Dominique Harvey
Texas PTA VP Advocacy

House committee hearing on Social Media’s Impact on Youth Health and Well-Being

On August 20, 2026 the Committee on Public Health heard invited testimony on the interim charge: “Study the impact of social media platforms and artificial intelligence technologies on the mental health, cognitive development, and behavioral well-being of minors in Texas.”

Three expert witnesses testified that high usage of social media apps harms adolescent mental and behavioral health, resulting in loneliness, anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and self‑harm, often leading to severe outcomes. They argued the harms arise largely from product design and profit incentives, documented by internal industry research and real‑world cases. They urged legislative and regulatory action aimed at design‑neutral safety rules, age verification, chatbot safeguards, parental tools, and clearer legal accountability for platforms.

Governor Abbott asks Comptroller to audit 4 school districts

Following a formal request from Gov. Abbott, Texas Comptroller Huffines announced he will begin a review of select school districts to ensure they are spending taxpayer funds responsibly. The performance review will examine if district spending complies with the law and reaches students, classrooms and teachers — and with specific attention to administrative or non-instructional growth. 

Under Abbott’s request, the Comptroller will investigate the spending at up to four independent school districts of varying size and geographic location, to determine whether public funds are used appropriately.

The Comptroller will name the selected districts in the coming weeks. The final report will be completed by December 31, 2026, giving the 90th Legislature time to consider any resulting recommendations for reform.

State audit finds TEA exceeded manager staffing limits, lacked grant oversight standards

The Texas State Auditor’s Office released a report of its findings on the Texas Education Agency. The audit was conducted in accordance with a rider added to the 2025 state budget bill by Rep. Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos.

One of the report’s key findings involved the agency’s management structure. As of August 31, 2025, TEA had one manager for every 3.5 full-time employees, significantly exceeding the state requirement of at least 11 employees per manager for large state agencies. Auditors said the agency had not obtained approval to operate outside the required 11.

The management-heavy structure also increased personnel costs. Auditors said the TEA spent $44.7 million on management salaries and wages in fiscal year 2025, up nearly 64% from fiscal year 2021. During that same period, management staffing increased by 38%, compared to just a 12% increase in non-management employees.

The full audit document can be found here: Texas State Auditor’s Office audit report of TEA.

Report says Texas School A-F Ratings Show Continued Progress

The policy institute Texas 2036 recently released a report on public school ratings with the following findings:

Read the full report here: 2026 Texas A–F School Ratings Results - Texas 2036.

Texas High Court appoints judges in school funding challenge

A special three-judge panel will preside over Midland Independent School District’s state constitutional challenge to Texas’s public education funding system that redistributes property tax revenue. The Texas Supreme Court granted a petition from the Attorney General under a state statute ordering the court to convene such a panel upon request when cases involve public school system financing. Midland’s suit alleges aspects of the school funding system violate local government bodies’ constitutional authority to levy property taxes. Chief Justice Blacklock chose Justice Emily Miskel of the Dallas Court of Appeals, District Court Judge Alfonso Charles of Longview, and Aurora Martinez Jones of Travis County to be on the panel.

Ten Commandments clash continues

Three parents sued this month to force Texas to block and remove posters with the Ten Commandments from public school classrooms, arguing that state laws on religious freedom and parental rights conflict with the new state-mandated displays.

The lawsuit, filed in state court in Harris County, seeks a court order to remove the displays and prohibit their posting before students return to school.

The posters have already survived legal challenges in federal court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said in April that the state law requiring their display, passed last year, did not violate the U.S. Constitution.

The suit filed this month argues that the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed in 1999 to protect religious practices, prohibits the state government from interfering with their religious practice.

The suit also invokes a state constitutional amendment, passed by the legislature and adopted by voters in 2025, that guarantees parents the right to direct their children’s upbringing.

Governor proposes further limiting screen time in K-12 classrooms

Gov. Abbott this month proposed further limiting screen time in K-12 schools, stating it will improve student learning in the state and follows up on the Legislature’s move to ban cell phones in public school classrooms.

The governor said he wants legislators to limit the use of electronic devices like laptops and tablets in classrooms and to “emphasize” physical materials including books, handwriting and “direct teacher instruction.”

Abbott did not outline how the screen limits would vary across grade levels or what the restrictions would entail. The proposal would have to be taken up by the Legislature when it convenes next year.

Lt Gov proposes legislation to punish schools for not removing books

Lt. Governor Patrick this month promised to pass legislation in the 2027 Session that will discipline public schools that do not remove graphic books from their shelves. His proposal would lower a school’s annual performance ratings by one letter grade if they were found to have a book on their library shelves that should not be there. The law could make it easier for a state takeover of a local school. 

The Lt. Governor said school boards and administrators have not been following a 2025 law aimed at removing lewd books from library shelves in Texas public school campuses. SB 13 gave school boards the authority to approve and remove books based on complaints they receive from parents or activist groups. The Lt. Governor said a large majority of school boards have not taken any action.

Important dates for voting in Texas’ midterm election on Nov. 3

Spring Creek PTA has spent the last two years growing and improving.  They were once a board of dedicated teachers keeping the doors open and it's now grown into a community effort that's boosted parent and student engagement tenfold.  The turnaround came down to one simple idea: make it easy and affordable for every family to show up.  The PTA added monthly family and community nights that are free or priced low enough that even large families never feel priced out, from movie nights on the front lawn to a Valentine's dance to a multicultural night celebrating the many cultures in their school community. It's a good reminder that advocacy doesn't always start with a microphone or a ballot measure. Sometimes it starts with making sure every family feels welcome enough to walk through the door, proving once again that advocacy really does start at home.  

Thank you, Spring Creek PTA, for showing us what a warm welcome can do.

PTA leaders across Texas each bring their distinct personalities and approaches to their roles. Whether assertive, cooperative, compassionate, or strategic, they all share a common commitment: to act in the best interest of children. Advocacy takes many forms, but the dedication to supporting our students and schools is a universal thread that unites all our PTA leaders. 

We are thrilled to showcase all the great work in communities across Texas in Advocacy Starts at Home!

Advocacy Survey Deadline: 
Wednesday, September 9, 2027

Monday, February 22nd