Raul Longoria

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Survey Responses

RESPONSES TO THE 2026 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY:

1. Role and Responsibility

If elected, what do you believe your primary role and responsibility as a State Board of Education (SBOE) member should be, particularly in comparison to or in coordination with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Legislature?

If elected, my role on the SBOE would be to provide strong, collaborative governance by setting high quality academic standards grounded in classroom realities. The Legislature sets law and funding, TEA implements policy, and the SBOE provides oversight through curriculum standards, instructional materials, charter approvals, and stewardship of the Permanent School Fund. Effective governance requires centering educator expertise, student needs, and community input across urban and rural contexts. The SBOE should bridge legislative intent and classroom practice through transparency, research, and professional judgment to support educators and student success statewide.

2. Top Priorities for Public Education

In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue facing public education in Texas?

The most pressing issue in Texas public education is the growing gap between expectations placed on schools and the support provided to educators serving increasingly diverse students. Educators face staffing shortages, limited resources, and accountability pressures while meeting varied academic, language, and social needs. These challenges affect urban and rural schools differently but create similar instability. Addressing this requires investing in educators, strengthening preparation and professional development, recruiting bilingual and multilingual teachers, and restoring teacher voice and autonomy. Supporting educators is essential to strengthening public education and student success.

3. Educator and Stakeholder Input

If elected, what degree of input will you seek from educators, ATPE, and other educator organizations in policy decisions made by the SBOE? How would you seek that input?

If elected, I would seek consistent and meaningful input from educators and educator organizations as a core part of SBOE decision making. I would engage educators through listening sessions, public forums across District 5, advisory committees, and surveys on curriculum, instructional materials, and assessment proposals. Transparency would be a priority, with clear timelines and opportunities for feedback. Effective education policy is strongest when educators are treated as partners and their expertise informs decisions that affect classrooms statewide.

4. Weight of Educator Input in Curriculum Standards

How much weight should the SBOE give to educator input when developing curriculum standards (known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or “TEKS”) and approving instructional materials?

Educator input should carry substantial weight when developing curriculum standards and approving instructional materials. Classroom educators understand student learning, pacing, and instructional feasibility across diverse school settings. Their expertise helps ensure standards are clear, coherent, and realistic to implement. Input should be representative of different roles, regions, and student populations and considered alongside research and public feedback. Elevating educator expertise leads to stronger curriculum, better instructional materials, and more effective implementation statewide.

5. Parental Input

How should the SBOE approach curriculum and instructional materials decisions amid increased legislative emphasis on “parental rights”? What does meaningful parent engagement look like at the state level?

Parents are essential partners in public education and deserve transparent, meaningful engagement. At the state level, this includes clear access to information, adequate review time, and inclusive public comment opportunities. Communication should be accessible across languages and communities. The SBOE sets statewide standards, while local districts address implementation and individual concerns. Balancing parent input with educator expertise and research helps protect academic quality, respect local context, and support student learning across Texas.

6. Implementation of House Bill (HB) 1605

Under HB 1605, the SBOE now reviews and approves TEA-developed instructional materials, including state-funded “Open Education Resource” options. How should the board balance local control and state oversight to ensure materials are high-quality and aligned to standards, as well as reflect Texas values without politicization? 

Under HB 1605, the SBOE should ensure TEA developed instructional materials are standards aligned, accurate, and usable while respecting local control. State oversight should emphasize educator review, research based evaluation, and transparency. Open Education Resource materials must support diverse learners and modern instructional practices. Districts should retain flexibility through clear review and adoption processes. Materials should reflect Texas values through fact based, balanced content rather than political influence.

7. Assessment and Accountability Reform

Texas is transitioning to new assessment and accountability systems under House Bill 8. The bill transfers board authority related to the testing and accountability system from the SBOE to TEA. What should the role of the SBOE be regarding the statewide testing and accountability system?

Although HB 8 shifted authority to TEA, the SBOE retains an important oversight role. The board should monitor fairness, accessibility, language supports, accommodations, and the equity of online administration. It should elevate educator concerns about instructional time lost and financial costs. The SBOE should encourage multiple measures of learning, including project based approaches, and examine whether punitive outcomes such as state takeovers improve learning or destabilize school communities.

8. Charter School Oversight

Should the SBOE retain its authority to veto or approve new charter applications? Should the board’s veto authority be expanded to include charter expansion requests? How can the board ensure transparency and community input in this process?

The SBOE should retain authority to approve or veto charter applications as an essential accountability function. I support extending review to charter expansions when they significantly affect funding or districts. Expansion decisions should meet the same academic and financial standards as initial applications. Transparency and meaningful community input are critical, especially for urban and rural districts. Strong oversight and community input protect public resources and school stability.

9. Special Education and Inclusive Curriculum

How should the SBOE ensure that curriculum standards and instructional materials meet the needs of students receiving special education services, English learners, and other diverse student populations?

The SBOE must ensure curriculum standards and instructional materials are inclusive and accessible to students receiving special education services, English learners, and other diverse populations. This requires meaningful input from special education and bilingual educators and families. Materials should include accommodations, differentiation guidance, and culturally responsive design. Technology should expand access through translation tools, captions, and interpretation. Inclusive curriculum supports student dignity, family engagement, and high expectations for all learners.

10. Transparency and Public Engagement

What steps should the SBOE take to make its processes, such as TEKS review committees, charter hearings, and instructional materials approvals, more transparent and accessible to educators and the public?

The SBOE should make its work transparent, accessible, and easy to understand. Information on curriculum reviews, charter hearings, and materials approvals should be posted early in clear language. Meetings should be livestreamed, archived, captioned, translated, and offer flexible public comment options. The board should explain how public input informs decisions. Transparency builds trust and ensures governance reflects the diversity of Texas public schools.

11. Oversight of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)

Do you believe the SBOE should continue to have the authority to review and potentially veto any rulemaking actions taken by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)? Why or why not?

Yes. The SBOE should retain authority to review SBEC rulemaking to protect fairness, due process, and transparency. Certification rules shape who enters and remains in the profession and must not create unnecessary barriers, especially in high need areas. Oversight helps ensure investigations and disciplinary processes are clear, proportional, and respectful of educator rights. Responsible review strengthens recruitment, retention, and trust in the educator workforce.