Texas’ student reading and math results are lackluster and declining. According to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), 55% of Texas third-graders are reading below grade level and 52% are doing math below grade-level. Similarly, according to the April 2018 Nation’s Report Card (NAEP), Texas reading scores are some of the lowest in the nation and declining: Texas ranks 46th in fourth-grade reading (down from 40th in 2015). In addition, the achievement gaps between white and minority children are persistent and the state’s economically disadvantaged population is increasing.
K-12 Education
TEA Commissioner: Public School Enrollment Continues to Struggle
On Monday, the House Committee on Public Education held a public hearing to discuss the “State of Education” in Texas, with a particular emphasis on assessing academic outcomes, enrollment trends, and school budgets. Among the many revelations to come to light was that public school enrollment continues to struggle. According to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath’s invited testimony, public school enrollment decreased in the...
May 12, 2026