HOUSTON — A Harris County judge has granted a temporary restraining order over a lawsuit against Houston ISD filed by the Houston Federation of Teachers.
The ruling means that the school district, at least temporarily, has to go back to its original teacher evaluation system.
HFT argues that HISD did not go through the proper channels to approve the new evaluation system, which decides future teacher employment and their pay.
Some teachers say they don't know what they're being evaluated on.
“Teachers should know when they walk in the classroom, 'How am I being evaluated?'" said HFT general counsel Chris Tritico.
"At least today, we know what we are expected to do in the classroom every day," HFT President Jackie Anderson said.
The union said the district unexpectedly switched to the new evaluation system without seeking proper input from shared decision-making committees.
In court, lawyers for HISD said the district did seek input from thousands of stakeholders, but the union said that's not enough.
On September 11, there will be another hearing where the Houston Federation of Teachers will ask for another hold on the system until their lawsuit plays out.
HISD sent KHOU 11 a statement, saying they cannot comment on a pending legal matter. They add the superintendent and school board remain focused on their Destination 2035 plan.