Educators have a lot at stake in this election

The U.S. Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico might be grabbing the headlines and garnering the attention here in Texas, but it’s not the race that matters most when it comes to Texas public education policy.

It’s the winners of local and state races that will set the policy affecting your classroom.

Start with the governor’s race. The governor appoints the commissioner of education, an office held for the past decade by Mike Morath. The commissioner, through his leadership of the Texas Education Agency, implements state law, directs the creation and operation of state education initiatives, and administers the oversight and accountability of local school systems. Some of the many projects under the purview of this gubernatorial appointee include the creation and implementation of Bluebonnet Learning materials, oversight of state testing and accountability systems, hiring and managing the staff who pursue claims of educator misconduct, deciding which school districts will be taken over by the state,  and approving new charter schools.

Additionally, the governor appoints members of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), which oversees educator certification and serves as the state-level judicial body for educator discipline. The governor also appoints members of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees and ad hoc policy groups such as the Texas Classroom Commission. The governor also sets major legislative policy goals, including determining emergency agenda items the Legislature may act on as soon as the session begins, and controls through veto authority which pieces of legislation become law or are funded.

The lieutenant governor also has enormous influence over education policy. As the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, the lieutenant governor appoints Senate committee chairs, chooses senators’ committee assignments, and determines which bills make it to the Senate floor. The current lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, has become the most powerful in state history. No piece of legislation makes it to the governor’s desk without Patrick’s approval. That power determines whether legislation affecting school funding, teacher pay, curriculum, accountability, or vouchers advances or stalls, and often bills look quite different coming out of the Senate than they did when they passed the House.

The Texas comptroller oversees the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (voucher) program, including administering the program and managing the public funds used for eligible private school expenses. The current comptroller has called for expanding voucher funding from $1 billion to $4.4 billion.

The Texas attorney general can protect educator and student rights or choose to prosecute teachers and local school leaders.

Texas House members and state senators vote on the legislation that determines what standardized test your students will take, whether you will get a pay raise, whether your pay will be based solely on merit, and even what hangs on the walls of your classroom.

Educators bring an important perspective to the ballot box, one that most voters do not see. You see firsthand how state policies affect students, families, and public schools. 

When educators show up and make their voices heard at the ballot box—and when they educate their communities on the importance of electing pro-education policymakers—they help shape what lawmakers focus on when they get to the Capitol. However, you must be present to win. Go vote if you have not yet done so, and make sure your friends and family do, too.