In the latest episode of EdGate Powers Education, host Rich Portelance welcomed Keven Ellis, Member and former Chair of the Texas State Board of Education, to explore how Texas is reimagining student success through aligned policy, innovation, and accountability.
A Statewide Vision: Talent Strong Texas
Texas has set an ambitious goal — to ensure every learner, from kindergarten through adulthood, is prepared for college, career, or military service. The Talent Strong Texas initiative expands on the state’s original “60x30” goal, now aiming for Texans aged 25–64 to hold credentials of value by 2030.
This work is powered by the Tri-Agency Coalition, uniting the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Texas Workforce Commission to create coherent pathways from education to employment.
Evolving Standards and Skills
Ellis discussed how the State Board of Education shapes curriculum standards through the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which now emphasize critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. Texas has also introduced K–12 character traits such as citizenship, perseverance, and responsibility — reinforcing the importance of developing both intellect and integrity.
Transforming Assessment and Accountability
Texas is replacing the STAAR test with the Student Success Tool (SST) — adaptive, shorter, and more frequent assessments that provide real-time feedback to educators. This shift, Ellis explained, reflects Texas’s ongoing effort to make assessments more meaningful and actionable.
Additionally, updates to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) metrics ensure that industry certifications and dual credit opportunities align with high-value, high-wage careers.
Empowering Teachers and Local Control
Teacher quality remains central to the state’s strategy. With the Teacher Incentive Allotment and expanded certification pathways, Texas is creating opportunities for educators to advance into six-figure roles while improving retention. The Districts of Innovation model gives local ISDs flexibility over calendars, contracts, and instructional design, fostering creativity within a framework of accountability.
Connecting Education to Industry
Through the Texas Regional Pathway Network, schools and regional partners align programs with workforce demand, ensuring students gain credentials that matter in the local economy.
Technology, Math, and the Future of Learning
While embracing AI and digital learning tools, Ellis emphasized the importance of balancing fluency with conceptual understanding. A recent law also directs districts to place the top 40% of fifth-grade math students on a path to complete Algebra I by eighth grade — advancing academic rigor and readiness.
A Shared Commitment to Students
For Ellis, the key to Texas’s success lies in the collaboration among educators, policymakers, and communities — all dedicated to preparing 5.5 million students for the opportunities ahead. “Vision statements don’t teach children,” he said. “Teachers do — and the students are worth it.”
Listen to the full conversation on the EdGate Powers Education podcast, and join us for the upcoming December 17 webinar featuring Keven Ellis, Hillary Knudson, and Lisa O'Masta.