While President Donald Trump is potentially set to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, a Texas lawmaker is looking to take similar action at the state level—proposing the elimination of the Texas Education Agency and shifting its responsibilities to the elected State Board of Education.
State Rep. Andy Hopper (R–Decatur) has filed House Bill 2657, which would abolish the TEA, citing concerns over inefficiency, bureaucratic bloat, and a lack of meaningful results for Texas students. If passed, the legislation would transfer the TEA’s powers, duties, and oversight responsibilities to the State Board of Education, the body that has long been responsible for education policy in the state.
“President Trump has called upon every level of government to eliminate inefficiencies and waste,” Hopper said in a statement. “In Texas, there is perhaps no other agency that exemplifies rampant, unaccountable bureaucracy and bloat more than the Texas Education Agency.”
The TEA, created in 1949, currently oversees more than 1,200 independent school districts and numerous charter schools. Despite billions in taxpayer funding, Hopper argues that Texas students continue to lag behind their counterparts, making the agency’s existence both costly and ineffective.
“Texans pour billions into this state agency with the expectation that it will somehow improve education, but have been consistently and profoundly disappointed in the results,” said Hopper.
The State Board of Education is composed of elected officials from 15 districts across Texas. The board is currently responsible for setting curriculum standards, reviewing and adopting instructional materials, and establishing graduation requirements. Hopper emphasized that shifting authority to the SBOE would provide Texans with greater accountability in education policy, ensuring that decision-making rests in the hands of elected officials rather than unelected bureaucrats.
“With the filing of House Bill 2657, I would like to start the process of addressing the systemic issues with public education in Texas by abolishing a largely useless state bureaucracy,” Hopper added.
Additionally, under this proposal, the Texas Comptroller’s Office would take over responsibilities related to public school finance and fiscal management, including the administration of the Foundation School Program—a key funding mechanism for Texas public schools.
As of publishing, a spokesperson for the TEA did not respond to a request for comment.
