Public education in Texas is one of the most important public policy areas in the state, and the number of topics under that policy umbrella are numerous and far reaching. The Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI) remains a strong supporter of public education. Indeed, TCCRI supports fully funding public education and providing teachers and administrators with the tools they need to educate a new generation of Texans. The analysis does not stop there, however.

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There are real issues to address within public education. Directly within the public school system, the number of children in Texas who do not test at grade level is staggering. Children are often geographically assigned to public schools that do not properly serve their needs, despite their best intentions and efforts. Public charter schools continue to be viewed by the traditional public school establishment as a competitor, rather than another option that children might benefit from. Virtual education in Texas remains underdeveloped.

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In terms of school safety, a justifiable fear exists that students are not as safe as they could be should a dangerous incident occur. More can be done to harden targets and protect children while also attempting to minimize the invasive nature of protective measures.

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TCCRI believes that parents are the most important influences in a child’s life and should be treated as such, especially by the public school system to which they entrust their children. Parents should be properly informed of everything being taught in the classroom and they should have an informed say in the materials made available to their children and used in classroom lessons.

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Parts of the public school system in Texas are deeply entrenched with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, which discriminate on the basis of race, and cause real harm and division.

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The state’s testing and accountability system are the target of opposition from a variety of coalitions. The state’s system has real issues to address, but testing is the best tool available for assessing whether or not students are learning and retaining in line with state standards. The state’s A-F accountability system remains one of the most important education reforms ever passed by the state legislature. It empowers parents with information about how their local schools are performing. It should be protected and strengthened.

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Over the course of the 88th Legislative Session’s Interim, TCCRI held meetings to discuss many of these topics. Those meetings informed the research and policy proposals contained in this report, as did TCCRI’s research and work in other areas, including legislative testimony, white papers, and public policy summits. TCCRI hopes that you find the research and policy proposals helpful and informative.