At the request of the Texas commissioner of education, Achieve performed an external review of the Lone Star State's education reforms. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) sponsored the subsequent policy review. Aiming Higher focuses on the state's role in setting and measuring higher academic standards; holding schools, districts and students accountable for results; strengthening teaching; and helping schools and districts build capacity to make the changes consistent with the reforms while sustaining public support for them.

In conjunction with nationally respected education experts, Achieve found that Texas' strategy for improving its schools has been consistent, reasonable and incremental over the span of nearly two decades. This has resulted in assessments that are well aligned to standards and that are generally clear and rigorous. The state's accountability provisions and professional development programs also are aligned to the standards and tests.

Achieve recommended that policymakers stay true to the legislature's intentions in the 1999 education reform law by ensuring that the new state tests are more challenging for all students and schools. The state should continue to hold the academic bar high but respond reasonably to initial poor results by providing extra support for struggling students and addressing public concerns to keep support strong.