What Families Need to Know About the Year Ahead: Live Q&A with Superintendent Miles

This Houston ISD live Q&A session on April 23, 2026, featured Superintendent Mike Miles discussing district initiatives and answering parent questions about academic progress, instructional models, and school operations. Key topics included the district's focus on improving reading and math scores through research-based assessments like STAR and DIBELS, and the implementation of the Future 2 pilot program at select campuses, which balances core academics with activities designed to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills for the 2030-2035 workforce. Superintendent Miles emphasized the use of AI-enabled tools as supplements rather than replacements for teachers, and highlighted efforts to retain effective teachers and provide differentiated support for struggling students. The discussion also covered school closures due to enrollment declines and aging facilities, staffing ratios, and the district's earned autonomy framework that grants schools varying levels of operational control based on performance. While no specific procurement contracts or budget allocations were detailed, the conversation touched on programmatic investments and resource allocation aimed at improving educational outcomes and infrastructure sustainability.