Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the state agency responsible for public education in Texas. It is currently newsworthy due to two significant developments. Firstly, the TEA, under the guidance of its top official Mike Morath, has been involved in piloting an artificial intelligence learning tool in public schools, a process that began with discussions about the tool's potential use in classrooms. Secondly, the TEA has significantly expanded its practice of taking over local school districts. Since 2020, the agency has installed its own leaders in eight districts, with four such takeovers occurring recently in the spring. This expansion has raised concerns, as Texas leads the nation in state takeovers of local school districts, with at least ten more districts potentially at risk. These actions highlight the TEA's active role in shaping educational technology and district governance within the state.