Meeting Dates - April 3-5, 2019 - Agenda

For 153 years, the State Board of Education has been entrusted with managing the financial investments of the Permanent School Fund, the constitutionally prescribed, perpetual educational fund to support Texas public schools. With a market value of $44 billion, the PSF is the largest educational endowment in the country. Of that total value, $10 billion of land, mineral rights and certain real asset investments are managed by the School Land Board. The remaining $34 billion in financial investments is managed by the elected SBOE and is the subject of my comments. view article

Seven State Board of Education members begin new term

January 3008:40 AM

 

Sen. Larry Taylor, chair of the Senate Education Committee, today administered the oath of office to seven State Board of Education members who are beginning four-year terms of office.  Returning members, who were re-elected in November, are Brownsville businessman Ruben Cortez, Jr.; San Antonio education administrator Marisa Perez-Diaz; Houston educator Lawrence Allen, Jr.; and retired Fort Worth educator Pat Hardy.  Members joining the board for the first time are Friendswood urologist Matt Robinson; Fairview businesswoman Pam Little; and Dallas educator Aicha Davis.  About half of the board is elected each general election cycle. view article

As new Texas State Board of Education members were sworn in today for their first meeting this year, SBOE member Ruben Cortez took a strong stand for public schools by moving to amend board operating rules to allow its School Initiatives Committee to review charter school expansion amendments, which is the predominant way new charter campuses are opened. Currently, the appointed commissioner of education is the sole authorizer of new charter campuses. The commissioner approved 400 new charter campuses in the last six years alone. Cortez cited a letter from the Texas Association of School Administrators expressing concern over the rapid proliferation of charter campuses, which currently requires no public input or board oversight. view article

Greg Alvord of Aubrey announced his intention to run as a Democrat for the District 14 seat on the Texas State Board of Education in 2020. District 14 covers Denton County as well as 20 other counties in North and Central Texas, including Wise, Ellis, Johnson and Jack counties. 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