Recommendations for the Sunset Advisory Commission

April 22, 2002

Recommendations regarding the authority of SBEC and its relationship to the State Board of Education (SBOE).

Who Teaches the Teachers?

Every state requires public school teachers to be “certified,” and most of that certification runs through a university school of education. New research by TPPF’s Kate Bierly asks a simple question: is that credential actually worth anything? The answer, backed by decades of data, is no. Teacher training used to happen in “normal schools.” The practical, two-year...

July 23, 2026

Taxes & Spending

Just the Facts: Local Government Spending

Despite billions in property tax relief provided by recent state legislatures, Texans’ property tax bills continue to increase due to unrestricted spending at the local level. Key points: City and county government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. While the state government has constitutional and statutory spending limits, local governments do...

August 10, 2026

K-12 Education

Bring Home the Mississippi Miracle: A Texas Triumph in Early Literacy

Bring Home the Mississippi Miracle: A Texas Triumph in Early Literacy Texas lacks a coherent third-grade literacy standard and statewide implementation system. Restoring a mastery-based promotion gate and aligning coaching, screening, and funding can reverse stagnating reading outcomes. Key points: Texas removed its third-grade promotion requirement, weakening the connection between reading mastery and grade advancement....

June 9, 2026

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Who Teaches the Teachers?

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Bring Home the Mississippi Miracle: A Texas Triumph in Early Literacy