Decisions made by state-level officials have a profound impact on the quality of education the state provides to its students. Key policies involve how education is funded, the curriculum teachers use, the types of instructional programs schools must offer and much more. Many policies and practices have led to inequitable educational opportunities for students.
Decisions made by state-level officials have a profound impact on the quality of education the state provides to its students. Key policies involve how education is funded, the curriculum teachers use, the types of instructional programs schools must offer and much more. Many policies and practices have led to inequitable educational opportunities for students. Since its founding almost 50 years ago, IDRA has provided analysis and guidance to policymakers nationally while engaging with communities, educators and students on policy issues to ensure all students have access to equitable and excellent education.
Learn more about IDRA’s policy recommendations for Texas (& Español).
See our policy priorities for Texas’ Third Special Session.
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Resources
Texas Education Policy Updates 2023
November 8, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Alert: The Texas Legislature and Texas Education Agency Need to Hear from You! (English) • (Español)
October 16, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Alert: Third Special Session Called!
May 27, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Alert: Don’t Fall for the Illusion of School Safety, Oppose HB 3!
May 26, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Alert: Don’t Take the Bait, Oppose School Vouchers! (English) • (Español)
May 23, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of May 23, 2023 (English) • (Español)
May 12, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Alert: Say No to Vouchers Video Campaign
May 9, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Alert: Call Now to Stop Vouchers in Texas! (English) • (Español)
May 7, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of May 8, 2023 (English) • (Español)
May 1, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of May 1, 2023 (English) • (Español)
April 24, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 24, 2023 (English) • (Español)
April 17, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 17, 2023 (English) • (Español)
April 10, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 10, 2023 (English)
April 3, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 3, 2023 (English) • (Español)
March 27, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of March 27, 2023 (English) • (Español)
March 20, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of March 20, 2023 (English) • (Español)
March 13, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of February 13, 2023 (English)
March 7, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of March 7, 2023 (English) • (Español)
February 27, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of Feb 27, 2023 (English) • (Español)
February 22, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of Feb 21, 2023 (English) • (Español)
February 13, 2023 – Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of Feb 13, 2023 (English) • (Español)
Changing Policy
Joint Statement: Opening Arguments Delivered in Federal Appeals Case Challenging Constitutionality of Texas’ Book Rating Law, November 29, 2023
Adopting District of Innovation Status Would Harm Houston ISD Students and Teachers – TLEEC Letter Submitted to Houston Independent School District’s District Advisory Committee, November 14, 2023
Texas Should Eliminate Harmful Hardening and Policing Mandates and Invest in Safe and Supportive Schools – IDRA Testimony on HB 2, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Educational Enrichment and Opportunity, November 10, 2023
Enrich Students’ Education Through Public School Investments – IDRA Testimony against HB 1, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Educational Enrichment and Opportunity, November 9, 2023
Education Savings Accounts Reduce Opportunities for Equitable Education for Texas Students – IDRA Testimony against SB 1, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, October 10, 2023
SB 1 Poses a Threat to Public Education in Texas and to Our Most Vulnerable Students – TLEEC Testimony Against SB 1, submitted by Rebekah Skelton to the Texas Senate Education Committee, October 10, 2023
IDRA Quality Schools Action Framework Provides a Guide to Achieve Equal Educational Opportunity for All Students – IDRA comments on Equal Educational Opportunity, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment, July 3, 2023
New Policy Brief: Keep Public Funds in Texas Public Schools – Reject Harmful Private School Voucher Programs Invest In Public Education, Public Funds Public Schools, May 2023
Identity-based Bullying in Texas Schools – Policy Recommendations – IDRA Issue Brief, by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., & Makiah Lyons, April 2023
Hitting Hurts – The Case for Ending Corporal Punishment in Texas – IDRA Issue Brief, by Morgan Craven, J.D., April 2023
A Black Student-Centered Policy Agenda, IDRA 2023
How Texas Schools Are Funded – And Why that Matters to Collective Success – Issue Brief, By Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., August 2022
Video gallery: Student Testimony Against Classroom Censorship
Video gallery: Student Testimony Against Transgender Sports Exclusion Bills
Video gallery: IDRA Education Advocacy and Testimony
A note from Celina: Amplifying Texas’ People Power in a Legislative Session Marked by Harmful Policies, June 2, 2021
HB 3979 Conflicts with Established TEKS and Proven Effective Teaching Strategies, – IDRA Analysis, May 3, 2021
TEA Announces Release of $11.2 billion in Federal Relief for Schools, April 28, 2021
Texas Education Advocacy Video Gallery
IDRA’s Priority Bills for Education in Texas – Community Voices Matter (English) • (Español), March 18, 2021
Fair Funding for Strong Public School Education – IDRA Texas Priority Brief
Breaking the School-to-Prison and School-to-Deportation Pipelines – IDRA Texas Priority Brief
Grow and Sustain School District Health – IDRA Texas Priority Brief
Keep the Public in Public Education – IDRA Texas Priority Brief
Excellent Education for English Learners – IDRA Texas Priority Brief
College Preparation and Access that Expands Opportunities – IDRA Texas Priority Brief
A Comprehensive Equity Approach to Addressing COVID-19’s Impact on Schools – Policy Recommendations
• Policy Comments and Testimony in 2023
New HQIM Rubrics Must Assess Materials to be Affirming, Relevant and Bilingual to Reflect Students’ Diverse Backgrounds – IDRA Testimony on HB 1605 Implementation, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas State Board of Education, August 29, 2023
Texans Want Public Funds Kept in Public Schools – IDRA Testimony on HB 100 (Voucher), submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, May 22, 2023
Revisions to Texas Civics Education are Redundant, Contradictory and Confusing – IDRA Testimony on HB 2273, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, May 18, 2023
Texas Emergent Bilingual Students Should Have Quality Programs and Certified Teachers – IDRA Testimony on SB 2497, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, May 16, 2023
Texas Must Prioritize Evidence-Based Practices to Create Safe and Supportive Schools – IDRA Testimony On Senate Bill 11, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Senate Education Committee, May 11, 2023
HB 900 Promotes Book Bans and Undermines Students’ Constitutional Right to Access Ideas – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 900, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Senate Education Committee, May 10, 2023
Joint Testimony Against SB 9, submitted by IDRA, Texas Center for Justice and Equity, and Texas Appleseed to the Texas House Education Committee, May 9, 2023
Ethnic Studies Courses Improve Student Outcomes – IDRA Testimony for HB 45, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Public Education Committee, May 9, 2023
Texas’ Crown Act Opens Doors for a Better Texas – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 567, submitted by Alisha Tuff to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, May 8, 2023
Prohibiting College DEI Programs Would Particularly Impact Marginalized K-12 Students – IDRA Testimony Against SB 17, submitted by Steve Kemgang to the Texas House Higher Education Committee, May 8, 2023
Texas Must Prioritize Evidence-Based Practices to Create Safe and Supportive Schools – IDRA Testimony On Senate Bill 11, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the House Public Education Committee, April 25, 2023
Texas Has Alternatives to Recapture Discounts to Keep Equitable Funding in Schools – IDRA Testimony against HB 3028, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, April 20, 2023
HB 2615 Would Disproportionally Target Marginalized Students to Pursue Vocational Education Pathways – IDRA Testimony against House Bill 2615, submitted by Steve Kemgang to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 20, 2023 – See video
Censored Restrictions on Instructional Materials Lead to Classroom Censorship, Discrimination and Compromise Students’ Education – IDRA Testimony against HB 1804, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 20, 2023
Keep Academic Rigor for College Preparation by Rejecting HB 2615 – Joint testimony against HB 2615 submitted to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 20, 2023
Expanding the Bilingual Certified Teacher Workforce Can Extend Secondary Dual Language Programs – IDRA Testimony for HB 3303, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 18, 2023 – See video
Texas Must Prohibit and Prevent Identity-based Bullying in Schools – IDRA Testimony for HB 4625, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Committee on Youth Health and Safety, April 17, 2023 – See video
Understanding Discipline Policies and Practices is Key to Strengthening School Safety and Student Success – IDRA Testimony for HB 4449, submitted by Alisha Tuff to the Texas House Committee on Youth Health and Safety, April 17, 2023 – See video
Joint letter against HB 2729 that would roll back multi-year efforts to increase pre-k quality, April 14, 2023
Joint testimony for SB 1887 to support college access, submitted to the Texas Senate Higher Education Subcommittee, April 13, 2023
Joint Testimony in Opposition to SB 245, Submitted by IDRA, Texas Center for Justice and Equity, and Texas Appleseed Against SB 245, to the House Committee on Public Health, April 12, 2023 – See video
Education Savings Accounts Contradict Steps to Improve Texas Special Education – IDRA Testimony against SB 1474, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, April 12, 2023
Texas Emergent Bilingual Students Should Have Quality Programs and Certified Teachers – IDRA Testimony on SB 2497, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, April 12, 2023
Private School Voucher Programs Disempower Parents – IDRA Testimony against HB 4807, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 11, 2023 – See video
Education Savings Accounts Should Not Come at the Cost of Improvements to Texas Special Education – IDRA Testimony against HB 3781, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 11, 2023
HB 3917 Provides Positive Framework for Students, Families and Schools to Address Chronic Absenteeism – Comments in Support of House Bill 3917, submitted to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, April 10, 2023, by IDRA, Texas Appleseed, Texas Center for Justice and Equity, ACLU Texas, and National Association of Social Workers Texas
Reject Harmful Responses to Chronic Absenteeism, Such as Fines and Criminalization – Comments in Opposition to House Bill 3931 and House Bill 2725, submitted to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, April 10, 2023, by IDRA, Texas Appleseed, Texas Center for Justice and Equity, ACLU Texas, and National Association of Social Workers Texas – See video
Texas Doesn’t Have to Give a Discount to Reduce Recapture and Keep Equitable Funding in Schools – IDRA Testimony against SB 2088, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, April 5, 2023
Joint letter in support of the Texas House budget amendment to prohibit state funding for vouchers, April 5, 2023
School Takeovers and Punishing Truancy Do Not Make Our Schools More Safe – IDRA Testimony Against Senate Bill 11, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Senate Education Committee, April 5, 2023
Hitting Hurts – It is Time to End Corporal Punishment in Texas Schools – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 772, submitted by Morgan Craven, J.D., to the Texas House Committee on Youth Health and Safety, April 3, 2023 – See video
Robust Program Monitoring and Training Strengthens Quality Bilingual Education in Texas Schools – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 2164, submitted by Lizdelia Piñón, Ed.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 4, 2023 – See video
Greater Investments and Targeted Supports Make Texas Public Schools Better for All Students – IDRA Testimony on HB 100, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., and Diana Long, to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 4, 2023
High School Pathways for Bilingual Education Teachers Meets State Educational and Workforce Goals – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 2168, submitted by Lizdelia Piñón, Ed.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 4, 2023 – See video
Transparency of School Discipline Data and Policies Benefits Students and Families – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 2126, submitted by Alisha Tuff to the Texas House Youth Health and Safety Committee, April 3, 2023
School Libraries Must Be Reflective and Inclusive of All Students – IDRA Testimony against SB 13, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 29, 2023 – See video
Incentives for Instructional Materials that Enforce Classroom Censorship Compromise Student Education – IDRA Testimony against SB 2565, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 29, 2023
Texas Should Prioritize Supporting Students and Educators, Not Expanding School Police and Guardians – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 13, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, March 27, 2023 – See video
Joint letter against HB 2890 that would make it more difficult for the SBOE to veto the recommendations from the commissioner to expand charter schools, March 27, 2023
Public Schools are for All Students and All Families – IDRA Testimony HB 1507, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 28, 2023
HB 3 Offers an Illusion of Safety but Fails to Invest in Real Solutions for Safe and Supportive Schools – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 3, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, March 27, 2023 – See video
Parents Are Disempowered by Private School Voucher Programs – IDRA Testimony against SB 176, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 22, 2023 – See video
Texas’ CROWN Act Gives Every Texan a Fair Chance to Succeed Without Identity-Based Hair Discrimination – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 567, submitted by Alisha Tuff to the Texas House Committee of State Affairs, March 22, 2023 – See video
Children Need Education and Support, Not Zero Tolerance Discipline – IDRA Testimony against SB 9, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D. to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 22, 2023
SB 2539 Establishes a Pathway to Increase Disadvantaged Students’ Dual Credit Enrolment and Expand their Access to Opportunities in Higher Education – IDRA Testimony for Senate Bill 2539, submitted by Steve Kemgang to the Texas Senate Committee on Education Subcommittee on Higher Education, March 23, 2023
Education Savings Accounts Are Inefficient, Ineffective and Unaccountable to Texas Students – IDRA Testimony against SB 8, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 22, 2023 – See video
Banning Books Makes Schools Less Welcoming for Students to Learn – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 900, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 21, 2023
Incentives for Instructional Materials that Enforce Classroom Censorship Compromise Students’ Education – IDRA Testimony against HB 1605, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D. to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 21, 2023 – See video
HB 8 Establishes a Pathway to Increase Disadvantaged Students’ Dual Credit Enrolment and Expand their Access to Opportunities in Higher Education – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 8, submitted by Steve Kemgang to the Texas House Higher Education Committee, March 20, 2023 – See video
Disconnection, Punishment, and Isolation Hurt Children and Make Our Communities Less Safe – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 655, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, March 20, 2023 – See video
HB 459 Restricts the Use of Harmful Restraints by Police in Schools – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 459, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, March 20, 2023 – See video
Eliminate the Use of Harmful Restraints in Schools – IDRA Testimony for Senate Bill 133, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education, March 8, 2023 – See video
Texas’ Forthcoming Bilingual Special Education Certificate Should Require Specific Skills for Teachers of Dually-identified Students, IDRA Testimony for the proposed Bilingual Special Education Educator Standards, submitted by Lizdelia Piñón, Ed.D., to the Texas State Board for Educator Certification February 10, 2023
• Policy Comments and Testimony in 2022
See policy comments and testimony in 2022
• Policy Comments and Testimony in 2021
See comments and testimony during the 2021 legislative sessions
Engaging Communities
IDRA partnered with other civil rights and educational equity organizations to demand that school districts immediately stop their anti-LGBTQ+ activities and policies.
- Keller ISD, August 10, 2023
- Keller ISD, November 21, 2022
- Frisco ISD, November 21, 2022
IDRA partnered with other civil rights and educational equity organizations to demand that school districts immediately return the books they had removed from its school library shelves. Most of the books focus on histories of racism and discrimination and the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.
- Keller ISD (41 books), August 18, 2022
- Katy ISD (118 books), April 20, 2022
- North East ISD (414 books), April 20, 2022
- Klein ISD (67 books), April 20, 2022
- Granbury ISD (125 books), February 28, 2022
Learn about Texas Classroom Censorship Laws
HB 3979 & SB3 limit speech and engagement in Texas classrooms! webpage with link to videos
Organizations Opposing Texas HB 3979, May 10, 2021
Historians, parents say Texas bill limiting instruction about race and current events hurt, by Gabriela Vidal, CBS Austin, May 21, 2021
Historians decry Texas bill that would restrict school lessons on race, racism, by Jeremy Blackman, Brittany Britto, Staff writers, San Antonio Express-News, May 21, 2021
Critical Race Theory Ban in Classrooms Approved by Senate Committee, Stripped of Democrat Changes, by Isiah Mitchell, The Texan, May 20, 2021
What new laws will impact Texas students? Experts weigh in on what to watch as legislators wrap up work, Emily Donaldson, Dallas Morning News, May 19, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of May 24, 2021 (English) • (Español), May 24, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of May 10, 2021 (English) • (Español), May 10, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of May 3, 2021 (English) • (Español), May 3, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 26, 2021 (English) • (Español), April 26, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 19, 2021 (English) • (Español), April 19, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 12, 2021 (English) • (Español), April 12, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of April 5, 2021 (English) • (Español), April 7, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of March 29, 2021 (English) • (Español), March 29, 2021
Texas Education Policy Update – Advocacy News – Week of March 22, 2021 (English) • (Español), March 22, 2021
Joint Letter to Public Education Committee opposing House Bill 759, March 16, 2021
Ensuring a Safe, Transparent, Participatory and Robust Legislative Session – Letter from 72 Texas Groups, December 9, 2020
Texas Education CAFE Advocacy Network
Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition (TLEEC)
Communicating Effectively
Knowledge is Power is IDRA’s national resource for educators and advocates to help you do your work for equity and excellence in education in the midst of classroom censorship policies.
Students Tell Texas Attorney General that Racial Discrimination in School is Real – IDRA Applauds Students Speaking Out Against Texas’ New Classroom Censorship Law (Español), September 29, 2021
88 public school students described their experiences with racial discrimination in school
