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What Is the TEA’s Role in Education?

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 | 12:00 AM

Do you work or plan to pursue an academic career in the state of Texas? The following is information about school rules and TEA (Texas Education Agency) regulations in Texas for teachers, administrators and support staff.

What Is the TEA?

The TEA is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education in the state of Texas. This government agency helps deliver education to more than 5 million students. It oversees 1,200 districts and charters statewide, each self-governed by a school board and administration.

The TEA’s goal is to provide leadership, guidance and resources to assist schools in meeting the educational needs of all students and prepare them for success in a global economy. The head of the TEA is the commissioner of education. Supporting the commissioner are a chief deputy commissioner, a deputy commissioner, associate commissioners, division directors and agency staff.

To fulfill its responsibilities, the TEA does the following:

  • Assists the State Board of Education (SBOE) in the adoption and distribution of instructional materials.
  • Manages data collection on public school information.
  • Administers and executes the State Board for Educator Certification program.
  • Carries out duties related to the Permanent School Fund.
  • Monitors school compliance with federal and state guidelines.
  • Oversees the distribution of state and federal funding to public schools.
  • Administers the statewide assessment program and accountability system.
  • Supports the State Board of Education in curriculum development.

TEA Regulations — Texas Laws and Rules

The following is a general overview of current laws and rules that the TEA administers.

State Administrative Rules

State Board of Education rules are part of a larger body of state agency rules known as the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). The Office of the Secretary of State collects and publishes these rules.

The proposed SBOE rules include all proposed new rules, proposed amendments to existing rules, and proposed repeals approved for first reading by the State Board of Education.

Commissioner of education rules are part of a larger body of state agency rules known as the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). The Office of the Secretary of State collects and publishes these rules.

The proposed commissioner rules include all proposed new rules, proposed amendments to existing rules, and proposed repeals under consideration by the commissioner of education.

State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules are part of a larger body of state agency rules known as the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). The Office of the Secretary of State collects and publishes these rules.

The proposed SBEC (State Board for Educator Certification) rules include all proposed new rules, proposed amendments to existing rules, and proposed repeals approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

Additional State Laws include the Texas Education Code and the Texas Constitution and Statutes.

Federal Laws and Rules

Special Education in Texas is subject to a specific set of state and federal rules and regulations dictated by federal law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), State Board of Education rules, commissioner’s rules, and state laws.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), amended as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), aims to close the achievement gap between groups of students through greater accountability.

How Do School Professionals Work With the TEA?

The Administrator Resources section of the TEA website provides school professionals with information on the following:

The TEA’s Division of School Improvement Communication web page provides essential information to school leaders, school districts and education service centers about program areas that the TEA monitors.

Located in Austin, Texas, the Texas Education Agency is committed to assisting educators and the general public with questions about TEA regulations and related concerns. For more information, visit http://tea.texas.gov


Learn about University of Texas Rio Grande Valley online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification program.


Source:

TEA: Welcome and Overview

TEA: Laws and Rules


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