A conservative think tank in Texas has raised concerns about a Houston-based education advocacy group, claiming that it is employing tactics reminiscent of socialist organizations to promote controversial policies within public schools.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) recently published a report suggesting that Community Voices for Public Education (CVPE), which positions itself as a grassroots assembly of parents, educators, and community members, actually serves as a front for interests aligned with teachers’ unions and extreme left organizations aimed at maintaining the current educational framework.
Kate Bierly, campaign director for TPPF’s Next Generation Texas Campaign, expressed her thoughts, stating, “There are several policies they’re pushing that are questionable at best, and potentially quite harmful.”
CVPE has strongly opposed the state’s 2023 takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest school district in Texas. This intervention by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) took place after several years of poor academic performance at certain campuses, prompting accusations from critics of political overreach.
Contrary to that viewpoint, state data indicates significant academic improvement post-intervention. More specifically, reading and math scores across grades 3 to 8 have seen enhancements over the last three school years, with the number of A- and B-rated campuses in HISD rising from 93 to 197.
According to Bierly, “F-rated campuses decreased from 56 to five, and the entire district’s rating improved from a C to a B.” She remarked on the positive outcomes, stating, “The results were amazing. However, this prompted several critics to propose potentially destructive replacement policies, with CVPE being one of the main proponents behind such proposals.”
Bierly noted that CVPE’s strategies resemble those of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that has gained momentum lately with elected officials across various levels of government endorsing their candidates.
Beyond its stance against the state takeover, CVPE is also against mandatory STAAR testing and has called for parents to opt out of these exams. Moreover, the group advocates for a reduction in campus policing, suggesting that student arrests should only occur in severe circumstances, like murder, and encourages participation in protests and walkouts.
TPPF contends that CVPE actively organizes parental demonstrations outside schools, while CVPE claims that peaceful advocacy is vital for enriching school environments and curricula.
Bierly noted some of the group’s recommendations, including a boycott of the STAAR exam. She commented, “They argue that this test supports racism and inequality. But eliminating this testing might remove a crucial opportunity for low-income students to enter advanced academic pathways.”
CVPE has defended its platform, arguing that restorative justice and enhanced mental health resources foster far safer learning environments compared to punitive approaches, asserting that “HISD students should be heard and not herded.”
Ruth Kravetz, co-founder of CVPE, countered TPPF’s claims, emphasizing that supporters of CVPE represent a diverse political spectrum. “Some of those parents are Republicans. Some are Democrats, some are socialists, and some are unaffiliated,” she stated.
Kravetz criticized high-stakes standardized testing, arguing that such assessments do not improve educational outcomes. “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 fill in a multiple-choice test well,’” she remarked.
Furthermore, she challenged the “Texas Miracle” that HISD Superintendent Mike Miles and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have lauded, claiming that recent test score increases were artificially manipulated. Kravetz alleged that “HISD’s Mike Miles didn’t even let qualified students take Algebra I, which skewed the STAAR results and played a shell game with scores.” She pointed out that this practice denied numerous students critical opportunities just to make the data appear more favorable.
As of now, HISD has not responded to requests for comments regarding these issues.
