While the brightening situation of Texas Education is evident in the TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) scores that are improving statewide, many Texas children are still not passing the tests and far more students are not mastering the subjects tested. Only about two-thirds of all economically disadvantaged students passed the TAAS tests taken in 2005 (60.2%) compared to 85 percent for white students and 73.2 percent of all students.

A disadvantage of using a standards-based Texas Education testing system to evaluate students and schools is that some schools may 'teach to the test'. While the concept of teaching those skills necessary to pass the TAAS test is not a bad strategy in and of itself, the temptation exists for schools to focus on teaching only those subjects and tasks that are on the test. Instead, Texas Education schools should provide a comprehensive curriculum that is geared toward ensuring that children are learning a variety of necessary subjects. Students who are achieving high scores on standardized tests should also be performing well in other equally important subjects such as history, geography, science, or art.

Like everywhere else, the Texas Education public schools are also charged with the job of preparing students for college and/or the work place. The academic standards to which schools and students are held and the methods by which student and school performance is evaluated are the subjects of great debate. Ideally, students should be evaluated using culturally and developmentally appropriate instruments that are based on standards and objectives of academic achievement. Each child should receive an education that will prepare him or her for a successful life; standards and tests should measure whether each child is receiving that kind of Texas Education.