The Windham School District (WSD) is a non-geographical school district that provides educational services to offenders in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The district has its headquarters in Building B in the Wynne Unit in Huntsville.[1][2] The school district is a separate and distinct organization from the TDCJ.[3] Windham is one of the largest correctional education systems in the United States, providing educational programs and services in most TDCJ facilities.[4] The Texas Board of Criminal Justice acts as the board of education for the district.[5] The members of the board are appointed by the Governor of Texas.[6]
George Beto, the director of the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC), advocated for the establishment of the district.[7] The Texas Legislature established the district, which began operation in 1969. The Texas Board of Corrections named the district after James M. Windham, who had been a member of the board for 24 years.[8] The district was the first school system of its size to be established within a statewide prison system.[4]