Texas Education and Culture

1. Education in Modern Texas
2. Texas Popular Culture
3. Texas Arts & Literature
4. Global Consciousness

Education in Modern Texas

The Gilmer-Aiken laws of 1949 created guidelines for the modern Texas educational system. The laws established local boards of education, a nine-month school term, teacher training, minimum teacher�s salaries and better facilities. The bills also established the foundation school program and the  Texas Education Agency, which oversees the public educational system in Texas.

The 1950s began a long process of desegregation of Texas schools. The Supreme Court ruling in Sweatt v. Painter (1950) laid the  groundwork for integration in schools. With the United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, states were forced to end school segregation for African Americans. San Antonio was one of the first districts to comply. Mexican Americans were finally recognized as a minority group and included as part of the 1954 decision in Cisneros v. Corpus Christi ISD in 1970.

In 1970, in United States v. Texas, the federal courts called for the integration of all Texas schools. Previous federal investigations had uncovered discriminatory practices in some Texas public school districts. Forced integration resulted in the changing of school-district boundaries, reassessment of extracurricular activities and increased busing of students to other schools.

Another issue that created controversy in the public school system was bilingual education. Throughout most of the twentieth century, English had been used as the only language for instruction. In 1973, the state legislature enacted the Bilingual Education and Training Act, which mandated bilingual instruction for all Texas elementary public schools that had twenty or more children with limited English-speaking skills.

The growth of urban areas and population in the 1960s and 70s created a demand for larger and better schools. Small school districts were consolidated as enrollment expanded. Texas ranked third in national student enrollment by 1960. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, offered federal government assistance to distressed school districts.

Although Texas had a high enrollment rate in 1980, the state did not fare well nationally in terms of teachers� salaries, money allotted per student and student aptitude tests. In 1984, Governor Mark White met with Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot to decide on a plan of action. The result was House Bill 72, which allotted $2.8 billion for school reforms. The bill raised teachers� salaries, but it also increased professional expectations of teachers with certification guidelines and competency testing.

Although test scores stopped declining after the passage of the bill, opposition to reforms mounted. The most controversial element of the bill was the "no pass, no play" provision. It forbade a student from participating in extra-curricular activities if he or she did not maintain a 70 average.

Additional Resources

1. What guidelines for public schools did the Gilmer-Aiken laws establish?(7.15:C)
2. What important social issues did schools have to deal with in the 1950s, 60s and 70s?(7.15:C)
3. Why was it felt that educational reform was needed in the 1980s?(7.15:C)
4. What was the purpose of Texas House Bill 72? Why was House Bill 72 controversial?(7.15:C)