School & District Management

Texas Board Feud Stirs Up Legislators

By Sean Cavanagh — April 28, 2009 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The Texas state board of education drew worldwide attention recently when its members tussled over the theory of evolution’s place in the school curriculum.

Now, some Texas lawmakers are convinced that those decisions should be left to somebody else.

Fed up with the controversy brought on by the board’s debates over divisive issues like the teaching of evolution, a bipartisan group of state legislators has proposed stripping the 15-member board of its decision making power over curriculum and textbooks.

If they have their way, it will mark a major change for school publishing—not just in Texas, but nationwide. The Texas board wields considerable power because publishers recognize the state’s large share of the market and cater to its demands.

The board’s influence helps explain the interest in its prolonged debate over revision of state science standards. The new document, approved last month, removed language calling for students to learn the “strengths and weaknesses” of scientific theories, including evolution, which pleased scientists, though they had a more mixed reaction to other sections. (“Retooled Texas Standards Raise Unease Among Science Groups,” April 8, 2009.)

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ken Seliger, a Republican from Amarillo, would remove the board’s authority to approve textbooks and curriculum and hand it to the state education commissioner, currently Robert Scott. The commissioner would make decisions based on the recommendations of teams of subject-matter experts—appointed by him.

The bill was heard in the Senate education committee on April 14, though that panel had not voted on it as of press time last week. The measure has yet to be considered by the full House or Senate.

Jeremy Warren, a spokesman for Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat who is also a sponsor of the bill, said legislators from both parties believe the board has strayed from its core mission.

The board’s meetings have “degenerated into political and theological discussions that have nothing to do with schools,” Mr. Warren said. “Senator Ellis believes it’s time for the Texas legislature to step in and perform its oversight role.”

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the April 29, 2009 edition of Education Week

Events

School Climate & Safety K-12 Essentials Forum Strengthen Students’ Connections to School
Join this free event to learn how schools are creating the space for students to form strong bonds with each other and trusted adults.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
IT Infrastructure & Management Webinar
Future-Proofing Your School's Tech Ecosystem: Strategies for Asset Tracking, Sustainability, and Budget Optimization
Gain actionable insights into effective asset management, budget optimization, and sustainable IT practices.
Content provided by Follett Learning
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Budget & Finance Webinar
Innovative Funding Models: A Deep Dive into Public-Private Partnerships
Discover how innovative funding models drive educational projects forward. Join us for insights into effective PPP implementation.
Content provided by Follett Learning

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About the School District Technology Leader?
The tech director at school districts is a key player when it comes to purchasing. Test your knowledge of this key buyer persona and see how your results stack up with your peers.
School & District Management Deepfakes Expose Public School Employees to New Threats
The only protection for school leaders is a healthy dose of skepticism.
7 min read
Signage is shown outside on the grounds of Pikesville High School, May 2, 2012, in Baltimore County, Md. The most recent criminal case involving artificial intelligence emerged in late April 2024, from the Maryland high school, where police say a principal was framed as racist by a fake recording of his voice.
Police say a principal was framed making racist remarks through a fake recording of his voice at Pikesville High School, a troubling new use of AI that could affect more educators. A sign announces the entrance to the Baltimore County, Md., school on May 2, 2012.
Lloyd Fox/The Baltimore Sun via AP
School & District Management Opinion 8 Steps to Revolutionize Education
Artificial intelligence is just one of the ways that educators can create a system "breakthrough," explains Michael Fullan.
Michael Fullan
4 min read
Screen Shot 2024 04 28 at 6.15.30 AM
Canva
School & District Management Israel-Hamas War Poses Tough Questions for K-12 Leaders, Too
High school students have joined walkouts, while charges of antisemitism in three districts will be the focus of a House hearing this week.
9 min read
Officers with the New York Police Department raid the encampment by pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, in New York. The protesters had seized the administration building, known as Hamilton Hall, more than 20 hours earlier in a major escalation as demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war spread on college campuses nationwide.
New York City police officers raid the encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University on April 30, 2024. Although not as turbulent as what is happening on many college campuses, K-12 schools in some pockets of the country are also contending with conflict stemming from the Israel-Hamas war.
Marco Postigo Storel via AP