Gov. Greg Abbott convened the inaugural meeting of the Texas Classroom Commission at the Governor’s Mansion on Aug. 10, charging the panel with strengthening student achievement, supporting Texas educators and making Texas the top state in the nation for educating children, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The meeting marks the formal start of work for the 22-member commission, which Abbott announced earlier this year to put educators at the center of shaping the future of public education in Texas, the release said.
“Among the number one rankings we have in our state, it’s time to add another: Texas must rank number one in educating our children,” Abbott said in the release. “The goal now is to ensure enduring progress toward making Texas the best state in America for educating our kids, and the Texas Classroom Commission will chart that path.”
During the meeting, Abbott asked the commission to focus on three key charges: improving student proficiency in math and reading, limiting screentime in classrooms, and identifying additional strategies to attract and retain high-quality teachers, according to the release. The commission will also examine ways to better equip parents to support their children’s academic progress and to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens so teachers can spend more time on classroom instruction.
The commission is chaired by Courtney Boswell MacDonald of Kerrville, a former classroom teacher who currently chairs the State Board for Educator Certification. “I wanted to ensure the teacher perspective had a meaningful place in the decision-making process, and I am honored to lead this Commission and help educators engage in and influence education policy,” MacDonald said in the release. “I have immense respect for our teachers and the profound impact they have on more than 5 million students across Texas.”
The commission will meet regularly and produce a report with legislative recommendations ahead of the 90th Texas Legislative Session, the governor’s office said.