AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday launched the Texas Classroom Commission, a new teacher-led initiative intended to bring current and retired public school educators together to develop recommendations on classroom instruction, teacher support, and student achievement ahead of the state’s 90th Legislative Session, according to the governor’s office.
According to the governor’s office, the commission will make recommendations to the governor, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Legislature. Its focus will include classroom instruction, teacher support, learning environments, and student readiness. The commission will consist of current and retired public school classroom teachers from across the state.
The commission will be led by Courtney Boswell MacDonald of Kerrville, a former classroom teacher and the current chair of the State Board for Educator Certification. According to the governor’s office, 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. The commission is expected to begin meeting in the coming weeks.
“Texas teachers know what their students need to succeed,” Abbott said in a statement. “The 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.”
The governor’s office described the commission as building on recent legislative investments in public education and teacher pay. Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick both released statements supporting the launch.
“Texas teachers play a foundational role in shaping the next generation, making their work essential to our state’s future,” Burrows said in a statement. “Last session, the Texas Legislature made an unprecedented investment in public education, providing permanent teacher pay raises, increasing funding for the Teacher Incentive Allotment, and giving educators more authority in their classrooms. I look forward to Governor Abbott’s Texas Classroom Commission building on that progress with recommendations that help Texas students receive the best education in the nation.”
“Texas remains committed to delivering for our public school students and teachers,” Patrick said in a statement. “Other than a parent, no person is more influential in a child’s development than a teacher. Under my leadership, we have raised teacher salaries, provided additional resources in the classroom, and supported teachers in maintaining discipline in the classroom. That is why we must empower teachers to make recommendations to improve public education through the Texas Classroom Commission, so our students can achieve even better educational outcomes.”
The launch of the commission follows a period of significant state investment in Texas public education. In June, Abbott announced more than $750 million in Teacher Incentive Allotment awards distributed to more than 65,000 Texas teachers across more than 800 school systems, bringing total awards through that program to more than $1.8 billion since its creation. According to the Texas Education Agency, 809 school systems participated in the Teacher Incentive Allotment during the 2025–26 school year, with participation projected to grow to more than 1,000 systems in the fall of 2026.
The commission’s recommendations are expected to be developed ahead of the Texas Legislature’s 90th regular session.
Source: Office of the Texas Governor
