Since its inception in 2006, TCEP has been an active, authoritative voice in the Texas State Legislature. The Center utilizes research to advocate for high-quality education for all, in particular, historically disadvantaged students in Texas public schools. A significant achievement involves a revision to the Texas Education Code that removes high-stakes tests as the primary bases for decisions pertaining to grade promotion and retention, positively affecting over 300,000 third-grade children in Texas public schools this school year. Such decisions will now be based on such factors as grades, attendance, classroom performance, teacher assessment, parent input, and test performance. Continuing efforts include convening groups for the discussion of policy, writing policy and research briefs, conducting original research, providing recommendations and advising on proposed education legislation and policy at local, state, national, and international levels.
2015 – 84th Session of the Texas State Legislature
The TCEP Graduate Seminar was instituted in the 2014-2015 academic year, to allow professors and graduate students to collaborate on policy briefs and memos related to critical issues facing Texas in the current legislative session.
- High-Stakes Accountability in Texas Reconsidered By Valenzuela, A., Sun, W., Germain, E., Barnes, M.
- Will School Vouchers Benefit Low-Income Families? Assessing the Evidence By Jabbar, H., Holme, J., Lemke, M., LeClair, A.V., Sanchez, J., Torres, E.
2011 – 82nd Session of the Texas State Legislature
- House Bill 9 Policy Brief: Relating to Student Success–based Funding for Public Institutions of Higher Education
- House Bill 10 Policy Brief: Relating to eligibility for a TEXAS grant and to administration of the TEXAS grant program.