Recent calls by Texas lawmakers to dismantle the Texas Education Agency may reflect growing dissatisfaction with the state agency that oversees K-12 public school education.
Education policy experts agree that disbanding the Education Department is unrealistic at best, but the call, made during primary elections, is a sign that lawmakers are still unsure about a solution. Even if there is no agreement, it speaks to an increasingly bipartisan dialogue at the state level about education policy reform. .
in Letter of January 25th, Rep. Glenn Rogers, R-Mineral Wells, said he plans to introduce a bill in the 2025 session to repeal the TEA. He blasted the state's standardized test, known as the Texas Academic Assessment, and the agency's increased budget.
“TEA's educational enthusiasts have limited experience in a real classroom environment,” Rogers wrote in the letter. “Yet, they present themselves as experts on what our children need. In reality, determining a student's educational needs comes first from parents and then from teachers. And we know that local elected officials are in a much better position.”
Rogers faces a Republican primary challenge from Mike Olcott, who has the support of Gov. Greg Abbott. Mr. Rogers is one of the Texas House Republicans who drew the ire of Mr. Abbott by joining with Democrats in opposing “school choice” programs that would use public funds to pay for private school tuition and other costs for students. .
Mr. Rogers did not respond to several requests for comment from American Statesman. TEA staff declined to comment.
David DeMathews, an education policy professor at the University of Texas, said repealing the TEA is far-fetched, if not impossible.
The agency performs tasks required by the federal government, such as distributing federal funds, and tracks data on student achievement, special education services, and literacy.
“Without TEA, it would be virtually impossible for 1,200 school districts to comply with all mandates without individual oversight and assistance,” DeMathews said. “That's a stupid idea.”
Lawmakers regularly review state agencies, and TEA's next evaluation is scheduled for 2029.
But Monty Exter, director of government relations for the Texas Professional Educators Association, said Rogers' complaints about the TEA reflect the growing debate about TEA reform.
On the other hand, many Texans, especially those who identify as Republicans, tend to distrust big government, he said. And communities and schools often feel like they know the needs of their students best.
“I think most of them feel that if the TEA steps in and tries to implement this standardized approach at the local level, it will cause more problems than it solves,” Exter says.
A complete overhaul of the education system is not unprecedented.
According to H.D. Chambers, executive director of the Texas School Alliance, which represents 46 college districts, Congress conducted a long and comprehensive TEA redesign in 1995, amending and creating new codes. He said he went.
“It may be time for our elected leaders to consider reviewing and perhaps rewriting the educational code, or key parts of the educational code,” Chambers said.
Testing, one of the agency's most prominent programs, has drawn significant backlash in recent years, he said.
In August, several school districts filed a lawsuit, joined by about 100 other school districts, alleging that the TEA had unfairly changed the rubric for accountability purposes. The agency assigns AF ratings to school districts based on student performance on standardized tests across the state, student academic growth and other factors.
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A judge blocked TEA from publishing the ratings in October, but the case remains on appeal.
Lawmakers from both parties also called for overhauling the state's system for testing students and holding schools accountable.
In a comprehensive report of a House of Commons committee held in July, lawmakers proposed an overhaul of the accountability system, along with a number of other programmatic and funding changes aimed at improving education.
more:Texas House panel holds special session to suggest student success, school choice to top education
“There's bipartisan common ground there,” Exter said. “They don’t agree on solutions, but they recognize there is a problem.”
