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TEA released five To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) letters earlier this afternoon, one of which will have major implications for pre-K program going forward. Here is our summary:
HB 2 pre-K partnership requirements (Link to TAA)
TEA has officially designated the five regional pre-K partnership intermediaries that will be tasked with ensuring compliance with the new requirements established under HB 2:
Pre-K expansion limits. Under TEC §29.153(g)(2), before a district or charter school may construct, repurpose, lease a classroom, or issue bonds for construction or repurposing of a classroom facility to provide required pre-K classes, it must do two things: solicit and consider partnership proposals from qualifying community-based child-care providers, and obtain an official determination to expand public pre-K from a TEA-designated intermediary. Intermediaries base that determination on whether high-quality pre-K providers with capacity to serve students already exist in the area.
Pre-K tuition restrictions. Under TEC §29.1531(c), a district may offer tuition-based pre-K only after receiving an official determination from an intermediary that no private providers meeting the §29.153 qualifications are available to serve the students the district plans to charge.
Partnership funding pass-through. Districts in pre-K partnerships with private providers must pass at least 85% of funds through to the provider, effective 2025-2026. Waiver requests are due October 30, 2026.
What this means for you: The expansion and tuition provisions are the significant ones to note for most districts. Intermediaries begin issuing determinations for programs operating in 2027-2028, so districts planning facility work or a tuition-based program for that year should build the determination step into their timeline now. We expect to learn more about the determination process during a series of webinars held next month. Additional details on the process and informational sessions are on TEA's Pre-K Partnership webpage.
HB 2 teacher certification incentive (Link to TAA)
Under TEC §21.0033, districts receive a one-time $1,000 payment per eligible educator. Eligibility requires three specific conditions to be met. The teacher has to:
- have been hired as an uncertified first-year teacher in 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 and have remained uncertified as of January 1, 2025;
- have achieved standard certification by the end of 2026-2027; and
- have maintained continuous employment with the same district since hire.
TEA processed FY2026 payments in late July, and the program continues through the 2026-2027 school year.
What this means for you: The hard deadline is June 1, 2027 — a teacher certified after that date does not generate a payment. It is worth identifying which of your teachers are in the eligible cohort now and tracking their certification progress. Districts have local discretion on fund use (direct payment to teachers or recruitment and retention initiatives) but must document allocation and use for audit purposes.
And the rest, briefly: Under SB 2314, a new direct admissions graduation requirement takes effect for students enrolled in 2026-2027 — each student must either create a My Texas Future profile and elect to participate or complete a THECB opt-out form, authorized by a parent, the student if 18 or older, or a counselor (Link to TAA).
The state will subsidize $26 per exam for eligible students taking spring 2027 AP and IB exams (Link to TAA).
Lastly, nominations are open for two national student recognition programs (Link to TAA).
📅 Key dates mentioned 📅
Sept. 2, 15, and 28, 2026 | Pre-K intermediary overview webinars
Oct. 30, 2026 | Pre-K 85% pass-through waiver requests due
June 1, 2027 | Teacher certification deadline for incentive
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