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The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is an elected executive agency responsible for setting policies and curriculum standards for Texas public schools.
The board recommends textbooks to be used in schools and oversees the state Permanent School Fund. Other responsibilities include:
- establishing graduation requirements;
- appointing board members to military reservation and special school districts;
- providing final review of rules proposed by the State Board for Educator Certification; and
- reviewing the education commissioner’s proposed award of new charter schools, with authority to veto a recommended applicant.
Membership
The Texas State Board of Education board is composed of 15 elected members representing each of the state’s 15 education districts.
| District | Name | Party | Hometown | First elected | Seat up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melissa N. Ortega | Dem | El Paso | 2022 | 2024 |
| 2 | L.J. Francis | Rep | Corpus Christi | 2022 | 2024 |
| 3 | Marisa B. Perez-Diaz | Dem | San Antonio | 2012 | 2024 |
| 4 | Staci Childs | Dem | Houston | 2022 | 2024 |
| 5 | Rebecca Bell-Metereau | Dem | San Marcos | 2020 | 2024 |
| 6 | Will Hickman | Rep | Houston | 2020 | 2024 |
| 7 | Julie Pickren | Rep | Pearland | 2022 | 2024 |
| 8 | Audrey Young | Rep | Trinity | 2020 | 2024 |
| 9 | Keven Ellis, Chair | Rep | Lufkin | 2016 | 2024 |
| 10 | Tom Maynard | Rep | Florence | 2012 | 2024 |
| 11 | Patricia Hardy, Secretary | Rep | Fort Worth | 2002 | 2024 |
| 12 | Pam Little, Vice Chair | Rep | Fairview | 2018 | 2024 |
| 13 | Aicha Davis | Dem | Dallas | 2018 | 2024 |
| 14 | Evelyn Brooks | Rep | Frisco | 2022 | 2024 |
| 15 | Aaron Kinsey | Rep | Midland | 2022 | 2024 |
A majority of members of the Texas State Board of Education are Republicans.
Term of Office
Members serve four-year terms except after redistricting, when seven of the 15 members randomly are chosen to serve two-year terms.
Education district borders are redrawn every 10 years.
This system ensures a system of staggered terms in which about half of the board’s seats are up for election every two years, except after redistricting when all the seats are contested.
Board Chair
Every two years, the governor selects a chair from among the board’s members, with approval from the Texas Senate. If a board member serves two consecutive two-year terms as chair, he or she is not eligible to be named to the position again until four years have passed.
The board also elects a vice chair and secretary from among its members.
Qualifications
- Members of the board may not hold other public office. This also applies to candidates seeking election to the board.
- Candidates seeking election to the board must have lived in their district for at least one year as of election day.
- Candidates seeking election to the board must be registered to vote in their district
- Candidates seeking election to the board must be at least 26 years of age.
- Registered lobbyists representing interests relevant to the board may not serve on the board.
Meetings Schedule
The Texas State Board of Education is required by law to meet at least quarterly.
It holds its meetings at the William B. Travis State Office Building, which houses the Texas Education Agency, at 1701 N. Congress Avenue in Austin.
The meetings are open to the public.
Contact Information
The State Board of Education can be reached through the Texas Education Agency, which provides administrative support to the board:
- Phone: (512) 463-9007
- Fax: (512) 936-4319
- Webcasts: http://www.adminmonitor.com/tx/tea/
- Email: sboesupport@tea.texas.gov
Recent News Coverage
Robert Morrow Loses Badly in Race for Texas State Board of Education, July 14, 2020
Under the Jester’s Hat: the Problem of Robert Morrow, July 10, 2020
Travis GOP Opposes ‘Outrageous’ Candidate in Primary for State Board of Education, Jan. 22, 2020
