TAMS NEWS

Howdy TAMS Members, Sponsors, and Supporters!

Welcome back! We hope you’ve had a strong start to the new school year and are ready for the race ahead.

As a valued member of TAMS, we are excited to be in the saddle alongside you as you navigate the opportunities and challenges of another school year. Your dedication to students, staff, and communities across Texas inspires us, and we are honored to advocate on your behalf.

As we look down the road toward the 90th Legislative Session, TAMS remains focused on the same finish line: impacting the state’s school finance system to secure equitable funding for education while addressing the disparities created by size and diseconomies of scale.

The months ahead will require focus, persistence, and a willingness to stay the course. TAMS will be there to provide the advocacy, insights, and tools you need to make bold and courageous decisions that move your district—and public education in Texas—forward.

Thank you for your tireless commitment to the children of Texas and for being part of the TAMS family. Let’s get out of the gate strong and make this a winning year for midsize districts across Texas!

Wishing you a successful, inspiring, and impactful school year!

Sincerely,

Greg, Jodi, and Missy

Membership Drive

We’ve officially kicked off our 2026–2027 TAMS Membership Drive, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with you in the new school year. Please renew your membership by September 30 to continue receiving timely updates on legal, legislative, and school finance matters, along with information about upcoming events and opportunities for TAMS members.

Join or renew your membership here.

And here’s some good news: TAMS membership dues remain just $500 annually! We are able to keep dues at this very reasonable rate thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. Their investment helps make TAMS membership accessible to midsize districts across Texas.

Please take a moment to thank our sponsors for their continued support of TAMS!

Legislative Update

The Race to the 90th Is Underway!

While the Legislature won’t officially return to Austin until January, the race toward the 90th Legislative Session is already well underway. Lawmakers, state agencies, and education leaders are spending the interim evaluating the impact of legislation passed during the 89th Session and identifying the issues that will shape the next legislative agenda.

HB 2 Remains Front and Center: Not surprisingly, House Bill 2 and school finance remain a major focus at the Capitol. The House Public Education Committee has begun its interim work examining the implementation of HB 2, including changes to school finance, teacher compensation, the Teacher Incentive Allotment, and special education funding. The committee is also examining whether the legislation is achieving its intended outcomes for school districts.

TAMS will continue to monitor these discussions closely and advocate for a school finance system that recognizes the unique challenges of midsize districts—including size, scale, and the cost of providing high-quality programs with limited economies of scale.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention Remains a Priority: The Capitol is also taking a close look at Texas' teacher pipeline. The House Public Education Committee is examining the impact of recent investments in teacher compensation, educator preparation, classroom supports, and student discipline on the state's ability to recruit and retain qualified educators.

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, TEA is also implementing a new Teacher Vacancy Collection requiring school systems to report vacant teaching positions. The data is intended to provide a clearer statewide picture of teacher vacancies and help inform recruitment and retention strategies.

The Texas Classroom Commission: Another development worth watching is Governor Abbott's newly created Texas Classroom Commission, a teacher-led group charged with developing recommendations to strengthen classroom instruction, support teachers, improve the learning environment, and improve student outcomes. The commission held its inaugural meeting in August and is expected to make recommendations to the Governor, TEA, and Legislature ahead of the 90th Session.

The Commission's work could help shape the education conversation as lawmakers begin determining their priorities for 2027.

School Choice is on the Radar: The implementation of the state's new Education Savings Account program will also remain under the microscope. Senate interim charges specifically call for monitoring the implementation of the state's new school choice program and evaluating its impact as Texas moves into the 90th Session.

For public school leaders, the implications extend beyond school choice itself. Enrollment, funding, staffing, facilities, and the competitive landscape for attracting and retaining students will all be important issues to watch.

So…What’s Ahead for TAMS?

As we head into the fall, the starting gate is opening for the 90th Legislative Session. The issues being discussed now will help determine where lawmakers focus their attention when they return to Austin. It will also help inform our Legislative Priorities for TAMS.

TAMS will continue to be at the table—advocating for midsize districts, monitoring developments, keeping members informed, and making sure the unique needs of midsize school systems are part of the conversation.

The race is on, and TAMS is ready to run!

Upcoming Events

It’s never too early to plan ahead! We have two important TAMS events on the horizon, and we hope you’ll join us for both.

Please save the dates now!

Annual Legislative Conference $250 pp

December 3–4, 2026 | Georgetown Sheraton Hotel

Golf outing: December 2 (registration open soon)

Pre-conference School Finance Summit $50 pp

Hotel room can also be booked with registration $229 PER NIGHT

TAMS SPONSOR REGISTRATION LINK

The Texas Small and Midsize Schools Legislative Conference will bring TAMS members together to connect, learn, and prepare for the 90th Legislative Session. Come ready to share ideas, hear from key voices, and make sure the needs of midsize districts are part of the conversation.

Annual Membership Breakfast — TASA Midwinter January 25, 2027 Join your fellow TAMS members for our annual breakfast at TASA Midwinter. It’s always a great opportunity to reconnect, celebrate our collective successes, and look ahead to the work still to be done. Save the dates—we look forward to seeing you!

SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT

Special thanks to Geneva Jones & Associates, Linebarger, MoakCasey and WRA Architects for their sponsorship of the San Saba Coalition Officer Retreat held in San Saba, Sept 11-13, 2026. The coalition members spent time together Friday on the golf course, Saturday they worked on legislative priorities and ended their time together at the Ellenberger Cup @ Fleming Springs Ranch.