The fight over teacher pay in Houston has landed in court, with the Houston Federation of Teachers (HFT) suing the Houston Independent School District (HISD) for failing to distribute state-mandated raises.
At the heart of the dispute is whether or not Texas’ largest school district is ignoring the law in favor of Superintendent Mike Miles’ push toward a performance-based pay system.
“We have a pay disparity,” Jackie Anderson, HFT president, told the Defender. “Some teachers who teach the identical class load, class size and same subject are making different amounts of money. That is not how you effectively manage a district. Teachers should not have to perform at a certain level. When we are all in this together, we are about what’s best for children. This is not a dog and pony show like we are getting out of HISD right now.”
Teachers and parents rallied outside HISD headquarters in late August, denouncing the district’s approach as “wage theft.” They argued that HISD is the only district in Greater Houston withholding the raises.
“It’s a shame that I’m still here trying to fight for fair treatment of teachers, of students and of school communities,” said Melissa Yarborough, a former Navarro Middle School teacher. “In the beginning, Miles made false promises of higher pay and smaller workload to try to lure more teachers in, because he knew a lot would be leaving. And then the paychecks didn’t match the offers.”
Yarborough added that HISD offered a $10,000 bonus for teachers who chose NES-aligned campuses, but introduced conditions before disbursing the money.
“This is wage theft,” she said.
State law vs. district policy
During this year’s Texas Legislative Session, the Legislature passed House Bill 2, which guarantees raises of $2,500 for teachers with three to five years of experience and $5,000 for teachers with five or more years in large districts like HISD. Lawmakers described the measure as a retention tool during a statewide teacher shortage.
But HISD has opted to tie raises to evaluations under Miles’ new reforms. Compensation letters sent in August outlined merit-based adjustments ranging from $250 to $2,500, well short of the flat amounts written into state law. HISD officials argue the district qualifies as an “Enhanced Teacher Incentive Allotment” (TIA) system, allowing them to deviate from the seniority-based formula. It could also bring in money for a school district under the TIA program for high-performing teachers.
However, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has not granted final approval for HISD’s application, which is expected to be granted in 2026.
The union argues HISD lacks the fully approved system required for that designation, making the plan unlawful. HISD attorneys countered in court that the district is eligible while working toward approval and that no injunction is warranted since the funds have not yet arrived. About 1,800 HFT members qualify for the raises. Teachers voiced frustration, saying the promised pay is critical to their livelihoods.
Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton will decide whether to pause HISD’s plan as the case heads toward trial in 2026.
Union pushback
HFT insists HISD is breaking the law. The union filed suit in Harris County court seeking an injunction to freeze state funds until the case is resolved, warning that the money could be spent elsewhere otherwise.
“We have a pay disparity. Some teachers who teach the identical class load, class size and same subject are making different amounts of money. That is not how you effectively manage a district.”
Jackie Anderson, HFT president
“The law is the law. No one, not even the governor’s right-hand man in Houston ISD, is exempt from it,” Anderson said. “Mike Miles mismanaged Texas taxpayer dollars at his charter school network, and now he’s messing with teachers’ hard-earned salaries in Houston ISD…If Mike Miles won’t come to the table to pay Houston ISD teachers what they are owed by law, then we’ll see him in court.”
The human cost
For educators on the ground, the issue is more than legal semantics; it’s about survival in a costly city. One teacher described needing the raise to cover her daughter’s college tuition. Others pointed to the instability caused by constant turnover.
“It is so important to have teachers who are able to stay in the district and develop relationships with students and their families year over year,” said pediatric neurologist Audrey Nath, an HISD parent. “I don’t understand how stealing teacher raises that were dictated by law from our elected representatives. I don’t get how that helps us retain teachers.”
Broader context
The battle comes amid a national teacher exodus fueled by low pay and high stress. Texas lawmakers billed HB 2 as a long-overdue step to stabilize the profession.
“Teachers are leaving the profession in droves,” Anderson said. “We have campaigned with the state legislature for years, asking for a pay increase. We became aware that that was not happening in HISD. It’s time for Mike Miles to follow the law and give teachers what they rightfully deserve and what they have been awarded by the state.”
Critics also question HISD’s claim of being a high-paying district. Neighboring districts now offer starting salaries that exceed HISD’s, and uncertified teachers in Houston earn less than in surrounding systems.
“Miles has long claimed to be the best-paying district in the area in Texas,” said former HISD teacher Sarah Rivlin. “Miles is taking away a raise that even the most hardliners are giving to teachers. So it is absolutely unacceptable.”
A trial date is set for August 2026, though mediation could come sooner. In the meantime, HFT and its allies continue pressing their case in both the courtroom and the public square.
