Why It Matters
Texas education policy is shifting in Waco, where the local school district is expected to enter into a contract with Third Future Schools, a charter management organization with a growing footprint in struggling public school systems across the state. The arrangement would bring a structured, high-intensity academic model to Waco campuses, affecting students, teachers, and administrators in one of Central Texas’s largest districts.
The move signals a broader trend of Texas districts turning to charter operators for school turnaround strategies, a practice that has gained momentum under state oversight and intervention policies.
What Happened
The Waco Independent School District is expected to become the latest Texas school system to contract with Third Future Schools, the nonprofit charter operator founded by Mike Miles, who currently serves as the state-appointed superintendent of Houston ISD. The arrangement follows a pattern established in other districts where Third Future has been brought in to manage low-performing campuses.
Third Future Schools operates with a distinctive educational model. School bells and intercom announcements are absent from its campuses, replaced by tightly structured classroom routines. Teachers are required to follow detailed instructional scripts and work both longer school days and an extended school calendar compared to traditional public school schedules.
In exchange for these additional demands, teachers employed by Third Future Schools receive higher-than-average salaries. The organization frames the model as a trade-off designed to improve student outcomes through consistency and increased instructional time.
The partnership, reported by The Waco Bridge and The Texas Tribune, was published March 30, 2026, and is expected to be formalized as part of ongoing district improvement efforts in Waco.
By the Numbers
- Extended school day: Third Future Schools campuses operate on longer daily schedules than standard Texas public school campuses, increasing total annual instructional hours for students.
- Expanded calendar: The charter operator also runs an extended school year, adding instructional days beyond the state-mandated minimum.
- Premium teacher pay: Teachers at Third Future campuses earn salaries above local district averages, though the specific premium varies by campus and role.
- Houston footprint: Third Future Schools has been managing campuses within Houston ISD since Mike Miles was appointed superintendent by the Texas Education Agency, giving the organization experience operating within large urban Texas districts.
- Growing model: Waco is expected to be among the latest in a series of Texas districts to contract with the operator, expanding Third Future’s reach beyond Houston.
Zoom Out
The Waco development reflects a statewide pattern in Texas where the Texas Education Agency has increasingly empowered charter operators and state-appointed administrators to intervene in chronically low-performing districts. Mike Miles was appointed to lead Houston ISD after the TEA determined the district had failed to adequately improve student outcomes over multiple years.
Third Future Schools emerged from that intervention as a vehicle for campus-level management, applying a no-frills, high-structure approach that mirrors national “no excuses” charter school models popularized by networks such as KIPP and Success Academy. These models have shown academic gains in some studies while drawing scrutiny over teacher turnover rates and student attrition in others.
Nationally, the use of charter management organizations to operate schools within traditional public districts — sometimes called “hybrid” or “in-district charter” arrangements — has expanded in cities including New Orleans, Newark, and Indianapolis. Texas appears to be accelerating a similar approach through state-level intervention authority.
The debate over these models often centers on whether the academic gains justify the operational demands placed on teachers and the cultural shifts experienced by students and families accustomed to traditional public school environments.
What’s Next
The Waco ISD contract with Third Future Schools is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks or months, with implementation timelines tied to the upcoming academic year. District officials and community members are likely to receive additional details about which specific campuses will be affected and how the transition will be managed for current students and staff.
Stakeholders in Waco, including parents, teachers, and local advocacy groups, will have opportunities to respond as formal agreements are presented for approval. The arrangement will also be watched closely by other Texas districts navigating state accountability pressures and considering similar intervention models.