Trista Bishop-Watt
Director, Government Relations
The Texas House Public Education Committee released its interim report, detailing its findings from the interim and recommendations for the 89th Legislative Session. Here are five key takeaways:
Teacher Retention and Preparation: One in 10 Texas students had a first-year teacher last school year. With a significant increase in new teachers, teacher preparation and retention are critical for a thriving talent pipeline. Research shows that higher-quality preparation pathways lead to better retention, but these programs are expensive for potential educators. The Committee uplifted the Texas Teacher Vacancy Task Force recommendations for consideration during session and recommended incentivizing teacher residencies, apprenticeships, and Grow Your Own programs.
Teacher Compensation: Narrowing in on one of the Task Force proposals, the Committee discussed the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). Since implementation, TIA has reached nearly 600 school districts and over 25,000 teachers. TIA offers an average additional $11,000 in pay, and retention among TIA-designated teachers is over 8 percentage points higher than their peers. To build on this momentum, the Committee recommended expanding the allotment to provide more teachers these benefits. Additional funding, paired with technical assistance to districts, could accelerate the recognition and retention of highly effective educators.
Accelerating Math Outcomes: According to 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) data, fewer than 1 in 4 Texas 8th graders are proficient in math. Research shows that students who take advanced math courses are more likely to complete a postsecondary degree. For example, only 5% of students who don’t take Algebra II finish higher education. This echoes recent research by Good Reason Houston that found access to advanced courses significantly increases credential attainment for Houston-area graduates. To improve math outcomes, the Committee recommended enhanced data collection to track the success of new math pathways introduced by SB 2124 (88R). They also stressed the importance of early numeracy instruction and suggested more professional development for math educators, along with incentivizing participation in Math Academies.
Focus on Early Learning: Like their Texas Senate counterparts, the Committee has paid significant attention to early learning. Although literacy outcomes have improved since the pandemic, only 46% of 3rd graders are reading at grade level, with the figure dropping to 35% for economically disadvantaged students. Third grade continues to be a crucial juncture. Only 1 in 5 students who are below grade level in reading by 3rd grade are able to catch up by 6th grade. Learning from best practices in other states and school districts in Texas, the Committee recommended strengthening early outcome monitoring and interventions using evidence-based screening to identify and support struggling students before they reach 3rd grade. The Committee also recommended increasing the Compensatory Education allotment to provide funding for targeted student support.
Pre-K’s Critical Role: With only half of Texas students entering kindergarten prepared, the Committee highlighted the importance of pre-K. Students who attend pre-K are nearly twice as likely to be ready for kindergarten, especially among economically disadvantaged and emergent bilingual children. The Committee recommended expanding the Early Education Allotment to ensure pre-K students generate funding and improving access to quality pre-K programs. They also suggested eliminating barriers to partnerships with childcare providers to increase high quality early learning opportunities.
