Unofficial election results show the Texas State Board of Education could have seven Republicans and seven Democrats when it convenes in January. Before the vote, the board had 11 Republicans and four Democrats. One race, District 8, remains too close to call. Democrat Dana Van de Walker leads Republican incumbent Audrey Young by fewer than 600 votes, with about 1% of the vote unaccounted for, according to unofficial returns. If the lead holds, Democrats would win their first board majority since 1994.
Earlier this year, the board approved changes that included a Bible-infused reading list and a social studies curriculum that linked Islam to violence. The Texas Education Agency has pushed districts to adopt Bluebonnet, state-developed instructional materials that include Bible stories. The materials have drawn criticism for containing thousands of errors.
Tiffany Clark, a Democrat from DeSoto who was reelected Tuesday, said the board has an opportunity to review current policies that she said have not worked for all students. The board sets learning standards, graduation requirements and approves charter school applications.