Op-ed by Senator Brandon Creighton
Dallas Morning News, January 19, 2025
With the 89th Legislature now underway, it’s time to be honest with Texans about what must be done for the 6 million students in Texas schools. Last session’s political distractions and fearmongering over education reforms may have benefited paid lobbyists and union officials, but they left the real needs of Texas families unmet.
According to the Texas Education Agency, only 40% of Texas third graders achieved grade-level proficiency in math, and 46% in reading during the 2022–23 school year. Additionally, 22% of high school graduates required remedial courses upon entering college.
These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for legislative action to address the deficiencies in Texas’ education system. Our 6 million Texas students deserve better, and the mandate for change has never been more clear. In November, from national election outcomes down to local school board races, Texas families rejected the status quo. We are witnessing a bold movement of Texans demanding that their children’s education is not held hostage by outdated systems, bloated administration and political agendas. Parents are standing up to reclaim their rightful role as the chief decision-makers in their children’s education, fighting for a system that works for them — not against them.
Throughout 2023, the Texas Senate stood strong in its commitment to students, families and educators, championing legislation that prioritized real solutions over empty rhetoric. Senate Bills 8 and 9, known as the Texas Parental Bill of Rights and the Texas Teacher Bill of Rights, were crafted to empower parents, support teachers and give students the tools they need to succeed. Despite overwhelming support in the Senate, each of these critical initiatives was ultimately blocked.
We also introduced legislation to inject billions of dollars into public education, deliver long-overdue raises for teachers and raise the basic allotment for the first time since 2019. Yet once again, a vocal minority chose political arguments over meeting the real, urgent needs of our schools. Texas families and educators were left waiting for action.
The message from voters in every corner of the state is loud and clear: Texans are demanding leaders who prioritize real progress over politics. Parents and educators in every corner of the state are demanding meaningful reforms and the empowerment to shape their children’s futures. And the Texas Senate is ready to deliver on that call, moving forward with bold plans.
We are determined to pass comprehensive school choice legislation, finally giving Texas families the freedom to choose the best educational path for their children. Texas will join 32 other states that have recognized parents as the primary authority in their child’s education. We are seeing it nationwide — school choice not only broadens opportunities but also drives much-needed improvements within public schools. This is about ensuring every Texas child has the chance to succeed, especially those who need specialized learning environments to thrive.
We will also pass the Texas Parental Bill of Rights — a stronger version than what passed in 2023 — because it is past time that Texas law makes clear that parents are the chief decision-makers in their child’s education. Unfortunately we find ourselves living in times that require us to codify in statute what most of us all know to be common sense. Additionally, we are committed to increasing public school funding, ensuring every district has the resources needed to deliver a high-quality education. We will build on House Bill 1605 to establish a gold-standard curriculum that prepares students not only for the workforce and higher education but also for responsible citizenship.
Equally important, the Legislature must advance the Texas Teacher Bill of Rights to ensure our educators receive the respect, support, safety and compensation they deserve. Texas teachers have faced enormous challenges over the years, yet many returned to school this fall without the raise they need and deserve. This session, we will pass legislation that delivers these raises, honoring the work of educators who give so much to Texas students.
My agenda reaches even further: exploring reforms to the STAAR test, investing in programs to improve teacher certification and introducing measures to increase school board transparency. We’ll tackle chronic absenteeism and truancy, reduce cellphone distractions in classrooms and implement meaningful accountability ratings that provide valuable data to help improve every school in every community.
The March primaries and November election last year demonstrated that Texans are tired of political games and want to see real reforms and a system that values their voice in education. The future of Texas begins in the classroom, and parents, teachers and community leaders are demanding change. As chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Education and Higher Education, I am more committed than ever to answer that call, moving beyond the grandstanding and focusing on solutions that lift up all students.
The 89th session will be remembered for decisive action to improve Texas education, not for the gridlock of past debates. Together, we can build a bright future for every Texas student, family and teacher.