The State Board of Education (SBOE) aired stinging criticism of Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff in its approval of the latest rulemaking from the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) regarding edTPA. 

The board voted 8-6 in its Friday meeting to approve a rule that would remove the pilot status of the edTPA performance assessment that the agency intends to eventually replace the pedagogy and professional responsibilities (PPR) licensure exam. The latest rule would maintain PPR as a certification option. 

Committee Chairman Will Hickman (R–Houston) began the discussion by laying out the reasoning behind the board’s 13-0 vote in 2022 to veto edTPA as a replacement for the PPR.  

Specifically, Hickman noted a preference for utilizing edTPA as a programmatic component as opposed to a licensure exam, as well as the desire for a Texas-developed alternative performance assessment and procedural complaints related to how the edTPA rulemaking has been conducted. 

Hickman stated categorically that he would veto any attempt to remove the PPR without having any Texas-developed performance assessment as an alternative.  

Hickman notably criticized the agency’s failure to award a contract for a Texas model despite receiving a viable submission from Sam Houston State University (SHSU). The agenda did not provide SHSU with feedback regarding any deficiencies in the application until after Thursday’s hearing in which the Committee on School Initiatives questioned the opaque process. Hickman noted that the timing of the disclosure was “problematic.”  

SBOE member Tom Maynard (R–Florence) criticized a flawed process that he characterized as seemingly engineered to arrive at a preconceived outcome. Other members echoed the sentiment that those developing a Texas alternative had not been given a fair shot.  

“It needs to be an honest chance,” Keven Ellis (R–Lufkin) said. “It needs to be transparent. It needs to be sincere.” 

Members voiced robust concerns over edTPA in general and chastised the agency for deliberately lumping the controversial edTPA rule change into broader rulemaking establishing the framework for a residency certification pathway. 

In a separate 6-4 vote, the board tepidly approved regulatory changes proposed by SBEC to implement legislation passed in 2023 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston) that waived the requirement for school counselors to have classroom experience. ATPE opposed this bill at the time and explained the importance of classroom experience in preparing candidates for the job of school counselor. 

Several board members expressed similar concerns Friday along with dismay over being placed in the position of having to vote to approve a policy change they believe will lead to negative results for students. Neither SBEC nor the SBOE have the ability to override laws passed by the Legislature. 

Hickman suggested to agency staff that SBEC might consider additional requirements that would ensure some degree of school experience in a way that complies with the Middleton bill. Agency staff responded that such considerations are currently being explored. 

Board members separately discussed the recent announcement by Chairman Aaron Kinsey (R–Midland) that the Permanent School Fund (PSF) Corporation had made the decision to divest $8.5 billion under management by BlackRock over accusations the investment firm engages in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing.  

The Texas Legislature banned state trust funds from investing with organizations deemed to be engaged in ESG practices. Several board members echoed public testimony Friday morning accusing the SBOE’s five voting members on the PSF Corporation of putting politics over their fiduciary responsibilities. 

The PSF Corporation oversees $50 billion in assets that provide roughly $2 billion per year in funding for public schools. The corporation includes the five members of the SBOE Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund. Maynard, the committee chairman, characterized the decision as a simple asset reallocation that was not influenced by politics.