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FIRST ON FOX: Texas Senate candidate James Talarico once criticized the Texas public school system for focusing too heavily on academics while arguing that social-emotional learning should receive greater attention, and also declaring that Texas schools were “not built” for “poor students” or “students of color.”
“I was trapped in a system that was focused purely on academics, reading, writing, arithmetic. And there wasn’t time to talk about social-emotional learning,” Talarico said in a 2020 discussion with Texas Rising — a progressive youth activist group.
“All the things that we all know on this call are more important than whether or not you memorize the quadratic equation,” he continued.
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Texas Senate candidate James Talarico speaks during a “Talarico for Texas: Frontera Tour” campaign news conference at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection – World Trade Bridge on July 14, 2026 in Laredo, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Talarico made the comments while serving in the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 52nd District, after working as a public school teacher for just two years. His time working in education became a central point in his work in the legislature and now in his Senate campaign.
In the unearthed discussion, Talarico said that he felt like he wasn’t able to have “the really important conversations” with his students that “would allow them to live a fulfilling life.” He said that he was, instead, forced to focus on teaching the school curriculum rather than “social-emotional” lessons.
He also used the discussion to slam the Texas public school system as “not built” for “poor students” and “students of color.”
“Our public education system, particularly here in Texas, is not built for poor students,” Talarico said. “It’s not built for students of color. “
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Texas has attracted a wave of corporate relocations and business investment in recent years, helping fuel its emergence as a growing financial hub. (Shelby Tauber/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Talarico claimed this motivated him to introduce his “Whole Student Agenda” in 2019 — a series of 24 bills which pushed for a variety of reforms including modifications for “scientifically-accurate” sex education and encouraging restorative justice programs. Despite Talarico saying the system is “not built for students of color,” the package does not specifically address race-related issues.
The Texas Democrat has repeatedly been under fire for his progressive education work in the legislature, particularly his push for sexual education, DEI policies, law enforcement reforms and climate conversations.
Talarico described sex education as “maybe the most important topic” for Texas students to learn during a Texas House hearing in 2022. He also characterized bills addressing concerns about inappropriate school materials as “conspiracy theory-driven” and “kooky stuff.”
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He led a bill in the Texas House requiring most Texas school districts to hire a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer, as well as for DEI to “explicitly” be taught in every classroom in the public school system.
Talarico has also faced scrutiny over his education consulting work while serving on the Texas House Public Education Committee.
Fox News Digital previously reported that a firm employing Talarico received millions of dollars in contracts from the Texas Education Agency while he served on the committee. His campaign denied wrongdoing, calling the allegation a “lie.”
Talarico will go head-to-head with GOP Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton in the upcoming midterm elections, a race expected to be crucial in determining which party will take control of the Senate.
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Talarico’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.