How the Texas Legislature Should Support Early Learning this Session

Last fall, the Texas House and Senate held interim hearings highlighting the urgent need for Texas to prioritize early learning as a critical strategy to improve educational outcomes. To build on these hearings and ensure students have a strong start in school, lawmakers must address two key challenges:

• Only 52% of Texas children are considered kindergarten-ready by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
• According to the 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), only 46% of third-grade students met grade level in reading, and only 40% met grade level in math.

To address these challenges, the Legislature must prioritize early learning and address funding disparities for pre-k and students with disabilities that limit access to effective early instruction.

Learn more in our new policy brief: