Public Testimony Registration

Instructions and Procedures

Public testimony will be in-person only.

Individuals may register online by clicking the link below starting at 8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on Monday, April 1, 2024, and continuing through 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday, April 5, 2024. You may also register by calling (512) 463-9007 during the registration period. Late registration is available on-site up to 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. 

Please read the registration instructions and procedures below.

All speakers may provide an electronic copy of their testimony for distribution to board members and agency executive staff. Registered speakers who are unable to make their presentations due to time constraints may provide an electronic copy of their testimony to agency staff for distribution to board members and agency executive staff.

Public testimony to board committees is limited to the agenda topics posted for action or discussion at that specific committee meeting.

The opportunity to testify on items posted for public hearing is during the scheduled public hearing date. Testimony on these topics will not be permitted during the related action or discussion of the same items.

Public testimony at general meetings of the State Board of Education is limited to topics that are not posted for action or discussion at the corresponding regular committee meetings or information published in the information section of the agenda.

Public testimony is limited to two (2) minutes per SBOE Operating Rules amended February 2, 2023. Agency staff shall inform the presiding chair and any affected registered speakers prior to the meeting if time constraints may not allow some registered speakers to testify. If accommodations, such as an interpreter, are needed, please call the State Board of Education (SBOE) Support Division in advance at (512) 463-9007.

If the number of registrations received indicates that testimony would exceed the time allotted, the presiding chair will determine which speakers will be heard and the order in which they will be heard. A registrant must indicate the viewpoint as “For” or “Against” the item or must indicate “Comment On” if the viewpoint will offer a mixed opinion.

No signs, placards, flags, noisemakers, or other objects of a similar nature shall be permitted in the audience gallery area. No applause, outburst or other demonstration by any spectator shall be permitted during the public testimony, public hearing, or debate portion of any State Board of Education meeting.

To read more on oral and written testimony, see SBOE Operating Rules, §2.10 Oral Public Testimony in Connection with Regular Board and Committee Meetings; §2.11 Written Testimony in Connection with Regular Board and Committee Meetings; and §2.12 Public Hearings.