Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is creating a new commission meant to guide public education in the state.<\/p>\n
The Texas Classroom Commission will be made up of current and retired teachers and tasked with developing recommendations ahead of the 2027 legislative session for classroom instruction, teacher support and educational outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTexas teachers know what their students need to succeed,” Abbott said in a statement announcing the new commission Tuesday. \u201cThe Texas Classroom Commission will bring together exemplary public school educators to identify innovative solutions that help students succeed, improve the learning environment in classrooms, and strengthen our schools.”<\/p>\n
Abbott named former Dallas and Richardson ISD math educator Courtney Boswell MacDonald to run the \u201cteacher-led initiative.\u201d She currently chairs the State Board for Educator Certification.<\/p>\n
Abbott said the goal of putting teachers at the center of shaping the future of public education will \u201c build on Texas\u2019 success and ensure our state becomes the national leader in the education of our kids..\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement, Mary Lynn Pruneda, director of education and workforce policy at the research policy group Texas 2036, called the commission a \u201ccritical opportunity to learn from and partner with educators\u201d to get more students reading and doing math at grade level.<\/p>\n
Recent results from the state\u2019s standardized STAAR tests showed high schoolers made gains across subjects<\/a>, but reading scores for students in middle and elementary schools have stalled<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this commission is to take real steps to create the No. 1 public education system in the country, there\u2019s no group better equipped to advise than our state\u2019s top teachers,\u201d Pruneda said.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the first time Texas has made an effort discuss teachers\u2019 needs, said Patricia Doyle, a leader with Dallas\u2019s Alliance AFT Teacher Organization.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re willing to see if another one will work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The commission is expected to start work in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n Bill Zeeble is KERA\u2019s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at\u00a0bzeeble@kera.org<\/a>. You can follow him on X\u00a0@bzeeble<\/a>.<\/p>\n KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider\u00a0making a tax-deductible gift today<\/a>. Thank you.<\/p>\n