A state representative asked for a probe after a report accused Houston ISD’s superintendent of sending the money to his private school network in Colorado.
HOUSTON — State Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston, wants an investigation, so she’s turning to the Texas Education Agency.
According to an investigation by Spectrum News, millions of Texas taxpayer dollars were diverted to a private school network in Colorado to help cover its financial losses.
Spectrum News reports that those private schools, called Third Future Schools or TFS, were founded by Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles.
And Miles has also expanded his charter school network into Texas, with campuses in Midland, Odessa, Beaumont, Jasper and Austin.
Miles has responded by saying he’s done nothing wrong, that all transactions are standard and legal, and that he welcomes an investigation to provide greater clarity.
State Rep. Ana Hernandez told us on Inside Texas Politics she doesn’t buy it.
“I don’t believe that any parent, any legislator, any administrator will agree that it is okay to send Texas public education dollars out-of-state and that those dollars not be used for our students’ education here in Texas,” Hernandez said.
Rep. Hernandez sent a letter to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, who appointed Miles to the Houston ISD superintendent position after the agency took over HISD in March 2023, citing misconduct by the school board and bad school ratings at Phyllis Wheatley High School.
Hernandez says she wants the TEA to investigate.
She says Morath responded the next day, only saying they would look into it.
“I’m not completely satisfied with that response. But I’m satisfied that he will be looking into it. And we will continue to follow up to make sure that we receive the answers that the public wants,” said Hernandez.
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