Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for new restrictions to limit foreign influence in Texas public schools, including a proposed ban on H-1B visa workers in K-12 education.
Abbott unveiled the initiative on Tuesday, saying foreign governments and entities connected to them should have no influence over what Texas students are taught.
“Our obligation is to educate students on how and why 13 colonies were able to come together, form a union, and go on to be the most successful and greatest country in history,” Abbott said, per the Daily Signal. “Those standards of what we are teaching our children, they’re being compromised by foreign influence. We cannot condone the quiet indoctrination of our children in the classroom.”
The governor’s proposal would require legislative action when lawmakers return next year.
What Abbott Is Proposing
Under the plan, Texas public schools would be prohibited from accepting gifts or entering into partnerships and other financial arrangements with foreign governments or entities they own, fund, or act through.
The proposal is intended to prevent foreign entities from using financial support, educational partnerships or other arrangements to influence Texas schools or classroom instruction.
“Texas classrooms should be a safe place for students to learn, grow, and succeed, not a place for foreign entities to indoctrinate young Texans,” Abbott said. “There should be zero foreign influence in the education of our children. My proposal will shut the door on foreign money, materials, and partnerships in our K-12 schools.”
Abbott pointed to previous examples of foreign-funded educational programs as evidence of the need for additional restrictions.
Foreign Funding in Texas Schools
According to information cited by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Qatar Foundation International provided Austin ISD with $462,000 between 2016 and 2022 to support Arabic language and culture instruction.
The organization reported that Qatar Foundation International also funded Arabic instructors at Austin High School and Burnet Middle School, as well as curricular materials and instructional resources.
The foundation said some materials used by Austin ISD included textbooks and workbooks from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, and Qatar.
Similar concerns were raised regarding Houston ISD. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies reported that Qatari funding supported the Arabic Language and Culture program at the Arabic Immersion Magnet School.
A 2015 agreement also allowed Qatar Foundation International staff and consultants to observe classroom instruction, according to documents cited by the organization.
Abbott’s proposal would expand restrictions on such financial relationships between Texas public schools and foreign entities.
Abbott Targets H-1B Visas in Schools
The initiative also calls for a complete ban on H-1B workers in Texas public schools.
Abbott said the goal is to ensure that jobs in Texas public schools are available to Texans rather than being filled through the federal temporary worker program.
“Exactly zero Texas public school employees should be here on H-1B visas,” Abbott said, according to the Daily Signal.
The governor’s proposal follows an earlier directive that froze new H-1B visa petitions by state agencies and public universities. That directive did not apply to K-12 school districts.
Abbott said the new legislation would apply to both existing H-1B workers and future applicants employed by Texas public schools.
School Districts Use H-1B Workers for Teacher Shortages
Some Texas school districts use H-1B visas to fill positions where they say there are critical shortages, including bilingual education and special education.
Dallas ISD has been one of the largest users of the program. Federal data show 230 H-1B approvals for the district in 2025, while other reporting has identified 171 current H-1B visa holders employed by Dallas ISD.
Dallas ISD said it hires educators from outside the country only for critical shortages identified by the Texas Education Agency and that each educator is certified by the state.
“If the governor’s new expectation is to eliminate these teachers, then we’re going to need more Texans in the teaching pipeline,” the district said in a statement, The Texas Tribune reported.
Texas public school districts Proposal Would Require Legislative Approval
The Legislature will have to approve the proposed restrictions before Abbott could sign them into law. Abbott’s proposal comes as his administration and the Trump administration have taken a broader focus on the use of H-1B visas. Federal officials have faced criticism from the administration over employers’ use of the program and allegations that foreign workers can be used to replace American workers. H-1B applications are federally reviewed and approved, meaning Texas legislation would address the use of those workers specifically within the state’s public school system. Abbott said the broader objective is to prevent foreign governments and foreign-backed organizations from influencing Texas education. “Bottom line is, foreign influence of any kind has no place in our classrooms,” Abbott said. “We will achieve that goal.”
Provided by Dallas Express
