Texas Education Agency releases annual report, highlights reading/math gaps and teaching pipeline strain

The Texas Education Agency presented its annual report and updated national assessment results at the State Board of Education meeting Feb. 27, highlighting persistent weaknesses in math proficiency and a growing reliance on uncertified teachers.

Commissioner Furr told the board the annual report is “the data that exists today” and “a common source of truth” about public education in Texas. He pointed to a set of headline figures in the report: about 52 percent of entering kindergartners demonstrate kindergarten readiness; roughly half of students meet grade level in reading by fourth grade while only about 42 percent meet grade level in math; and the state’s on‑time, four‑year graduation rate is near 90 percent.

Why it matters: The report is intended to give policymakers and districts a shared factual baseline as the legislature and the board weigh curriculum, funding and accountability changes. The agency underscored that the math declines seen on STAAR tests mirror long‑term trends visible on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Commissioner Furr said the 2024 NAEP data, released earlier that day, show the same pattern in eighth‑grade math that STAAR has tracked.

Key points from the presentation and board discussion: - Outcomes snapshot: The report shows 52 percent kindergarten readiness and a…