advocacy is crucial for enhancing school environments and curricula.</p><p>Bierly added, "Some of the things they are advocating for is that parents should boycott the STAAR exam because the test allegedly supports racism and inequality. Scrapping this testing removes a key pathway for low-income kids to access advanced academic tracks."</p><p>CVPE defends its platform, arguing that restorative justice and expanded mental health resources create safer learning environments than punitive measures, stating, "HISD students should be heard and not herded."</p><p>Ruth Kravetz, co-founder of CVPE, responded to TPPF's report and the state's academic claims. She emphasized that CVPE supporters come from various political backgrounds, stating, "Some of those parents are Republicans. Some are Democrats, some are socialists, and some are unaffiliated."</p><p>Kravetz criticized high-stakes standardized testing, claiming it does not improve student outcomes. She stated, "It undermines educational quality. It narrows instruction and reduces deeper, more meaningful learning ... I don't think any parent ever said, ‘I hope my kid grows up to be able to fill in a multiple-choice test well.’"</p><p>Kravetz previously challenged the claims of the "Texas Miracle" promoted by HISD Superintendent Mike Miles and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, alleging that recent test improvements were artificially manipulated.</p><p>She stated, "The truth is that HISD’s Mike Miles didn’t allow qualified students to even take Algebra I. This skewed the STAAR results and played a shell game with scores. Most importantly, they denied opportunities to countless kids just to make the numbers look better."</p><p>HISD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>