Education Policy in Texas

- Fiscal Size-Up.

What is Public Education? 

Public education is the largest function of Texas state government, receiving 42.0 percent of all General Revenue Funds appropriations. The largest public education agency, the Texas Education Agency, is responsible for supporting and distributing funding to school districts and charter schools throughout the state. The public education system serves approximately 5.5 million students enrolled in 8,084 campuses, located in 1,022 districts and 782 charter school campuses. The public education function also includes the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Texas School for the Deaf. Although the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) include higher education functions, they are considered public education entities for the purpose of the General Appropriations Act.

Executive Departments

Public Education

- Texas Education Agency: To oversee the primary and secondary public education system in Texas through the distribution of state and federal funding, administration of statewide assessment and accountability systems, support of curriculum development and textbook adoption, administration of a public school data collection system, and supervision of compliance with state and federal regulations.

- School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: : Serve as a leading center of expertise and support, working in partnership with schools, families, and organizations to improve educational outcomes for students that are blind or visually impaired, including those with deaf-blindness or additional disabilities. Provide full-time classroom and residential programs during the school year for students whose needs cannot be met at local school districts.

- School for the Deaf: Provide direct educational services to students ages 0 to 22 years, including residential programs, and serve as a statewide educational resource center on deafness by providing a variety of outreach services to deaf students, their families, school districts, and professionals involved in deaf education. 

Public Higher Education

- General Academic Institutions: : The general academic institutions in Texas consist of 37 public colleges and universities that provide baccalaureate, masters, professional, and doctoral degree programs. Although all general academic institutions have common goals (instruction, research, and public service), each has a unique set of academic offerings and a unique regional or statewide mission.

: Health-related institutions: (1) educate future health professionals and scientists; (2) engage in basic and applied research; (3) provide compassionate, scientifically based clinical care for the sick; and (4) develop public and community health programs.

- Texas A&M Service Agencies

- Higher Education Coordinating Board: Coordinate Texas higher education and administer various student financial aid, federal grant, and state-funded trusteed programs. Th e agency establishes a master plan for higher education in Texas; prescribes the role and mission of public higher education institutions; reviews university academic programs, academic and vocational technical programs at the community and technical colleges, and health-related programs; and promotes access to and quality in higher education.

- Higher Education Funds: 

Two-year Institutions

- Public Community/Junior Colleges: The mission of the community colleges is to teach and award certifi cations or degrees in arts and sciences, vocational programs, and technical courses. Their mission also includes providing continuing education, developmental education consistent with open admission policies, counseling and guidance programs, workforce development training, and adult literacy and basic skills programs.

- Lamar Lower-level Institutions: The three Lamar State Colleges are lower-division institutions of higher education within the Texas State University System. Lamar State College – Port Arthur and Lamar State College – Orange off er freshman and sophomore courses, and the primary focus of the Lamar Institute of Technology is to teach technical and vocational courses.

- Texas State Technical Colleges: Two-year institutions of higher education that offer courses of study in technical–vocational education offering occupationally oriented programs with supporting academic course work, emphasizing technical and vocational areas for certifi cates or associate degrees.