Royce West

Additional Information from ATPE

First elected to the Texas Senate in 1992. Current term expires January 2029.

Member of the Senate Education Committee.

Ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2020.

Longtime advocate for increasing funding for public education.

In 2021, West filed legislation at ATPEs request to improve sick leave options for school employees.

Supported by one or more pro-public education organizations in the 2024 Texas primaries.

In 2014, West received campaign contributions of $10,000 or more from a political action committee formed by Texans for Education Reform (TER), an entity that has lobbied extensively for school choice and privatization of public schools, expansion of charter and virtual schools, tying teacher evaluations to student test scores, reducing teachers' contract rights and benefits, and extending credit-by-exam provisions for students.

Authored legislation in 2013 to create an Achievement School District for certain low-performing schools to be managed by private charter operators.

Recipient of an ATPE Freedom to Teach Award in 2006 and an ATPE resolution honoring service to public education in 2000