Overview
- Gov. Greg Abbott announced the Texas Classroom Commission on Tuesday, July 7, and named Courtney Boswell MacDonald, a former classroom teacher and current chair of the State Board for Educator Certification, to lead it.
- The commission will be made up of current and retired public school teachers who will meet in the coming weeks to develop classroom-focused recommendations on instruction, teacher support and student outcomes.
- Officials say the group will submit its recommendations to the governor, the Texas Education Agency and the Legislature before the start of the 2027 legislative session, but membership list, meeting schedule and specific proposals have not yet been released.
- Some coverage frames the launch as a response to recent State Board of Education curriculum changes and teacher objections, and reporters have flagged criticisms of MacDonald’s SBOE role, including reporting on rising rates of uncertified teachers during her tenure.
- The commission builds on recent state moves such as permanent teacher pay raises, expanded Teacher Incentive Allotment funding, a new Teacher Bill of Rights and a complaints portal, and its ultimate impact will depend on whether lawmakers and the TEA adopt its recommendations.