For more than 20 years, Fort Worth Republican Pat Hardy has been a reliably conservative voice on the State Board of Education. Hardy has fought for Moses to be included in social studies standards, advocated for presenting creationism alongside evolution in science textbooks and said she was an early voice to call for the banning of critical race theory from the state’s public schools.  But in 2024, Hardy is not conservative enough for Republican voters: She lost her primary election earlier this month against Brandon Hall, a former youth pastor who has pitched himself as a fighter for Christian conservative values.  In addition to Hardy’s outright loss, two other Republicans on the board — Pam Little and Tom Maynard — were forced into runoff elections against opponents pitching themselves as stronger conservatives. All three challengers received heavy financial support from Texans for Educational Freedom, a right-wing advocacy group that cut its teeth trying to sway local school board elections but has turned its attention to overhauling the state board, spending more than $300,000 this year. view article

The next opportunity for the board to review the course will not happen until its meeting in June. The Texas State Board of Education once again will delay voting on whether to approve an American Indian/Native Studies class, to the disappointment of supporters who have championed the material since 2020. The course was not on the SBOE’s agenda for its meetings next week. Advocates of the course hoped the curriculum would be addressed this month so that the material could be approved and ready for statewide adoption in the 2024-25 school year. The next opportunity for the board to review the course will not happen until its meeting in June, which would be too late for most schools to add the class this fall. “This is the process that the state is supposed to follow when ethnic studies courses are brought forward,” said Eliza Epstein, co-facilitator of the Ethnic Studies for Texas Schools Coalition, which is advocating for the course’s adoption. “I don't think anyone's demanding that the course just be approved. They're asking for the course process to happen.” view article

AUSTIN, Texas – April 1, 2024 – The State Board of Education (SBOE) today announced the official launch of its brand-new website, https://sboe.texas.gov/, designed to provide the public with easy access to valuable resources and information related to the SBOE’s roles and responsibilities. The SBOE’s new website serves as a comprehensive landing point for educators, parents, policymakers, and community members to stay informed about board action related to Texas education policies, rules, regulations, and curriculum updates. Information and updates solely related to actions of the State Board of Education can be found on the new website. Rules information, proposed rules and rules comment features can still be found at State Board of Education Rules – Texas Administrative Code. The rules comment feature can also be accessed via the SBOE website under Related Content. The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) is a compilation of all Texas state agency rules published by the Office of the Secretary of State. The State Board of Education (SBOE) and commissioner of education rules listed below are codified in the TAC under Title 19, Education, Part 2, Texas Education Agency. view article

The grassroots surge in the Republican primary also hit the State Board of Education races on March 5.  One challenger knocked off an incumbent in the March 5 Republican primary for the State Board of Education, while two others forced their opponents into runoffs.  Data from the Texas Secretary of State’s website showed youth pastor Brandon Hall beat retired educator Patricia Hardy in District 11 by around six percentage points—53.24 percent to 46.76 percent.  Hardy has been a member of the SBOE from the Fort Worth-area district for over 20 years. view article

The results of Tuesday’s primary elections could foreshadow a further push to the right for the body that sets the state's educational standards.   A 20-year Republican member of the State Board of Education lost her party’s nomination to a challenger who promises to fight for Christian conservative values and two other Republican incumbents are headed into a runoff, potentially foreshadowing a continued shift to the right for the body that sets the state’s educational standards.  Pat Hardy, a former teacher and a veteran representing District 11, which covers parts of Fort Worth, lost her seat to challenger Brandon Hall, a youth pastor.  “Unfortunately, today, young Texas students have a broken public education system that's ranked near last in the nation,” Hall said on his Facebook page three days before Election Night, promising to be the first line of defense against these issues. “They also face an onslaught against their innocence from [critical race theory], obscene library books, and sexualized agenda.” view article

Three Republican members of the State Board of Education are facing well-funded primary election challenges by opponents with ultraconservative ideologies, setting the stage for a possible tilt farther to the right for the 15-member state panel that sets education standards.  The outcome of the March 5 primary races – and ultimately the general election in November – could place a hard-line conservative majority on the Republicandominated board, which sets curriculum for schools in Texas. view article

A group of Round Rock students have set out on a mission to alleviate the struggles of people experiencing homelessness by providing food and anything else they may need. Initially formed in 2022 to send relief kits to Ukraine, Project Red shifted its mission to helping local families experiencing homelessness because the cost for aiding those in the war-torn country proved to be too much for the small group, said co-founder and high school junior Andrew Vu. What began with just a handful of members has grown to over 100 volunteers who help not only families in Round Rock, but also in Austin. view article

As Central Texas voters prepare for the March 5 primaries, they may notice something a bit unusual about a local State Board of Education race: one candidate's name appears on both the Republican and Democratic primary election ballots. D.C. Caldwell is a local educator running to represent District 10 on the State Board of Education. He's branded himself a "fusion" candidate, seeking the nominations of the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Green parties. view article

Texas may change how your child understands biology when taught in a public high school classroom. The Texas' Board of Education tentatively approved changes to portions of the states Biology curriculum. Instead of asking Texas public school students to “evaluate” scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and the complexity of certain cells, the state will now ask that the students "examine" the scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and complexity of certain cells. In the past, some educators have argued that the word "evaluate" encouraged students to challenge the scientific theory of evolution and opened the door to teaching creationism. view article

The Georgetown Board of Trustees has hired Fred Brent as the district's newest superintendent. view article