Texas's Performance
Ungraded
Why does this matter?
Although state policy is often not a significant hurdle to implementing strategic staffing models, there are several barriers that states can eliminate to support districts implementing innovative staffing models, including class size restrictions, restrictions on how teachers use their time, and more.
Why does Texas stand out?
Texas allows districts to request waivers for class size or student-teacher ratio policies. The state permits teachers to formally observe other teachers and allows (through the state’s District of Innovation program) districts and schools to decide how teachers use their planning time. State policy allows or does not restrict paraprofessionals or teacher’s aides to support instructional activities under the supervision of a licensed teacher. Additionally, Texas allows districts to attribute team outcomes to teacher evaluations by modifying the statewide assessment system or creating a local system.
In 2015, Texas passed H.B. 1842, which amended the state education code to introduce a new designation: Districts of Innovation. Districts designated as a District of Innovation (DOI) are granted many of the same flexibilities that are provided to open-enrollment charter schools across the state, all in the name of local control. Under the DOI designation, districts that maintain at least an acceptable accountability rating may create and adopt a local innovation that may typically be prohibited by the state.
Possible exemptions include class size requirements, start and end dates of the school year, various purchasing and contract requirements, and more. While not explicitly designed to encourage schools to reimagine the teaching role, districts across Texas have leveraged the DOI designation to implement policies and strategic staffing models that are normally impossible due to class size requirements or other state laws.
What are the key actions Texas should take?
See what these exemplars are doing in this policy area:
Key Resources
Reimagining the Teaching Role
Explore NCTQ’s detailed 2024 analysis of strategic staffing policies.
Reimagining the Teaching Role: Models and Approaches
Learn more about popular national models for restructuring schools to better meet student and teacher needs.
References
- NCTQ defines observations in this context as those that count toward a teacher’s evaluation.