Texas State Board of Education

Texas State Board of Education is a fifteen-member elected body responsible for overseeing public education in the U.S. state of Texas. It establishes policies, reviews and adopts instructional materials, and manages the Permanent School Fund. The board's decisions on curriculum standards, particularly for subjects like social studies and science, have frequently attracted national attention and sparked significant political and cultural debates.

History

The board's origins trace to the 1876 Texas Constitution, which created the position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The modern elected board was established by the Gilmer-Aikin Laws in 1949, which reorganized the state's education governance and created the Texas Education Agency. Key historical moments include its role in the contentious 1974 adoption of biology textbooks that included evolution, and its involvement in the 1980s Texas textbook controversy over perceived secular humanism. The board's authority over the multi-billion dollar Permanent School Fund, established from public land grants, has been a consistent feature of its fiscal responsibilities since the 19th century.

Composition and elections

The board consists of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year staggered terms, as defined by the Texas Legislature. Elections are held in November of even-numbered years, with candidates running in party primaries of the Republican and Democratic parties. Districts are redrawn following each United States Census by the Texas Legislature, often leading to legal challenges under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Recent boards have often had a majority of members affiliated with the Republican Party, influencing the direction of policy debates. The board elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members.

Powers and responsibilities

The board's primary constitutional duty is the stewardship of the Permanent School Fund, one of the largest education endowments in the United States. It sets rules for the Texas Education Agency and has final authority over the adoption of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards for all subject areas. It approves instructional materials, such as textbooks and digital resources, for use in public schools statewide, a process that has historically given it considerable influence over the national textbook publishing market. The board also has authority over charter school approvals and oversees certain aspects of the State Board for Educator Certification.

Curriculum controversies

The board has been a focal point for national debates over curriculum content, particularly through its reviews of the TEKS. Major controversies include the 2009-2010 social studies standards revision, which involved debates over the inclusion of figures like César Chávez, the role of Thomas Jefferson, and the framing of American exceptionalism. In science, protracted debates over the teaching of evolution, climate change, and the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories have occurred, notably during the 2009 standards adoption. Further disputes have arisen over health education standards related to sex education and the portrayal of historical topics like the Civil Rights Movement and McCarthyism.

Recent and ongoing issues

In recent years, the board has engaged in heated discussions over the implementation of critical race theory bans following the passage of House Bill 3979 by the Texas Legislature. The 2022 review of social studies standards again involved debates over the teaching of slavery, the Alamo, and Juneteenth. Ongoing responsibilities include managing the investment strategy of the Permanent School Fund and overseeing the expansion of charter schools. The board continues to wield significant influence, with its decisions on curriculum and materials closely watched by advocacy groups, publishers, and policymakers across the United States.

Category:Texas state agencies Category:Education in Texas Category:State boards of education in the United States