Future of TX Classrooms: What to watch in 89th Lege

This is a preview of our Texas 2036 newsletter with what to watch for on public education in the new legislative session. To receive this weekly look at our work, sign up here.

Here’s your guide to this session’s education issues!

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With Texas’ booming population and economy comes a need to invest in the critical factors of Texas’ long-term success — notably public education.

Fortunately, Texas’ historic budget surplus gives lawmakers a unique opportunity to make meaningful investments in education and workforce readiness programs, paving the way for greater opportunities for every Texan.

What Are Voters Saying? Improve Career Readiness

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In November’s Texas Voter Poll — Texas 2036’s flagship survey of statewide opinions — voters voiced concerns about the next generation’s readiness for the jobs of the future and they want action now to get young Texans ready.

lege public education newsletter worried child
61%

didn’t think Texas high school grads are ready to enter and succeed in the workforce of the future.

 

HS workforce training
91%

thought that Texas high school students should have access to the workforce training programs that would ready them for a good job.

 

lege public education newsletter family studying
79%

favored earlier parental notification that their child is behind in math. This does not happen now until the end of third grade; our poll found support for doing this as early as kindergarten.

 

We’re watching for what lawmakers will do this year on support to families for educational expenses, including tuition at private schools. Texas voters, though, tell us the state needs to continue rigorous accountability standards.

test-taking student
71%

want students who receive state funds to attend private schools to take tests similar to their public school counterparts.

How much do we spend on public education?

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The Senate and House released their base budgets this week which will guide budget writers’ work over the coming weeks and months. Here’s what each chamber would spend on public education:

  • SB 1: $96.8 billion in combined state and federal funds
  • HB 1: $97.3 billion in combined state and federal funds

Want to know how much the Legislature might spend? Our budget policy director Rahul Sreenivasan talked to KXAN-TV about the base budgets.

A six point agenda to advance education in Texas

lege public education newsletter early literacy1. Early literacy

Lawmakers have the opportunity to improve student success tomorrow by closing reading gaps today and investing early in students’ academic success — saving the state and families from expensive remediation efforts later.

Why this matters: Only 46% of Texas third graders are reading on grade level. For students experiencing economic disadvantage, this rate falls to 36%.

Read more here.

lege public education newsletter early math2. Early math education

What lawmakers do this year to address the lack of math readiness will have wide-reaching, generational effects for K-3 students in Texas public schools.

Why this matters: 59% of Texas students are below grade level in math. In every grade, Texas students remain below pre-pandemic math achievement.

Read more here.

Learn more: Early Math in Texas: How It Can Shape Our Workforce

 

lege public education newsletter assessments accountability3. Assessments and accountability are important

State assessments provide an essential and objective measure of student performance and provide key information to support student learning, enabling parents and policymakers to make data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.

Why this matters: Nearly 90% of parents think their children are performing at grade level. But only 47% of Texas students are actually meeting expectations.

Read more here.

lege public education newsletter HS career readiness4. Transforming post-graduation opportunities

To build the skilled and competitive workforce that our state needs as the 8th largest economy in the world, Texas must strengthen the value of our PK-12 education and reimagine what the high school experience can look like.

Why this matters: Just 29% of Texas voters believe that high school students are graduating ready to find a job and succeed in the future economy.

Read more here.

r-pep flyer front5. Improving rural career readiness

New initiatives to better support strong outcomes for rural students and bolster local rural economies are increasingly popular. Lawmakers this session can move to ensure more districts can take part in these efforts.

Why this matters: In one district (Freer ISD), students graduating college, career and military ready jumped 52.9 percentage points from 2017 to 2023; dual credit completion rates rose 39.2 percentage points.

Read more here.

Learn more: How Texas Lege 2025 Can Invest In Rural Students

lege public education newsletter supporting our teachers6. Supporting our teachers

Nearly 3.7 million Texas students attend schools with an approved teacher incentive allotment (TIA) system; early adopters are seeing promising results in student achievement. Lawmakers can act this year to expand this program.

Why this matters: Teachers in TIA districts are 8 percentage points more likely to continue teaching in their district.

Read more here.

Coming Next Week: The Nation’s Report Card

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Every two years, students across the country take the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in reading and mathematics — often called The Nation’s Report Card — with 2024 results due out on Jan. 29.

For a more detailed deep dive into the Nation’s Report Card and what to look for in this year’s data, check out Gabe Grantham’s latest piece on what the numbers could tell us about the state of math education in the Lone Star State.

More: The Nation’s Report Card: What We’re Watching in Texas

Meet our ed policy team! 👋

 

Ed Policy team collage

And read what’s being written about our ed policy work:

Let us know what you think!

Do you think high school grads are ready to enter and succeed in the workforce of the future? If not, we want to hear from you on a solution.

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