The State Board of Education

The Texas State Board of Education plays a powerful but often overlooked role in shaping what students learn across the state and beyond. This course breaks down how the board sets curriculum standards, oversees the Permanent School Fund, and most importantly, influences which instructional materials and textbooks make it into classrooms. Because Texas is one of the largest textbook markets in the country, decisions made by the board can ripple far outside the state, affecting what publishers produce nationwide.

Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of how textbook adoption works in Texas, who has influence in the process, and why these decisions matter for students, teachers, and communities.