Education (Teachers)

HB 159 prohibits using results from certain state-mandated student assessments as the sole factor in teacher evaluations or pay decisions. It also allows Texas school districts to adopt or develop "adaptive, growth-based" assessments - measuring individual student progress over time and adjusting difficulty during testing - for interim testing, provided a federal waiver is secured. These alternative assessments must be administered statewide as interim tests, with results combined into a single score per student. The bill directly affects public school students (through assessment methods), teachers (in evaluation processes), and school districts (in testing administration).

HB 134 establishes a program providing eligible Texas teachers with an annual $1,000 grant to purchase classroom supplies. To qualify, teachers must be certified, employed by a public school or charter school, and teach at least four hours daily in an academic or career/tech instructional setting. The funds can be used for classroom supplies at their school, with unused balances rolling over for future supplies or professional development costs. Teachers must retain receipts for two years, and the program begins in the 2026-2027 school year.