11.24.25
“TX Com. of Education Morath Presents Latest News About Texas Public Schools”
From Donna Garner
[COMMENTS FROM DONNA GARNER] – On 11.19.25 Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath delivered his comments to the public and to the elected members of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE). His goal was to share the latest news about what is happening in Texas’ public schools; and other states across the country may want to implement similar programs.
Please click on the archived video of his 11.19.25 comments: https://www.adminmonitor.com/tx/tea/committee_of_the_full_board/20251119/
To help the public locate specific information in Com. Morath’s presentation, I have attempted to list various video markers. The video markers can be found at the very bottom of the video screen – the 4th icon from the left side. The video markers are the ones that contain the rolling numbers.]
TX. COMMISSIONER MORATH’S COMMENTS ABOUT TIA
MARKER 27:27:33 -- Com. Morath gave the latest on the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program which is a Texas initiative. Com. Morath said that it is unusual for a program as it gets bigger to get better, but the TIA program does just that. The Com. suggested that many other states need to consider adopting the same program.
The legislature passed TIA (HB 3) in 2019.
(TIA) provides extra state funding for high-performing teachers. The entire TIA program is built upon merit and not upon how long a teacher has been teaching (i.e., seniority).
The TIA program is optional for local school districts. The districts can decide to implement it or to continue with their own program.
There are 5 ½ million students in Texas’ public schools. Texas has 1,207 public school districts, and 66% of the districts have chosen to implement the TIA program.
MARKER 5:25 – In 2020-21, the retention rate benefit of teachers in TIA vs. non-TIA teachers was 6.4%. In 2025 with the implementation of TIA, that figure has risen to 9.4%.
MARKER 6:26 – The TIA money honors individual teachers and gives them public recognition for their hard work. These two factors have made TIA a popular program.
MARKER 6:37 – So far (even though the TIA is a new system), in a TIA district, 9% of the students in math are more likely to be on grade level than students in the seniority system. Therefore, the stats are definitely showing that students’ academic achievement is rising in districts that have the TIA system.
MARKER 8:29 – Com. Morath explained the four TIA designations of teachers.
MARKER 15:40 – He presented a chart that shows the effectiveness of the TIA program with capable teachers receiving an average $4,875 annual increase in salary.
MARKER 17:03 – Com. Morath further discussed the data that shows student academic growth is increasing under TIA teachers.
MARKER 20:40 – The chart showed the percentage of TIA teachers in Dallas who are choosing to stay rather than moving to other school districts and also showed the academic improvement of math students in Dallas.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ADSY TO RAISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
MARKER 27:45 – Com. Morath gave information about ADSY (Additional Days in School Year). School districts all across the state have figured out various ways to add days to the school calendar and are receiving extra funding.
MARKER 29:04 – He then presented data to show that by adopting ADSY, students’ academic achievement in math increased 3 points and increased in reading 4 points. Morath said that what happens in the summer months to students who have no educational experiences is not good for them.
MARKER 33:10 – Morath showed data that proves that the fewer the number of school days, the less students grow academically.
MARKER 34:09 – If districts add more school days (ADSY), there are numerous ways the increased funding from the state will be granted to the districts.
INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS ASKED BY SBOE MEMBERS OF COMM. MORATH
MARKER 38:19 – At this point, the Chair of the Texas State Board of Education allowed each of the 15 (actually 14 members minus the chair) members of the SBOE the same number of minutes to ask the Commissioner questions.
MARKER 42:46 -- Com. Morath was praised for being in his eighth year in his job.
MARKER 44:17 – The statement was made that most people who quit a job do so because of the boss not being a good leader. The question was raised about how the TEA could help to make sure superintendents have good leadership qualities. Com. Morath pointed out that the Agency tries to stress the importance of leadership qualities but that it is still the locals who make decisions about the people they choose to hire for those administrative positions.
A comparison was made between a person who makes a great head coach because of leadership vs. a person who makes a great assistant coach but who would not be a good head coach. Some people have really good leadership qualities; others do not.
MARKER 47:35 – The question was raised about Ft. Worth ISD and the fact that Com. Morath (following the legislative statute) by law had to appoint a board of managers to take over the district because of poor academic achievement by a school or schools for five years in a row.
Com. Morath explained that the TEA is very careful about the people (Board of Managers) they choose to take over a district. The TEA first looks for people who are servant leaders. These people also have to hold the same ideological belief that “all children can learn and achieve at high levels.”
He said that once chosen, however, the TEA tries to give the Board of Managers freedom to enact the policies they believe are necessary.
MARKER 55:07 – When asked, Com. Morath said that the TIA funding will be ongoing. He also said that the local districts decide on the evaluation system which they choose to implement; the TEA does not tell the locals what evaluation system to use. The locals decide whether to implement either (1) a merit system or (2) a seniority system.
MARKER 59:44 – The Com. gave a brief explanation about SB 2 (2013) which explains the statutes that govern charter schools in Texas.
MARKER 1:03.52 – One of the SBOE members mentioned that the Bluebonnet ELAR program has a great deal of social studies taught in the context of the reading selections. The Board member wondered whether that gives students who are taught the Bluebonnet curriculum an extra advantage on the STAAR tests.
Com. Morath said that when the TEKS (the curriculum standards for Texas) change, the Bluebonnet curriculum materials will also have to change; but he made it very clear that school districts that choose to implement the Bluebonnet curriculum materials will give their students a distinct advantage because the students will be more literate.
MARKER 1:10:42 – Com. Morath gave some important statistics regarding demographics in Texas vs. other states.
In Texas 20% of public-school students come from a household that does not speak English. In Oregon a far lower percentage of public-school students come from such a household.
Texas' own rating system (A - F Report Card) is based on a goal (1) to be in the top 5 of the country in absolute scores, regardless of demographic achievement gaps.
The national rating systems are ranked without any consideration for demographics. For instance, 60% of students in Texas are on the free/or reduced lunch program. In Massachusetts only 30% of the students are on the free/or reduced lunch program.
If demographic factors were considered in national rankings, Texas would rank in the top 5 in the nation. Com. Morath said he wonders why this outstanding statistic is never used by the news media.
Regardless, the goal for Texas and for Com. Morath is for Texas to rank nationally (with no demographic adjustment) at least 15th in Math and at least 30th in Reading.
MARKER 1:16:39 -- A Board member raised the question as to whether a district taken over by a Board of Managers would require that district to utilize the Bluebonnet curriculum. Com. Morath said that he and the TEA trust the judgment of the Board of Managers and that that would be their decision to make.
That same Board member also was concerned about the A – F Report Card System and how the local score might be impacted by students who move around frequently. Com. Morath said that to be factored into the A – F Report Card System, the student has to be present on both the Snapshot Day and also on the STAAR testing day. If the student is absent on either day, that person is not counted in the A – F Report Card System.
MARKER 1:18:19 – An SBOE member wanted to know what percentage of Texas school districts have chosen to participate in the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program. Com. Morath said there are 800 out of more than 1,200 school districts that have opted into the TIA. However, it takes 12 to 36 months to get TIA in place.
The individual district decides what school subjects to designate as TIA eligible and also decides on the expectations the teacher must meet. Com. Morath said he and the TEA would like for all teachers of all subjects to fall under the TIA but that that is not the TEA’s decision to make.
MARKER 1.22.21 – One SBOE member said she wondered why Texas was not using nationally normed tests instead of using state standards (TEKS) and state tests (STAAR). Com. Morath made it very clear that if students take nationally normed tests, then Texas students must be taught nationally normed curriculum.
(As it is now, the elected members of the Texas State Board of Education set the curriculum standards in place – TEKS; and the STAAR test questions are based upon the TEKS.)
MARKER 1:25.32 – A Board member said she wants Texas public schools to do more group work and project-based learning. Com. Morath said that there is solid, empirical evidence to prove that students who largely do group work and project-based learning receive much less instruction.
MORE INFORMATION
9.12.25 -- “Scrutiny of TX Public Schools by Com. Morath” -- By Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/9-12-25-scrutiny-of-tx-public-schools-by-com-morath-by-donna-garner/
3.25.25 -- “TX Lege – Possible Banning of Students' Cellphones in Schools” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/3-25-25-tx-lege-possible-banning-of-students-cellphones-in-schools-from-donna-garner/
11.15.23 -- “TX Comm. of Education Mike Morath Provides Much-Needed Answers” -- From Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/11-15-23-tx-comm-of-education-morath-provides-much-needed-answers-from-donna-garner/
7.1.23 -- “TX Comm. of Education Morath Presents New Anti-Wokism Law” -- Transcribed by Donna Garner -- https://donnagarner.org/7-1-23-tx-comm-of-education-morath-presents-new-anti-wokism-law-transcribed-by-donna-garner-2/