TEPSA Express: October 13, 2026

October 13, 2026

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

Turning the Page 📖

by Stephanie Gomez, 2026-27 State President

There is something magical about the beginning of a school year. August always feels like the opening page of a brand-new book—a chance to begin again.

But now, we’ve turned the page.

The first-day excitement has settled. The school supplies have found their homes. The routines are becoming habits. The challenges we knew were coming—and perhaps a few we didn’t—have arrived at our doorstep.

And I would argue this is where the real story begins.

Keep reading...

ICYMI: RESOURCE ROUNDUP

2 Ideas to Spark Your Thinking 💡

1. "The most effective campuses recognize that MTSS is not another initiative to add to an already full plate. It is the system that connects everything already happening—for example, high-quality Tier 1 instruction, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), intervention, progress monitoring, and family partnerships—into one coherent process."—Jessica Borunda and Mandi Vogel in MTSS: Building Supportive Systems

2. “Terms of service tell you what the vendor promises. They do not tell you what your staff typed. The gap between those two things is where campuses get hurt. A tool can be fully compliant and still be a problem if teachers are pasting in behavior notes, health information, or names attached to grades.” —Dr. Bruce Ellis in Artificial Intelligence in Schools: 5 Questions to Ask Before Approving an AI Tool (Includes a five-question AI tool evaluation template!)

NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH

Share Your Story ✍️

For National Principals Month, we want to hear from you! Tell us a story about a fun activity or meaningful interaction you had with students or teachers and your response might be featured on the TEPSA blog.

Does a picture tell the story better? Email your photo along with a cute caption to Todd, and you could be featured on TEPSA’s social media account. Please include your first and last name, your position, and your school district.

Share your story.

NEWSFLASH

School district police departments can't take child abuse reports, new Texas Attorney General opinion says: A new Texas Attorney General opinion clarifies that school district police departments cannot serve as the designated law enforcement agency for reports or investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect. Under a 2025 state law, those responsibilities fall to outside law enforcement agencies, though district police can still assist. Some school police officials worry the change could delay investigations, while lawmakers say it helps prevent conflicts of interest. (ABC13 Houston)

STAAR rescoring requests triple after more Texas schools question computer grading: Requests to rescore STAAR reading exams nearly tripled this year, with Texas schools submitting more than 64,000 requests and over 13,300 scores improving after human review. The changes had real consequences for campus accountability ratings, with Dallas ISD reporting that rescoring helped five campuses earn higher A–F ratings. (Texas Tribune)

Why October matters for Texas parents seeking special education supports and school vouchers: Advocates are urging Texas parents to request special education evaluations in October to ensure students have an IEP before the next school voucher application period. Students with documented disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 in voucher funding, and the evaluation process can take several months. (San Antonio Express-News)

Catch up on all of the latest education news.

ADVOCACY

8 Texas State Board of Education seats up in midterm election: Eight of the 15 seats on the Texas State Board of Education are up for election November 3. With the board responsible for setting statewide education standards, approving instructional materials and overseeing the $60 billion Permanent School Fund, these races have implications for Texas classrooms and taxpayers alike. (ABC13 Houston)

Texas senators discuss tightening school library book law: Texas lawmakers are considering tightening SB13, the state's school library law, over concerns that it doesn't adequately address books already on library shelves. Some senators are also questioning whether districts are doing enough to remove materials they consider inappropriate, raising concerns among advocates about further state intervention in decisions currently left to local school boards and parents. (KERA)

Texas lawmakers question benefits of 4-day school weeks ahead of 2027 legislative session: Texas senators are considering reinstating a minimum 180-day school year or requiring five-day school weeks amid concerns about student achievement. The discussion comes as the number of districts using four-day weeks has grown from 62 in 2022-23 to 181 in 2024-25, with lawmakers questioning whether the shorter schedules benefit students. (Community Impact)

DEADLINES

November 1: H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards Applications Due

H-E-B will award more than $1 million to Texas educators and schools through its 2027 Excellence in Education Awards program. Apply by November 1.

November 12: Region Assistant Principal of the Year

Do you know an amazing Texas Assistant Principal? Please send us your recommendation by November 12. An application will be sent to all those recommended to apply.

December 12: 2027 NAESP National Distinguished Principal for Texas

The NAESP National Distinguished Principals program recognizes outstanding PK-8 principals for their educational leadership and commitment to excellence. Submit an interest form by December 12.

January 31: 2027 National Gold Star School®

NAESP’s National Gold Star School® (NGSS) program recognizes outstanding elementary and middle-level schools where learning communities work collaboratively to grow and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement of performance. Apply by January 31.