Texas state lawmakers ended the 89th legislative session on June 2, 2025. During the 140 legislative days, certain lawmakers spent those 140 days doing what we call the “Texas Three Step:” defunding public schools; demonizing them by attacking educators and what students can learn; and privatizing public education through private school vouchers.
IDRA’s policy priorities include fair school funding for public schools, protecting and expanding excellent educational opportunities for emergent bilingual students, promoting culturally-sustaining schools that support all students, creating safer schools without harmful discipline and policing practices, and preparing all students to succeed in college.
See IDRA’s legislative recap of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session: English – Spanish
Lawmakers returned to Austin for a special session. The Texas legislature normally meets every other year between January and May. The governor has the power to call “special sessions” that require legislators to meet outside the regular legislative session. The governor selects the topics to be addressed, which can include unfinished business from the regular session, emergencies or other important issues. The Governor announced 18 agenda items for this special session. IDRA monitored some of the topics related to education and democratic representation. The session started July 21.
Testimony: The Texas Voucher Program Highlights Disparate Investments in Youngest Learners – IDRA Testimony on the interim charge monitoring SB 2 (89R), Submitted to the Texas Senate Education Committee by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., October 7, 2026
Testimony: Texas Must Strengthen Student Due Process Protections in School Discipline Proceedings – IDRA Testimony on the interim charge monitoring HB 6 (89R), Submitted to the Texas Senate Education Committee by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., October 7, 2026
Public Comments: IDRA Public Comments to the Texas House Higher Education Committee, Re: Affordability, Submitted August 18, 2026
Public Comments: IDRA Public Comments to the Texas House Higher Education Committee, Re: Advising, Submitted August 18, 2026
Testimony: State Leaders Must Invest in Bilingual Education to Guard Against Federal Funding Shortfalls – IDRA Testimony to the Texas House Public Education Committee on the Interim Charge Relating to Monitoring House Bill 2 (89R), Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., June 1, 2026 (PDF)
Testimony: Texas Policymakers Must Prioritize Prevention and Student Support in the 90th Legislative Session – IDRA Testimony to the Texas House Public Education Committee on the Interim Charge Relating to the State of Education, Submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., May 11, 2026 (PDF)
Testimony: Texas Students Would Benefit by Building on Bilingual Education Progress – IDRA Testimony to the Texas House Public Education Committee on the Interim Charge Relating to the State of Education, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., May 11, 2026 (PDF)
Testimony: Shifting Services Is Not the Same as Providing Access – Written Testimony Against INA Closure, Submitted by Dr. Lizdelia Piñón to the Fort Worth ISD Board of Managers, April 28, 2026 (PDF)
June 3, 2025 –The Legislature’s Texas Three-Step: Defund, Demonize and Privatize Public Schools • English • Spanish
Parking at the Texas Capitol
If you’re headed to the Texas Capitol this legislative session, here are some tips on where to park!
Register to Testify at the Texas Capitol
IDRA’s Deputy Director of Policy, Chloe, is teaching us how to register to testify in the Texas House & Senate!
Before any bill becomes a law, it must first be heard in both a Senate and House committee. In these public meetings, people are given an opportunity to provide testimony on, for, or against a bill. Here are some tips to help you prepare to testify before the Texas Legislature.
This one-pager will help guide you through the different levels of government and how they affect education in Texas. There are many moving parts and several opportunities to advocate education policy leaders on the important of equity within our education system.
Meeting with your elected officials gives you the opportunity to share information, data and policy ideas about the issues that impact your community. Here are some tips to help you prepare.
New Model Policy Aims to Equip Teachers to Serve Multilingual Students with Disabilities IDRA released a new model policy to help states establish bilingual special
