Job description | The 15-member State Board of Education sets policies and standards for Texas public schools. Term is four years. |
Duties | Sets curriculum standards; reviews and adopts textbooks; establishes graduation requirements. Reviews rules for certifying educators; reviews proposals to award new charter schools. The board oversees the Texas Permanent School Fund, an endowment that funds charter schools, pays for public school textbooks, and guarantees bonds issued by local school districts. |
Annual salary | No salary; eligible for reimbursement for expenses |
Who’s Running?
Aicha Davis (incumbent) Email: aicha4education@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aicha4education/ Twitter: aicha4education | Democrat |
Kathryn Monette Website: https://kathrynmonette.org Email: kathrynmonette@gmx.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kathryn-Monette-for-Texas-State-Board-of-Education-District-13/100077575562070/ | Republican |
Voter Guides
- Vote 411 (League of Women Voters Education Fund), State Board of Education District 13
- “Candidates for Fort Worth area Texas State Board of Education, District 13 on Nov. 8 ballot,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Oct 23, 2022) (paywall – article limit)
Recent News Articles
- “Texas education board moves to delay updates to social studies curriculum after conservative pushback,” Texas Tribune (Aug 30, 2022) https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/30/sboe-social-studies-curriculum/
- “How a little-known group convinced the Texas State Board of Education to reject lesson plans on consent,” Texas Tribune (Aug 26, 2022) https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/26/texas-sex-ed-consent/
- “Several Texas Republicans against “critical race theory” advance in State Board of Education primary races,” Texas Tribune (Mar 2, 2022) https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/02/critical-race-theory-state-board-education/
- “Your district’s Texas State Board of Education seat is on the ballot. Here’s why you should care,” KERA.org (Feb 15, 2022) https://www.keranews.org/2022-elections/2022-02-15/your-districts-state-board-of-education-seat-is-on-the-ballot-heres-why-you-should-care (includes audio)
- “Gov. Abbott signs ‘anti-critical race theory’ bill into law over objections from educators and civic groups,” Dallas Morning News (Jun 15, 2021) https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2021/06/15/gov-abbott-signs-anti-critical-race-theory-bill-into-law-over-objections-from-educators-and-civic-groups/ (paywall – article limit)
Candidate Q&A
Note: Answers are from primary election.
1. WHY ARE YOU THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE? | |
Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette I understand the importance of teaching students the basics of an education and not indoctrination. |
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2. IN 2022, THE BOARD WILL UNDERTAKE ITS ONCE-A-DECADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM REVIEW, WHICH MUST INCORPORATE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT IN SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES, BASED ON STATE LAW. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS STUDENT, PARENT, EDUCATOR, AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TEACHING OF SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER? | |
Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette I think too much of Social Studies are indoctrination. Too much emphasis on race and not enough on character and personal responsibility. Everyone has a choice to their reaction and noone is responsible for how someone else reacts. Judge according to character, not skin color. Move forward, don't live in the past. Solutions not blaming others. |
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3. THE BOARD REVIEWS APPLICATIONS FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS. WHAT CRITERIA WILL YOU USE TO EVALUATE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS? | |
Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette I believe they should be owned and run by American citizens and not people from other countries. I believe they need a plan of sound teaching. |
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4. SCHOOL SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT TEXAS HAVE FACED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. HOW CAN THE BOARD, THROUGH THE TEXAS PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND AND OTHERWISE, BETTER SUPPORT TEXAS SCHOOLS MOVING FORWARD? | |
Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette More teachers and teacher aids. Smaller class room sizes with less testing. More actual books and less online. More vocational learning in high school. |
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5. TEXAS IS A DIVERSE STATE, AND ITS SCHOOLS SERVE A BROAD ARRAY OF COMMUNITIES IN RURAL, SUBURBAN, AND URBAN SETTINGS. WHAT ROLE SHOULD THE BOARD PLAY IN ENSURING THAT ALL TEXAS STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION? WHAT RESOURCES (TECHNOLOGICAL AND OTHERWISE) DO SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL? |
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Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette The board needs to insure that class materials and books are sound and then it's up to each district to decide how to utilize. |
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6. WHAT DOES “LOCAL CONTROL” MEAN TO YOU? HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND VIEWS OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS, WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE STATE ON EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES? | |
Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette Local control means that the school districts make decisions for their local schools that best fit the needs of their students. There should be a baseline for graduation that is across the board, but school districts can decide the best way to achieve it with parent involvement. |
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7. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? |
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Aicha Davis |
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Kathryn Monette I think comprehensive sex education needs to be abolished. Any other place it would be considered porn and called grooming of children. It needs to stop ASAP! We should be protecting the children. |