Email Signup
We’ll keep you up to date on important information concerning Thomas Ratliff.
Contact
Phone: (903) 422-5535
Email:
Thomas@ThomasRatliff.com
Contribute Online
Welcome to the Ratliff Campaign Website!
Thank you for your interest in my campaign. Thanks also to those of you who participated in this election. Whether you supported Dr. McLeroy or me, I appreciate your interest in public education in Texas.
I am proud of both campaigns for talking about the issues, instead of each other. Dr. McLeroy is an honorable man who gave 11 years of service to the SBOE and I thank him for his service.
During the rest of 2010, my goal is to learn as much as possible so I can hit the ground running after being sworn in next January.
Again, thank you for your support. I am honored to have this opportunity to represent you on the State Board of Education.
Sincerely,
Thomas Ratliff
What is the State Board of Education?
The following is an excerpt from the Texas Education Agency website:
SBOE History and Duties:
Establishing policy and providing leadership for the Texas public school system are the responsibilities of the State Board of Education. By adopting policies and setting standards for educational programs, the Board provides the direction necessary to enable Texas public schools to prepare today’s schoolchildren for a successful future.
Composed of 15 members elected from roughly equally populous State Board of Education districts, the Board adopts rules and establishes policies that govern a wide range of educational programs and services provided by Texas public schools. The commissioner of education serves as chief executive officer of the Board and supervises the administration of Board rules through the Texas Education Agency. Together the Board, the commissioner, and the Agency facilitate the operation of a vast public school system consisting of 1,229 school districts and charter schools, more than 8,200 campuses, more than 630,000 educators and other employees, and more than 4.7 million schoolchildren. The Board establishes goals for the public school system and adopts and promotes four-year plans for meeting those goals.
As part of its efforts to provide the best possible education to public school students, the Board designates and mandates instruction in the knowledge and skills that are essential to a well-balanced curriculum. The Board approves and determines passing scores for the state-mandated assessment program.
In its other activities, the Board oversees the investment of the Permanent School Fund, approves the creation of charter schools, and adopts regulations and standards for the operation of adult education programs provided by public school districts, junior colleges and universities.