Texas education is on the brink of a major transformation after Democrats captured the governor’s mansion, the attorney general’s office and a majority in the state House. Governor Gina Hinojosa, the first Democrat to win the governorship since 1990, pledged to restore local control of schools, eliminate the controversial STAAR testing regime and end state takeovers of districts.
Testing reforms
Hinojosa has promised to scrap the STAAR exams and “tests like it.” Currently, students in grades 3‑8 take annual math and reading assessments, with additional science, history and end‑of‑course exams for high‑school students. In 2025 the Legislature replaced STAAR with the Student Success Tool, a series of three shorter tests administered throughout the year. While Hinojosa opposes the new tool, she would need the Legislature to amend state law to eliminate it entirely. Federal law – the Every Student Succeeds Act – still requires annual reading and math tests for grades 3‑8 and one high‑school test, limiting how far Texas can go.
Removing the TEA commissioner
One of Hinojosa’s first actions will be to fire Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and replace him with an educator. Morath’s four‑year term expires in January, the same month Hinojosa is sworn in. The governor must submit a nominee to the Texas Senate, where a two‑thirds vote is required for confirmation. If the Senate rejects the nominee, the position remains vacant until the governor can name another candidate.
Ending state takeovers
Under current law, the TEA can take over a district after five consecutive academically unacceptable ratings. Hinojosa pledged to halt these takeovers, though changing the law would be necessary. A new commissioner could, however, replace existing managers in districts already under state control and set a timeline for elected trustees to resume oversight.
State Board of Education in flux
The partisan split on the 15‑member State Board of Education is now 7‑7, with a Democrat holding a narrow edge. Democrats have gained several seats, giving them a stronger voice on curriculum standards, charter school approvals and the multi‑billion‑dollar school fund. Previously, Republicans used their supermajority to push for mandatory Bible readings and to downplay the horrors of American slavery in social‑studies textbooks.
School voucher program under scrutiny
Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program provides families with vouchers of about $10,500 per child for private‑school tuition, $2,000 for home‑schoolers and up to $30,000 for children with disabilities. Hinojosa campaigned on ending the program and can veto any future voucher legislation. She also retains line‑item veto power to strip funding for the program from the state budget, though a two‑thirds vote in both chambers would be required to override such a veto.
Legislative realities
While Democrats control the House, Republicans retain a majority in the Senate, meaning any major education reforms will require bipartisan negotiation. The Senate’s approval is also needed for Hinojosa’s TEA commissioner nominee and for any statutory changes to testing or district‑takeover rules.
What this means for families
Parents can expect a shift toward greater local input on school governance and curriculum, a potential reduction in high‑stakes testing, and a more cautious approach to vouchers. The ultimate pace of change will depend on how quickly the Senate works with the governor’s agenda.
For now, Texas educators, parents and students are watching closely as the new administration begins to shape policies that could affect tens of thousands of classrooms across the state.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
