Overview
- Gov. Greg Abbott announced the new Texas Classroom Commission on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and named Courtney Boswell MacDonald, a former classroom teacher and current chair of the State Board for Educator Certification, to lead it.
- Officials say the commission will bring together current and retired public-school teachers from across Texas to develop recommendations on instruction, teacher support, student achievement and learning environments and will begin meeting in the coming weeks.
- The group is charged with delivering a report to the governor, the Texas Education Agency and the Legislature before the 90th Legislative Session so lawmakers can consider classroom-informed changes next year.
- Reporting from The Center Square has raised contested concerns that will shape public scrutiny of the commission, including a reported rise in uncertified teachers during part of MacDonald’s SBEC tenure and an $8.4 million cost to correct errors in the Bluebonnet curriculum, both described as reported criticisms rather than final findings.
- The announcement builds on recent state moves such as permanent teacher pay raises, higher funding for the Teacher Incentive Allotment and a new Teacher Bill of Rights, and the commission could affect how those investments and curriculum changes are implemented at the classroom level.