Texas Education Agency

Texas Education Agency
Name	Texas Education Agency
Formed	0 1949
Jurisdiction	State of Texas
Headquarters	William B. Travis State Office Building, Austin, Texas
Chief1 name	Mike Morath
Chief1 position	Commissioner of Education
Parent department	Government of Texas
Website	tea.texas.gov

Texas Education Agency. The Texas Education Agency is the primary state agency responsible for overseeing public primary and secondary education in Texas. Established by the Texas Legislature in 1949, it operates under the authority of the Texas Education Code and is led by a commissioner appointed by the Governor of Texas. The agency's mission is to provide leadership, guidance, and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students.

History

The agency's origins trace to the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War, when the state constitution of 1876 first mandated the establishment of a public school system. The modern agency was formally created by the 50th Texas Legislature in 1949, consolidating various state education functions. Key historical developments include its central role in implementing the United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education during the Civil Rights Movement, and managing the state's response to the No Child Left Behind Act passed by the United States Congress. The agency has also been instrumental in administering policies following landmark state court cases like Edgewood Independent School District v. Kirby, which addressed school finance equity.

Organization and leadership

The agency is headquartered in the William B. Travis State Office Building in Austin, Texas. It is overseen by the commissioner of education, currently Mike Morath, who is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. The commissioner is advised by the 15-member State Board of Education, an elected body that sets broad policy. Key internal divisions include offices for Curriculum, Assessment, and Accountability, alongside divisions for Special Education and Educator Leadership. The agency also works closely with twenty Regional Education Service Centers located across the state to provide direct support to local school districts.

Responsibilities and functions

The agency's core duties include distributing state and federal funding, such as money from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, to local districts. It accredits public school districts and charter schools, oversees the implementation of state curriculum standards, and manages the state's assessment and accountability systems. Additional functions include administering educator certification through the State Board for Educator Certification, managing data collection through the Public Education Information Management System, and ensuring compliance with federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Academic standards and assessments

The agency, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, establishes the required curriculum known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. These standards dictate what students must learn in each subject and grade level. To measure student mastery of these standards, the agency administers the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness program. High school students must also pass end-of-course assessments to graduate. The agency develops these assessments, often in partnership with vendors like Educational Testing Service or Pearson PLC, and sets the performance standards for each test.

School accountability system

The agency assigns annual accountability ratings to each district and campus based on a complex set of indicators. This system, mandated by the Texas Legislature, evaluates performance on STAAR test results, graduation rates, and measures of college, career, and military readiness. Ratings such as "A," "B," "C," or "Improvement Required" are publicly reported and can trigger interventions, including the appointment of a board of managers or a campus intervention team. The system has undergone several major revisions, including the transition from the earlier Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills framework and adjustments following the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

Controversies and criticism

The agency has faced significant controversy, particularly regarding the content of state curriculum standards overseen by the State Board of Education, including debates over the teaching of evolution in science and the portrayal of historical figures like Moses in social studies. Its standardized testing and accountability regimes have been criticized by groups like the Texas Association of School Administrators for over-emphasizing testing. Legal challenges have arisen concerning the adequacy and equity of the state's school finance system, leading to protracted litigation like the San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez case. More recently, directives concerning transgender student athletes and restrictions on classroom discussions about topics like critical race theory have generated national attention and conflict with the United States Department of Education.

Category:State agencies of Texas Category:Education in Texas Category:1949 establishments in Texas