Dallas – As Texas heads to the ballot on Nov. 3, the governor’s race will hinge on how each candidate proposes to shape the education of millions of children. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, seeking a fourth term, and Democrat State Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin present sharply different visions for public schools, college affordability and state oversight.
Abbott’s education agenda
Abbott’s campaign emphasizes a return to traditional classroom tools. He proposes limiting student use of laptops and tablets, arguing that more handwriting and direct teacher instruction will improve learning. The proposal follows a recent statewide ban on cellphones in schools and reflects concerns that screen time surged during the pandemic.
On discipline, Abbott wants to increase criminal penalties for educators who engage in improper relationships with students. Under his plan, convicted staff would be required to register as sex offenders and serve a minimum ten‑year prison term without parole, a response to a rise in investigations of alleged misconduct.
Fiscal stewardship is another pillar. Abbott calls for a law requiring districts to allocate at least 70 % of their funding to classroom instruction, trimming administrative costs. He also seeks audits to root out “excessive administrative costs, wasteful contracts and fraud,” noting that the Texas Education Agency already conducts financial reviews.
Regarding higher education, Abbott proposes three‑year bachelor’s degree programs at public universities to lower tuition costs and accelerate entry into high‑demand jobs. He also supports discounted summer courses, offering $500 off tuition for students taking one to five credit hours and $1,000 off for six or more credit hours.
Hinojosa’s education priorities
Democrat Hinojosa, a former Austin ISD trustee, focuses on reforming assessment and accountability. She wants to end the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and replace the A‑F school rating system with a model that better reflects overall school performance. Although the legislature has already moved to replace end‑of‑year tests with three smaller exams beginning in 2027‑28, Hinojosa urges a full elimination of STAAR.
Hinojosa also pledges to end the Texas Education Freedom Accounts voucher program, which allows public dollars to fund private schooling. She argues the program primarily benefits wealthier families, noting that over 100,000 students are enrolled, many of whom were previously homeschooled or in non‑public schools. Recent data show more than 20,700 students have returned their vouchers.
State takeovers are another target. Hinojosa would halt the practice of placing districts under state control after five consecutive failing ratings, a process that replaces elected trustees with a state‑appointed board of managers. Currently, eight districts, including Fort Worth ISD, are under such control.
She also proposes replacing Education Commissioner Mike Morath with a leader who has classroom teaching experience, arguing that Morath’s background as a software developer and brief stint as a computer‑science teacher does not equip him to address declining student performance.
Finally, Hinojosa wants to audit and terminate vendor contracts that she says divert funds from teachers. She would redirect those savings to increase teacher pay, building on the 2025 legislative increase of $55 per student that added $8.5 billion to public schools, half of which funds teacher retention raises.
What’s at stake
Both candidates frame their proposals as ways to strengthen families, uphold parental rights and improve outcomes for Texas children. Abbott’s plan leans on traditional instruction methods, stricter accountability for educators and cost‑saving measures, while Hinojosa emphasizes assessment reform, ending school vouchers and increasing teacher compensation.
Voters will decide which approach aligns best with their values and the future of Texas education when they head to the polls on Nov. 3.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
