Gina Hinojosa sets education commissioner change as first order of business

Democratic Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has designated the removal of Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath as her top priority upon taking office in January.

During her victory speech on Tuesday night, Hinojosa told supporters that she would fire Morath on her first day in office. The announcement drew cheers from the crowd. Hinojosa has long criticized the state's management of public schools, focusing specifically on the accountability system and the state's authority to intervene in struggling districts.

Morath has led the Texas Education Agency since January 2016, when he was appointed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott. The agency oversees a system serving approximately 5.5 million students. Its responsibilities include distributing state and federal funding, administering standardized tests, and assigning A through F accountability ratings to schools and districts. The agency also holds the legal power to replace locally elected school boards with state-appointed managers if a district fails to meet performance standards.

Morath’s current appointment is set to expire on January 10, nine days before Hinojosa assumes the governorship. This timing allows Hinojosa to appoint a successor rather than issue a formal termination. Her transition team began interviewing candidates on Thursday. However, any nominee must secure confirmation from the Texas Senate, where Republicans maintained their majority in Tuesday's election.

Hinojosa, who previously served as the board president for Austin Independent School District, has argued that the current leadership lacks educational expertise. She stated in an October interview with The Texas Standard that while she has no personal animosity toward Morath, she believes the position requires an educator to guide the system. She also criticized the A-F rating system, noting that it relies heavily on a standardized test created and graded by the same agency. She pledged to pause this system to introduce an objective outside measure of student performance.

A central point of contention is the state's takeover of Houston ISD, the largest district in the state. In 2023, the agency replaced the elected board and superintendent with state appointees after years of poor academic results. While supporters cite improved accountability ratings, critics argue the state removed local community control. Hinojosa has pledged to return Houston ISD to local governance. She also opposes the potential state takeover of Austin ISD, where she previously served, due to special education deficiencies. Her wider agenda includes increasing public school funding, raising teacher salaries, and opposing the state's private school voucher program.

The Texas Education Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Morath’s term expires before Hinojosa takes office on January 19, creating a window for her to select a new commissioner. Replacing Morath will not automatically reverse existing policies, as many agency powers are established by state law. Changing those laws requires legislative support. Democrats won control of the Texas House in Tuesday's election, but Republicans kept the Senate. This divided government may complicate Hinojosa’s efforts to overhaul public education, though a new commissioner could alter how the agency implements current laws.