Tex. Codes » Education Code · TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION · SUBTITLE A. GENERAL PROVISIONS · CHAPTER 4. PUBLIC EDUCATION MISSION, OBJECTIVES, AND GOALS
Texas Codes

Tex. Educ. Code § 4.001 (2026)

Public Education Mission And Objectives

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
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Sec. 4.001. PUBLIC EDUCATION MISSION AND OBJECTIVES. (a) The mission of the public education system of this state is to ensure that all Texas children have access to a quality education that enables them to achieve their potential and fully participate now and in the future in the social, economic, and educational opportunities of our state and nation. That mission is grounded on the conviction that a general diffusion of knowledge is essential for the welfare of this state and for the preservation of the liberties and rights of citizens. It is further grounded on the conviction that a successful public education system is directly related to a strong, dedicated, and supportive family and that parental involvement in the school is essential for the maximum educational achievement of a child.

(b) The objectives of public education are:

OBJECTIVE 1: Parents will be full partners with educators in the education of their children.

OBJECTIVE 2: Students will be encouraged and challenged to meet their full educational potential.

OBJECTIVE 3: Through enhanced dropout prevention efforts, all students will remain in school until they obtain a high school diploma.

OBJECTIVE 4: A well-balanced and appropriate curriculum will be provided to all students. Through that curriculum, students will be prepared to succeed in a variety of postsecondary activities, including employment and enrollment in institutions of higher education.

OBJECTIVE 5: Educators shall cultivate in students an informed American patriotism and lead students in a close study of the founding documents of the United States and Texas. The purpose of this objective is to:

(1) increase students' knowledge of the deepest and noblest purposes of the United States and Texas;

(2) enhance students' intellectual independence so that students may become thoughtful, informed citizens who have an appreciation for the fundamental democratic principles of our state and national heritage; and

(3) guide students toward understanding and productively functioning in a free enterprise society.

OBJECTIVE 6: Qualified and highly effective personnel will be recruited, developed, and retained.

OBJECTIVE 7: The state's students will demonstrate exemplary performance in comparison to national and international standards.

OBJECTIVE 8: School campuses will maintain a safe and disciplined environment conducive to student learning.

OBJECTIVE 9: Educators will keep abreast of the development of creative and innovative techniques in instruction and administration using those techniques as appropriate to improve student learning.

OBJECTIVE 10: Technology will be implemented and used to increase the effectiveness of student learning, instructional management, staff development, and administration.

OBJECTIVE 11: The State Board of Education, the agency, and the commissioner shall assist school districts and charter schools in providing career and technology education to students.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 82, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 405 (H.B. 136), Sec. 1, eff. June 1, 2017.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1005 (H.B. 4509), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2021.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2001–2025 · leading case: Neeley v. West Orange-Cove Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist., 176 S.W.3d 746 (Tex. 2005).
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Neeley v. West Orange-Cove Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist., 176 S.W.3d 746 (Tex. 2005). · cites it 4× “" TEX. EDUC. CODE § 4.001(a) (emphasis added).”
West Orange-Cove Consol. I.S.D. v. Alanis, 107 S.W.3d 558 (Tex. 2003). · cites it 4× “[114] Tex. Educ.Code § 4.001(a). [115] Edgewood IV, 917 S.”
Daniel M. Perez v. Region 20 Educ. Serv. Ctr., 307 F.3d 318 (5th Cir. 2002). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Educ.Code Ann. § 4.001(a) (Vernon 1996 & Supp.”
Ex Parte Morales, 212 S.W.3d 483 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Educ.Code Ann. § 4.001(a) (West 2006).”
Mike Morath v. Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness Coalition Calhoun Cnty. Isd Edgewood Isd Fort Bend Isd Texas Charter Sch. Ass'n & Joyce Coleman, 490 S.W.3d 826 (Tex. 2016). “We render a take-nothing judgment on all of the Plaintiffs’ and Intervenors’ other claims.”
State v. United States, 201 F. Supp. 3d 810 (N.D. Tex. 2016). “051 ("An independent school district is governed by a board of trustees who, as a corporate body, shall: (1) oversee the management of the district; and (2) ensure the superintendent implements and monitors plans, procedures, programs, and systems to achieve appropriate, clearly…”
Jeffrey v. Bd. of Trs. of the Bells ISD, 261 F. Supp. 2d 719 (E.D. Tex. 2003). “See Tex. Educ.Code Ann. § 4.001 (explaining mission statement and goals for equal access to public education); § 25.”
Stafford Mun. Sch. Dist. v. L.P. ex rel. L.P., 64 S.W.3d 559 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001). “See Tex. Educ.Code Ann. § 4.001 (explaining mission statement and goals for equal access to public education); § 25.”
Texas Appleseed v. Spring Branch Indep. Sch. Dist., 388 S.W.3d 775 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012). “See Tex. Educ.Code Ann. §§ 4.001, 26.001, 26.”
Mike Morath v. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 15-24-00101-CV (Tex. App.—15th Dist. Jan. 17, 2025). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Educ. Code § 4.001(b). Accordingly, districts should have understood that a 60% CCMR rate was not sufficient, regardless of cut scores.”
Brandon Hodges v. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 15-24-00109-CV (Tex. App.—15th Dist. Jan. 22, 2025). · cites it 2× “24 TEX. EDUC. CODE § 4.001(a) ..............”
Mike Morath v. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 15-24-00101-CV (Tex. App.—15th Dist. Mar. 4, 2025). · cites it 2× “passim Tex. Educ. Code § 4.001(a) ..............”
Show all 26 citing cases →
Tex. Educ. Code § 4.001(a): 13 cases
Neeley v. West Orange-Cove Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist., 176 S.W.3d 746 (Tex. 2005). “" TEX. EDUC. CODE § 4.001(a) (emphasis added).”
West Orange-Cove Consol. I.S.D. v. Alanis, 107 S.W.3d 558 (Tex. 2003). “[114] Tex. Educ.Code § 4.001(a). [115] Edgewood IV, 917 S.”
Daniel M. Perez v. Region 20 Educ. Serv. Ctr., 307 F.3d 318 (5th Cir. 2002). “” Tex. Educ.Code Ann. § 4.001(a) (Vernon 1996 & Supp.”
Ex Parte Morales, 212 S.W.3d 483 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). “" Tex. Educ.Code Ann. § 4.001(a) (West 2006).”
Mike Morath v. Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness Coalition Calhoun Cnty. Isd Edgewood Isd Fort Bend Isd Texas Charter Sch. Ass'n & Joyce Coleman, 490 S.W.3d 826 (Tex. 2016). “We render a take-nothing judgment on all of the Plaintiffs’ and Intervenors’ other claims.”
Tex. Educ. Code § 4.001(b): 2 cases
State v. United States, 201 F. Supp. 3d 810 (N.D. Tex. 2016). “051 ("An independent school district is governed by a board of trustees who, as a corporate body, shall: (1) oversee the management of the district; and (2) ensure the superintendent implements and monitors plans, procedures, programs, and systems to achieve appropriate, clearly…”
Mike Morath v. Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 15-24-00101-CV (Tex. App.—15th Dist. Jan. 17, 2025). “” Tex. Educ. Code § 4.001(b). Accordingly, districts should have understood that a 60% CCMR rate was not sufficient, regardless of cut scores.”
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