Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday outlined the first priorities of the Texas Classroom Commission, a teacher-led group tasked with recommending ways to improve the state’s public schools.
Speaking at a press conference at the Governor’s Mansion, Abbott said the commission will initially focus on improving math and reading proficiency, reducing screen time in classrooms, and finding ways to attract and retain high-quality teachers.
Abbott appointed 21 educators to the Texas Classroom Commission earlier this month. He said the group’s purpose is to “ensure enduring progress toward our goal of ranking number one in America for educating our kids.”
The commission will meet monthly and is expected to deliver a final report before the next legislative session begins in January.
One of the first issues the commission will examine is the amount of time students spend using screens in the classroom.
Abbott said the effort comes “in addition to” the law banning cell phones in classrooms that passed during the 89th Legislative Session.
“Too much screen time hinders, as opposed to helping educate a child,” Abbott said.
Teacher recruitment and retention will also be a major focus.
The issue is already on the agenda for state lawmakers ahead of the next legislative session. Both the Texas House and Senate education committees have listed teacher or talent retention among their 2026 interim charges.
Abbott said the commission will seek input from public school teachers, superintendents and administrators as it develops recommendations.
He said that input will help ensure the commission is “providing the types of strategies that will actually be useful to them and employable by them.”
Courtney Boswell MacDonald, a former math teacher, will chair the commission.
MacDonald previously worked on the Texas Senate Education Committee and served as executive director for Texans for Education Reform, the Texas Institute for Education Reform and Texas Aspires.
She said her involvement in education policy came from a desire to “ensure that the teacher perspective had a meaningful place in the decision-making process.”
The commission’s work comes as Texas begins implementing Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TEFA, the state’s education savings account program.
Asked Monday how the program relates to the work of the new commission, Abbott emphasized that the TCC is focused on public education.
“Oftentimes, when [parents] choose that pathway under the ESA program, it will be different from public education,” Abbott said.
Even with the TEFA program, Abbott said “something like 99 percent” of Texas students will be educated through the public school system.
“We have to have the best public schools in the United States,” Abbott said. “I know that educators together with me here today will put us on that path.”
Abbott also addressed school closures during Monday’s press conference, saying changing population patterns are contributing to enrollment shifts around the state.
A number of school closures have been announced for the upcoming school year.
Abbott said “parents of school-age children are moving to different locations,” noting that while schools are closing in some areas, new campuses are being built elsewhere.
He also tied some of those population shifts to property taxes.
“I can tell you for a fact why some people are leaving local schools in Austin, Texas, and that's because people are fed up with the property taxes here,” Abbott said.
The governor then pointed to his property tax plan, which he said would change the way Texas pays for public education.
Abbott claimed his plan would ensure that homesteads would no longer be used to fund public schools.
“Instead, the State of Texas will be responsible for that part of funding public education,” he said.
The Texas Classroom Commission is expected to continue meeting over the coming months as it develops recommendations on academics, classroom screen use and the teacher workforce.
Its final report will be delivered before lawmakers return to Austin in January.
