The 90th Texas Legislature (beginning January 2027) is likely to revisit many unresolved or only partially resolved public education issues from the 89th session. Based on interim committee charges, enacted legislation, budget pressures, and the political priorities of state leadership, several major battles are already taking shape. School Voucher / ESA Expansion and Oversight The single biggest education issue will likely be implementation and expansion of the new Education Savings Account (ESA) program created in 2025.
Key questions lawmakers will face: Whether the program’s funding cap should be increased How accountability and auditing will work Whether participating private schools should face additional transparency requirements Whether eligibility should expand further into middle-income families How quickly costs will grow relative to projections Many education groups believe ESA participation could exceed initial projections, especially once the program fully launches in late 2026.
Expect fierce debate over: Public accountability standards Testing requirements for voucher recipients Fraud prevention Rural impacts Whether additional public school stabilization funding is needed
Public School Finance and the Basic Allotment
Even after the large 2025 funding package, many districts argue the increase did not keep pace with inflation, insurance, utilities, transportation, and staffing costs. The biggest school finance issue may again become the Basic Allotment — the foundational per-student funding amount in Texas school finance.
Many districts and advocacy organizations are expected to push for: Another increase in the Basic Allotment Automatic inflation indexing More operational flexibility Relief for fast-growth districts Additional rural and mid-size district supports Expect a continuation of the argument that categorical funding increases do not solve structural operational deficits. Teacher Recruitment, Retention, and Certification
Teacher workforce problems remain severe in Texas. Issues likely to dominate: Teacher pay raises Retention incentives Teacher pipeline shortages Uncertified teachers Alternative certification standards Texas has seen a sharp rise in uncertified teachers entering classrooms in recent years.
Likely proposals: Expanded teacher residency programs More merit-pay or incentive-pay models Hard-to-staff campus stipends Expanded “Teacher Incentive Allotment” programs Stricter certification requirements Easier pathways into teaching This area may become one of the few bipartisan education priorities.
TRS ActiveCare and Educator Healthcare Costs
School districts continue struggling with rapidly rising healthcare costs under TRS ActiveCare. This has been a persistent superintendent complaint across Texas, especially among districts considering leaving the system or seeking more local control. The 90th session could include: Pressure to redesign TRS ActiveCare Increased state healthcare contributions More district flexibility Cost-sharing reforms Expanded regional options TRS funding levels were largely maintained during the 89th session, but long-term affordability concerns remain unresolved.
Accountability, STAAR, and A–F Ratings
Texas lawmakers revised accountability systems in 2025, but the controversy is far from over.
Likely 2027 debates: STAAR redesign Testing frequency A–F rating calculations Lawsuits over accountability systems How growth vs. proficiency is weighted Chronic absenteeism metrics Intervention authority over struggling districts There is growing bipartisan frustration with the complexity and volatility of the accountability system.
Expect continued efforts to: Reduce testing pressure Simplify ratings Emphasize career readiness Modify intervention triggers
Special Education Funding Reform
This is one of the most likely major bipartisan reform areas. Texas still largely funds special education based on instructional setting rather than actual services required. Multiple task forces have recommended moving to a service-intensity model.
Potential reforms include: Weighted funding based on student need Expanded dyslexia funding Increased behavioral support funding More special education staffing support Changes tied to federal compliance pressures Many observers think this issue has enough momentum to become one of the centerpiece education bills of 2027.
School Safety and Student Discipline
School safety remains politically powerful after continued national concerns over campus violence.
The Legislature is also likely to continue pursuing socially conservative education policies.
Potential issues include: DEI restrictions in K–12 schools Curriculum oversight Library book regulation Parental rights expansion Religious expression in schools Pronoun and gender-related policies Classroom content transparency Several proposals advanced during the 89th session may return in stronger form during the 90th.
Enrollment Decline and District Consolidation Pressure
A quieter but increasingly important issue is enrollment decline in many districts.
Potential consequences: Campus closures Consolidation discussions Financial distress declarations Increased TEA intervention activity This may especially affect small rural districts and urban districts losing population.
Long-Term Political Question: Public Education’s Role
The deeper philosophical debate shaping the 90th session will likely be: Is Texas moving toward a diversified parent-choice education system, or preserving a public-school-centered system with supplemental choice options? That tension now sits underneath nearly every education discussion: funding, accountability, teacher staffing, governance, and state oversight.
The voucher battle itself may be legally settled for now, but the fight over its scale, consequences, and impact on traditional districts is probably just beginning.
