[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6216423,"mediaKeyId","3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9","parentId",3651352,"title","COMAL ISD outlines uncertain effects of recent state education bills and funding on district budgets and pay","audioSeconds",578,"startMs",1870000,"endMs",2448000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9&start=1870&end=2448","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9/thumbnail_1870000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6216423/Texas/COMAL-ISD-outlines-uncertain-effects-of-recent-state-education-bills-and-funding-on-district-budgets-and-pay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216423-4c59e080cf0f5336392e9d82c2f98eb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770203708&Signature=WXFZpF69QiI0wDWPHr7~AtP~sjrSFRCGAKt7WVLZhO2UyK7UsRcA3jFWAWcs4ZA-ESCZ4Q3ar488YPX-~nezMhusUZRcIr4n71AcnJRGnDdraoZCUjnrcMnlwUXTl4cKy48uxCJhIC55JdZViXpj28j~hJSOagcpi2NxCC0FxDivGC1fqlhfe~FGnXYPqdALtXGtDs2XTO41vrunE1RWDELObomxjgI6EZ3rIkSsmQ7kZgBHLLq1bS7H3Z3G-zquEzgEix0WpNrwtmzCe6CGas0PVbeTz5JE~s6PMmTGTF5wGYvQ5nodoidDOm0iDfcD60D75EJD52Eq0uK0igyNEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Comal ISD","date","2025-06-01T20:08:08Z","article","Dr. John Chapman, superintendent of COMAL ISD, told teachers at the district’s Comal U opening ceremony that recent actions in the state legislature include both large new funding and measures that will create uncertainty for local implementation.

Chapman said the session produced “over 1,500 bills that affect public education” but that “we only had a little over a hundred bills that became law this year.” He warned that a voucher program slated to start in the 2026–27 school year will divert “a billion dollars leaving public education every year” and estimated that, over the next biennium, that proposal could cost public education about $4,200,000,000.

Why it matters: Chapman said the state also approved what he called “the greatest funding mechanism in Texas school history” — about $8,500,000,000 for public education — but stressed that the distribution and sustainability of that money are not yet finalized and could limit local flexibility. \"We have to now look at how we're gonna implement this and is it gonna be sustainable,\" he said.

Chapman outlined specific provisions discussed by the legislature that will affect local pay and budgets. For districts with more than 5,000 students, he said, teachers with three to four years of experience would be eligible for $2,500 next year and teachers with five or more years would be eligible for $5,000; teachers with zero to two years of experience would not receive those amounts under the state formula. He said COMAL ISD currently has 29,732 students.

Chapman cautioned that per-student allocations vary widely by district in the adopted formulas: he said Waller ISD would receive about $2,600 per student, COMAL ISD about $306 per student and Northside about $291 per student. He said those differences mean the state distribution “is apples and oranges” and that the district is still “sifting through” how to apply the funds locally.

Budget pressures: Chapman said the district has run deficit budgets the last two years and is “looking at a $14,400,000 deficit budget” for the coming year depending on final enrollments and revenues. He also said special education remains “millions and millions and millions in the hole” and that some new funding provisions would not take effect until the 2026–27 school year.

Implementation uncertainty: multiple items Chapman described — including a rumored statewide cell-phone ban in schools and changes to student discipline and accountability (he referenced House Bill 4 and discussion of replacing the STAAR test with a nationally normed assessment) — will require guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and legal counsel before the district can finalize local policy. He said the board will not receive the district’s student code of conduct until August, after TEA and legal review.

Chapman repeatedly emphasized the tentative nature of many details: “We don't know exactly what the bill's gonna entail, and how it's gonna be listed within the code of conduct,” he said, urging staff to await legal guidance and TEA guidance before local implementation.

Ending: Chapman said district leaders will provide updates as state guidance arrives and as the board considers local budget and compensation choices. He framed the uncertainty as a call for planning rather than immediate change: \"As soon as we know what that looks like and how we're gonna make that implementation work, we'll move forward,\" he said.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Comal U 2025 Opening Ceremony","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. John Chapman, superintendent of COMAL ISD, told teachers at the district’s Comal U opening ceremony that recent actions in the state legislature include both large new funding and measures that will create uncertainty for local implementation.","taxTitle","COMAL ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",14247,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216413,"COMAL ISD expands classroom tech: 1‑to‑1 devices, Chromebook management and AI teacher training",289,3578000,3867000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9&start=3578&end=3867","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9/thumbnail_3578000.jpg","/articles/6216413/Texas/COMAL-ISD-expands-classroom-tech-1to1-devices-Chromebook-management-and-AI-teacher-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216413-6233e1909ee82a0dc281774bd4472d70/orig.mp4?Expires=1770203708&Signature=b2KlJs6xeuK6h3hJ25D1RviykZfr3vFKs-jASm5hj6R5UIFQTqYyC8WLTJdJpXQUBSQmwsYhkFxfFMyFQKifmZ4g8HTz~HKoXsNlNAP015UFotH7z1J0eIIRO-~KjHbkcdbiQgLs3ry~rgR5H8ZCAoNaF6sPv7WbJ9SWrNKKT44vLG~qoHNeRao~6n8r4rs0vfbRDdy883kNiQKbI1YeCfLNU--oE2Bd9W2dYFf-KEaHz7zIWU5t-lBC4wBJicpPXas8nu2396V72uRbACdPJPWaT0ozrWDlUPCCvgqmcjzjlH0RuLp-fQLZBGWgNL1TfdUBVEQHvW3LN9edHozWcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jillian Pratt, director of digital learning for COMAL ISD, told educators at Comal U that the district has accelerated classroom technology implementation and plans more device and software rollouts in the coming school year.

Pratt said the district now has seven fully 1‑to‑1 campuses and expects all secondary campuses to be 1‑to‑1 by the third day of school next year. She described usage metrics to underscore classroom adoption: students have made \"over 2,500,000 Kami annotations\" and created \"46,000 books in Book Creator.\" Pratt said the district also brought VEX robotics to every elementary campus and reported more than 500 AI teacher certifications.

Chromebook management and classroom tech: Pratt announced the district will introduce the StudentKeeper Chromebook management system next year to support classroom control and monitoring. \"Student Keeper will be a game changer this August for managing all of our Chromebooks efficiently,\" she said, describing real‑time monitoring features intended to keep students on task and support focused device use.

Other classroom tools: Pratt noted year‑one ClearTouch implementation that turns classrooms into interactive environments and said digital learning courses at Comal U will train teachers in blended learning practices, Google Classroom playlists and tech‑infused teaching.

Why it matters: The tools are intended to support teacher-led instruction, differentiated learning and student engagement, not replace teachers, Pratt said. The district emphasized professional development during Comal U for teachers to deepen blended‑learning practices and to leverage 1‑to‑1 devices for personalized instruction.

Ending: Pratt urged teachers to take the district’s COMALU digital learning courses and to use upcoming training to integrate technology with instruction and student supports.","The district reported seven fully 1‑to‑1 campuses, a near‑term roll‑out to all secondary campuses, a Chromebook management tool launching in August, and other digital milestones such as VEX robotics in elementary classrooms and more than 500 AI teacher certifications.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6216418,"COMAL ISD emphasizes early literacy, MTSS and college‑and‑career readiness in five‑year plan",1697,2549000,4246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9&start=2549&end=4246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3651352-5073fd50ed29b500d6514d9b8d7e71e9/thumbnail_2549000.jpg","/articles/6216418/Texas/COMAL-ISD-emphasizes-early-literacy-MTSS-and-collegeandcareer-readiness-in-fiveyear-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6216418-dec0c20c3bf77d355100586449e5bd16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770203708&Signature=K6UlOPeC-EZstOG7v2fsGGbpC7WvujJlJ20g9wgUojtz3-sbw9V6ZtjPIB1tcIyb0R9BLo9RkZWOBw8j7TvkBLci8G9bIomgIHJE-xT8e8g5XlsNpQKqklUjaY7P~2Iqqq3gW7Ov2925z8ZW0svPghXoJy9~dXc8OExwlkeHuBPJjlznAWL8xp3YNHNf7Q~g4RDPTgeIk~BCaJs3AT9o5fbQYjBDmbA6u5MJTp3diOjTBm5NBae8yhmPG6xaV~~eNwKQXNT5CJ~H0OIYPyrc7JxNf5TwUUeuBA4yhz97l~fjWezgWUVuPfzQQwVXa-DvmMJGiXCNeevz5GGZqWDrnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. John Chapman, superintendent of COMAL ISD, told participants at Comal U that the district’s five‑year collaborative vision, adopted by the board in August 2023, centers on four priority initiatives: early literacy, MTSS, technology and college‑career‑military readiness (CCMR). \"Our district's vision of growing greatness is not just in the student success, it starts with you,\" he said.

Early literacy: Jennifer Johnson, director of early learning and Title, outlined pre‑K expansions and curriculum changes. She said the district will add more than 150 pre‑K seats this year (at SPECT and Mayfair), launch the Frog Street curriculum districtwide, and expand the Pegasus Pals program to bring 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds into district settings. Johnson cited assessment gains for pre‑K students: \"For our pre k students, they started the year at 46% and ended the year at 77%\" for rapid letter naming, and phonological awareness moved from 56% to 84%.

MTSS and discipline: Mandy Chapman, director of MTSS, said the district scaled tier‑1 behavior supports last year and that pilot sites produced measurable reductions in removals. \"We had 1,054 fewer ISS and OSS placements,\" she said, which the district calculated returned about 7,378 instructional hours to classrooms. The district plans a Panorama education rollout at elementary campuses next year to centralize social‑emotional and behavior data; secondary campuses will follow in 2026–27, and the district will expand tier‑1 implementation to all teachers with tier‑2 and tier‑3 interventions phased in later.

College‑career‑military readiness (CCMR): Tammy Pinkham, executive director of CCMR, said COMAL ISD will open a Pathways in Technology Early College (P‑TECH) program at Hill Country College Preparatory High School this fall, offering students opportunities to earn an associate of science focused on computer science, cyber technology and artificial intelligence along with industry‑based certifications. Pinkham said the district is extending CCMR work into middle and elementary grades through revised course guides and a fifth‑grade rollout of the SchoolLinks platform for early career exploration.

Why it matters: The initiatives tie early childhood access, classroom behavior supports and career pathways to district goals for graduation readiness and postsecondary success. Chapman framed the plan as a multi‑year effort with campus‑level implementation and professional learning supports during Comal U.

Ending: District leaders urged teachers to use Comal U sessions to build implementation plans for their campuses. \"Whatever is learned here, leaves here,\" the director of professional learning said, asking educators to identify takeaways and implementation steps during breakout sessions.","District leaders outlined four priority initiatives — early literacy, multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS), technology and college‑career‑military readiness (CCMR) — tied to a five‑year strategic plan and described measurable results and upcoming expansions.","actionData","errors"]

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COMAL ISD outlines uncertain effects of recent state education bills and funding on district budgets and pay

COMAL ISD expands classroom tech: 1‑to‑1 devices, Chromebook management and AI teacher training

COMAL ISD emphasizes early literacy, MTSS and college‑and‑career readiness in five‑year plan