From adjusting to new schedules to school supply shopping, there’s a lot to keep up with at the start of a new school year. The end of summer means the kids are waking up early again and exciting club activities are back in full swing. If that wasn’t enough, the Texas Legislature was pretty busy last year, so to help get you up to speed, here are five new changes to the classroom you should be aware of:
Governor Abbott’s Voucher Scheme is now in Full Swing (Senate Bill 2)
Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 into law last Spring, taking $1B in taxpayer dollars to subsidize tuition at private or religious schools at the behest of wealthy donors. As of August 2026, funds have been distributed to more than 100,000 students who were accepted into the program. That number is still expected to grow, and another 100,000 students remain on the waiting list.
Meanwhile, our research finds two-thirds of Texans are concerned these vouchers will increase school closures and take needed public dollars away from public schools. In fact, Community Impact reports that at least 150 public schools have closed across the state in the last three years.
If you’re interested in learning more about how this voucher scheme is already harming Texans, check out our deep dive from earlier this summer.
Texas Swaps to New Special Education Funding Model (House Bill 2/Senate Bill 568)
Last year, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 568: investing $1.3B in special education funding, but also changing the funding model from what’s called an “instructional arrangement/settings-based” system to a “service intensity” system.
This means funds will be more closely tied to a student’s individual needs instead of where a student receives those services. The Texas Education Agency commissioner – appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate– is in charge of determining new formulas in which school districts will receive funding, but those allotments are expected to be $250M greater than last school year, according to the state’s website.
New Graduation Requirements for Incoming Freshmen (House Bill 27)
In 2025, Texas became the 29th state to require a personal finance course for high school graduation with the bipartisan passage of HB 27. The requirement takes effect for incoming 9th graders this school year.
It’s only a half-credit, meaning students will need to complete a single-semester finance course. With Texas on board, 76% of all high school students in the country now attend school in a state that has this requirement.
It’s the Final Year for STAAR Tests (House Bill 8)
With the passage of HB 8 last year, spring of 2027 will be the last administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR tests.
While the new model (a “Student Success Tool” with beginning-of-the-year, middle-of-the-year, and end-of-the-year assessments) won’t take effect until next school year, some changes from HB 8 have already taken effect.
These changes affect testing windows, the online portal parents use to view results, and student test anxiety. HB 8 also revises A-F accountability requirements for a “refresh” that will occur for ratings issued in the fall of 2028.
The Ten Commandments in Classrooms (Senate Bill 10)
Under Senate Bill 10, classrooms are required to display the Ten Commandments if the school receives enough donated posters for that purpose.
It was passed in 2025, but challenged in court before being upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year. On August 17, 2026, the ACLU of Texas asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the appellate court’s decision.
There are other legal challenges, too. Three Houston-area mothers are also suing to block the law, claiming it violates the parental rights guaranteed to them by a constitutional proposition passed by Texas voters in November.
KVUE reports some school districts, like Eanes Independent School District in Central Texas, have received enough donated posters to place one in every classroom.
Texas Freedom Network is pushing back on this violation of religious freedom. Read more as one of our board members explains the issue here.
Join Our Lege Watch
Try not to blink! Summer is over and school is back in session. Before you know it, the next Legislative session will be here too (in less than 140 days if you’re counting). Take a look at our #TXLege Action Center to learn more about any of the bills discussed above, and be sure to sign up for our Lege Watch to stay plugged in about the proposals coming down the pipe which could further impact your classroom:
