Texas
U.S.
Rank
- Opportunity
- Innovation
- Policy Environment
Score:
82%
Grade:
B
Rank:
#9
An open, expansive charter school law has given thousands of kids great opportunities but this enormous state’s reliance on the Texas Education Agency to approve and manage all of its charters reduces the potential for many other institutions to get involved and grow these life-saving opportunities.
Law passed: 1995
Most recently amended: 2019
Number of charter schools: 761
Number of charter students: 316,869
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? Yes. (Details are below).
Virtual charters allowed? Yes
AUTHORIZERS: Local school districts and the State Commissioner of Education are the only authorizers. Additionally, the state commissioner must notify the state board of education of each school he or she intends to authorize, and the board can overturn that decision by majority vote.
There are four types of charter schools allowed in Texas:
Home-rule School District Charters, but there are none.
Campus Program Charters – School districts authorize and oversee these schools.
Open-enrollment Charters – Most charters in Texas fall under this category. The commissioner authorizes these schools.
Junior College Charters – The commissioner also authorizes these schools. Eligible entities include public colleges and universities.
There is no appeals process for any type of school.
GROWTH: Beginning in 2019, there is a cap of 305 new open enrollment charters approved per year. There is no cap on the number of university charter schools allowed. There is also no cap for open-enrollment charter schools primarily serving students with disabilities. Campus charter schools, which are approved by districts, may not collectively enroll more than 15% of the district’s total enrollment during the preceding school year, with some exceptions.
OPERATIONS: Charters in Texas are exempt from many rules and regulations that apply to traditional public schools, but they do not receive a blanket waiver. Additionally, charters are subject to automatic closure rules which do not always take into consideration who Charter Schools serve or their growth.
In 2019, Texas passed legislation that requires the state commissioner of education to use a common application form for admission to an open-enrollment charter school. It also requires the commissioner to create a waiting list of applicants to charter schools and make it publicly available.
EQUITY: The law provides a funding formula for open-enrollment charters but no formula for district-authorized charters. The funding formula is based on the average daily attendance of students. The Foundation School Program (FSP) is the source for the funds. Open-enrollment charters are entitled to funds from the state agency or state commissioner in the form of grants. The state does not provide per pupil facilities funding for charter schools, though it does provide per-pupil funding for charter schools operating pre-k programs, and transportation funding is available but not automatically provided.
The attorney general can approve tax-exempt charter school bonds, outlawing the previous authority held by municipalities, which had the potential to prevent charters from expanding by withholding tax-exempt status.
Score:
Grade:
F
Rank:
#49
There are no choice programs in this state.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#17
Elementary and secondary teacher preparation programs require prospective teachers to pass content knowledge tests; teacher effectiveness is not a factor in licensure advancement or tenure.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 79%
General Teacher Preparation 93%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 89%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 80%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 58%
Alternate Routes 75%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 69%
Hiring 75%
Retaining Effective Teachers 63%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 80%
Teacher and Principal Evaluation
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 72%
Score:
82%
Grade:
B
Rank:
#9
An open, expansive charter school law has given thousands of kids great opportunities but this enormous state’s reliance on the Texas Education Agency to approve and manage all of its charters reduces the potential for many other institutions to get involved and grow these life-saving opportunities.
Law passed: 1995
Most recently amended: 2019
Number of charter schools: 761
Number of charter students: 316,869
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? Yes. (Details are below).
Virtual charters allowed? Yes
AUTHORIZERS: Local school districts and the State Commissioner of Education are the only authorizers. Additionally, the state commissioner must notify the state board of education of each school he or she intends to authorize, and the board can overturn that decision by majority vote.
There are four types of charter schools allowed in Texas:
Home-rule School District Charters, but there are none.
Campus Program Charters – School districts authorize and oversee these schools.
Open-enrollment Charters – Most charters in Texas fall under this category. The commissioner authorizes these schools.
Junior College Charters – The commissioner also authorizes these schools. Eligible entities include public colleges and universities.
There is no appeals process for any type of school.
GROWTH: Beginning in 2019, there is a cap of 305 new open enrollment charters approved per year. There is no cap on the number of university charter schools allowed. There is also no cap for open-enrollment charter schools primarily serving students with disabilities. Campus charter schools, which are approved by districts, may not collectively enroll more than 15% of the district’s total enrollment during the preceding school year, with some exceptions.
OPERATIONS: Charters in Texas are exempt from many rules and regulations that apply to traditional public schools, but they do not receive a blanket waiver. Additionally, charters are subject to automatic closure rules which do not always take into consideration who Charter Schools serve or their growth.
In 2019, Texas passed legislation that requires the state commissioner of education to use a common application form for admission to an open-enrollment charter school. It also requires the commissioner to create a waiting list of applicants to charter schools and make it publicly available.
EQUITY: The law provides a funding formula for open-enrollment charters but no formula for district-authorized charters. The funding formula is based on the average daily attendance of students. The Foundation School Program (FSP) is the source for the funds. Open-enrollment charters are entitled to funds from the state agency or state commissioner in the form of grants. The state does not provide per pupil facilities funding for charter schools, though it does provide per-pupil funding for charter schools operating pre-k programs, and transportation funding is available but not automatically provided.
The attorney general can approve tax-exempt charter school bonds, outlawing the previous authority held by municipalities, which had the potential to prevent charters from expanding by withholding tax-exempt status.
Score:
Grade:
F
Rank:
#49
There are no choice programs in this state.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#17
Elementary and secondary teacher preparation programs require prospective teachers to pass content knowledge tests; teacher effectiveness is not a factor in licensure advancement or tenure.
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 79%
General Teacher Preparation 93%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 89%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 80%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 58%
Alternate Routes 75%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 69%
Hiring 75%
Retaining Effective Teachers 63%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 80%
Teacher and Principal Evaluation
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 72%
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#16
The Texas Education Agency has enacted legislation to accelerate digital learning growth in schools. The Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001 was implemented to encourage and assist school districts with technology literacy and curriculum integration. In 2006, they released the Long Range Plan for Technology. The state also has technology standards for PreK-12 students and teachers.
The Texas Virtual School Network expands educational opportunities for eligible high school students to take online supplemental classes, and open to eligible 3-12 grade students to enroll full-time. The program requires public and charter schools to be in an agreement with TXVSN, so courses are not open to all students in the state. For the 2019-2020 school year, 7 virtual schools were approved to teach full-time.
Harris County Department of Education also offers digital learning support to support classrooms and teachers.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife department has a unique statewide initiative, the TPWDiscover Distance Learning program, where “students can virtually connect with agency experts to learn about the natural and cultural resources found in Texas.” Students can register for an interactive program where they speak directly to the presenter, and have the option to watch the presentation live through a non-interactive class.
Texas’ El Paso Independent School District, Socorro Independent School District, and Stephenville Independent School District are members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, giving over 110,000 students in the state access to digital learning. The League of Innovative Schools is a network of school leaders in 114 districts in 34 states that aim to enhance and scale digital learning opportunities for students across the nation.
Bandwidth: “98.3% of students in Texas can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds. But there is still work to be done. 86,505 students still need more bandwidth for digital learning.”
Texas has enacted legislation to take the lead on personalized learning through their Districts of Innovation Program, which gives districts flexibility to tailor the school to the student, not the student to the school.
Texas responded quickly and efficiently in response to the COVID-19 crisis, guiding districts to be flexible and creative in their plans for remote learning. The state provided resources and information to students, parents, teachers and administrators via a new website and actively worked to ensure all students had access to devices and the internet.
The state has issued guidelines online on reopening for the 2020-21 school year, and continue to update it.
Leaders there have stressed the importance of local school leaders making decisions about their students returning to school. The state has distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to schools for all students as well.
Fast Facts
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#16
The Texas Education Agency has enacted legislation to accelerate digital learning growth in schools. The Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001 was implemented to encourage and assist school districts with technology literacy and curriculum integration. In 2006, they released the Long Range Plan for Technology. The state also has technology standards for PreK-12 students and teachers.
The Texas Virtual School Network expands educational opportunities for eligible high school students to take online supplemental classes, and open to eligible 3-12 grade students to enroll full-time. The program requires public and charter schools to be in an agreement with TXVSN, so courses are not open to all students in the state. For the 2019-2020 school year, 7 virtual schools were approved to teach full-time.
Harris County Department of Education also offers digital learning support to support classrooms and teachers.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife department has a unique statewide initiative, the TPWDiscover Distance Learning program, where “students can virtually connect with agency experts to learn about the natural and cultural resources found in Texas.” Students can register for an interactive program where they speak directly to the presenter, and have the option to watch the presentation live through a non-interactive class.
Texas’ El Paso Independent School District, Socorro Independent School District, and Stephenville Independent School District are members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, giving over 110,000 students in the state access to digital learning. The League of Innovative Schools is a network of school leaders in 114 districts in 34 states that aim to enhance and scale digital learning opportunities for students across the nation.
Bandwidth: “98.3% of students in Texas can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds. But there is still work to be done. 86,505 students still need more bandwidth for digital learning.”
Texas has enacted legislation to take the lead on personalized learning through their Districts of Innovation Program, which gives districts flexibility to tailor the school to the student, not the student to the school.
Texas responded quickly and efficiently in response to the COVID-19 crisis, guiding districts to be flexible and creative in their plans for remote learning. The state provided resources and information to students, parents, teachers and administrators via a new website and actively worked to ensure all students had access to devices and the internet.
The state has issued guidelines online on reopening for the 2020-21 school year, and continue to update it.
Leaders there have stressed the importance of local school leaders making decisions about their students returning to school. The state has distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to schools for all students as well.
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Greg Abbott (R)
First term began in 2015 (no term limit)
Governor Gregg Abbott is a supporter of “maximum parental choice” in education. But the state’s repeated inability to adopt programs that give parents options suggest that perhaps there’s not enough fire in his belly to pressure lawmakers. Under Gov. Abbott’s leadership the state is publishing individual school report cards to inform parents and digital schooling for students in rural areas. He has handled the COVID crisis well for Texas students and their families.
A legislature in the hands of pro parent legislators that don’t necessarily kow-tow to unions, but still seem very happy to placate school boards and the status quo. The enormous success of educational opportunity efforts in places like San Antonio and Houston should be enough for them to want to bring new Choice programs to all Texas families.
“The few interpretations of Texas’ Blaine Amendments and its Compelled Support Clause that exist do not prohibit providing aid to parents to enable them to select public or private schools for their children.” (Institute for Justice) However, the state constitution is interpreted to restrict use of specifically allocated school funds for the purposes of educational options.
Report cards can be found easily from the Texas Education Agency homepage by clicking Reports and Data, then School Performance. School report cards are formatted into PDFs, making it easy for parents to print but report cards have very little text; data on demographics, class size, finances, and student performance are in tables, making comparisons difficult.
Educational options are accessible on the homepage as well, information and resources on charter schools are available under the Texas Schools tab.
School board elections are during the general election cycle, which gives parents more power in their decision making because of higher voter turnout.
Greg Abbott (R)
First term began in 2015 (no term limit)
Governor Gregg Abbott is a supporter of “maximum parental choice” in education. But the state’s repeated inability to adopt programs that give parents options suggest that perhaps there’s not enough fire in his belly to pressure lawmakers. Under Gov. Abbott’s leadership the state is publishing individual school report cards to inform parents and digital schooling for students in rural areas. He has handled the COVID crisis well for Texas students and their families.
A legislature in the hands of pro parent legislators that don’t necessarily kow-tow to unions, but still seem very happy to placate school boards and the status quo. The enormous success of educational opportunity efforts in places like San Antonio and Houston should be enough for them to want to bring new Choice programs to all Texas families.
“The few interpretations of Texas’ Blaine Amendments and its Compelled Support Clause that exist do not prohibit providing aid to parents to enable them to select public or private schools for their children.” (Institute for Justice) However, the state constitution is interpreted to restrict use of specifically allocated school funds for the purposes of educational options.
Report cards can be found easily from the Texas Education Agency homepage by clicking Reports and Data, then School Performance. School report cards are formatted into PDFs, making it easy for parents to print but report cards have very little text; data on demographics, class size, finances, and student performance are in tables, making comparisons difficult.
Educational options are accessible on the homepage as well, information and resources on charter schools are available under the Texas Schools tab.
School board elections are during the general election cycle, which gives parents more power in their decision making because of higher voter turnout.