EDUCATION

Robert Plocheck

Texas A&M University - Kingsville, part of the Texas A&M University System.

• Beginnings of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University

The two major university systems in Texas had slow and shaky beginnings. The Congress of the Republic of Texas, on Jan. 14, 1839, provided for the selection of a site for the seat of government, to be named Austin. Included in the legislation were provisions for sites for a capitol, an arsenal, a magazine, an academy, churches, a common school, a hospital, a penitentiary and “all other necessary public buildings and purposes.” A 40-acre site named College Hill was also set aside for a university, but no plans for construction were made at the time. Congress also set aside 50 square leagues of land, approximately 221,420 acres, to endow two universities. . . . (for more, click).

More history features, click here.

Texas Public Schools

Public school enrollment in Texas reached a peak of 4,594,942 in 2006–2007, according to the Texas Education Agency. That is an increase of almost 600,000 students over the last six years; enrollment was 4,059,619 in 2000–2001.

The seven largest districts (listed in descending order by average daily attendance) are:

In Texas, there are 1,033 independent and common school districts and 190 charter districts. Independent school districts are administered by an elected board of trustees and deal directly with the Texas Education Agency. Common districts are supervised by elected county school superintendents and county trustees.

Brief History of Public Education

Public education was one of the primary goals of the early settlers of Texas, who listed the failure to provide education as one of their grievances in the Texas Declaration of Inde-pendence from Mexico.

As early as 1838, President Mirabeau B. Lamar’s message to the Republic of Texas Congress advocated setting aside public domain for public schools. His interest caused him to be called the “Father of Education in Texas.” In 1839 Congress designated three leagues of land to support public schools for each Texas county and 50 leagues for a state university. In 1840 each county was allocated one more league of land.

The Republic, however, did not establish a public school system or a university. The 1845 State Constitution advocated public education, instructing the Legislature to designate at least 10 percent of the tax revenue for schools. Further delay occurred until Gov. Elisha M. Pease, on Jan. 31, 1854, signed the bill setting up the Texas public school system. . . . (for more, click).

In the Texas Almanac 2008-2009

• History of higher education in Texas.

• List of colleges and universities with number of faculty and enrollment figures.

• Recent developments in higher education in Texas.

Links

Texas Public Schools
A wealth of data about the public schools in Texas can be found on the Web site maintained by the Texas Education Agency.

Texas Universities and Colleges
A list of universities and colleges in the state of Texas can be found on the Web site maintained by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.