Texas Threatens School Takeovers Over Student Protests

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The Texas Education Agency has announced that it will impose sanctions, including potential school district takeovers, on districts where students participate in 'inappropriate political activism' such as protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This represents a significant escalation in the state's use of school takeover policy, which has historically been reserved for cases of academic underperformance or financial mismanagement.

Why it matters

Experts argue that using school takeovers to silence student political speech sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the fundamental rights of educators and students. They warn that this move is more about exerting state control than improving academic outcomes.

The details

The Texas Education Agency's new guidance comes at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who have ordered investigations into student protests at the Austin Independent School District. Under the new criteria, standard teaching practices that connect current events to literature could potentially be grounds for a district takeover if deemed 'inappropriate political activism.' Advocates argue this represents an abuse of takeover policy, which has typically been reserved for cases of academic failure or financial mismanagement.

• Last week, the Texas Education Agency announced the new sanctions and threat of takeovers.
• In 2023, the Texas Education Agency took over the Houston Independent School District, citing chronic academic failure at one school.

What’s next

The Texas Education Agency has not provided a timeline for when it will make decisions on potential district takeovers in response to student protests.