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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for FT SAM HOUSTON ISD and found 6 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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District Plan Cites Vouchers for Declining Enrollment
The 2026-2027 District Improvement Plan, recommended for approval, identifies ‘Texas’ adoption of vouchers’ as a cause of declining student enrollment. This statement is included in the plan’s formal problem statements derived from its Comprehensive Needs Assessment, providing direct evidence of a local district’s official position on the impact of state-level school choice policy.
Policy Use
BRIEF STATE AFFAIRS: Item 13’s District Improvement Plan (Attachment 18, page 13) officially attributes declining enrollment to the state’s voucher policy. Capture this text as evidence for testimony on how local districts perceive and message school choice programs.
Policy Lever: State Choice Program
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Elementary Plan Confirms SEL and Restorative Discipline
The Fort Sam Houston Elementary School Improvement Plan for 2026-2027, up for approval, explicitly states that ‘Social Emotional Learning and Development of all students is supported by… Mindfulness, PBIS, Restorative Discipline and school counselors.’ This confirms the formal adoption and implementation of these frameworks at the elementary level.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item 14’s Elementary CIP (Attachment 21, page 10) confirms the use of SEL and Restorative Discipline. Add this district to the state implementation tracker for these programs and capture the plan text as evidence.
Policy Lever: Curriculum/Program Adoption
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| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
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Secondary Plan Implements SEL Check-in Tool
The Robert G. Cole Middle/High School Improvement Plan for 2026-2027, up for approval, details the implementation of a specific Social-Emotional Learning tool. The plan states, ‘Students will use Class Catalyst in homeroom to complete a daily Social Emotional check in.’ This confirms the use of specific software to monitor student emotional states daily.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item 14’s Secondary CIP (Attachment 23, Goal 5, Strategy 4) confirms the use of the ‘Class Catalyst’ SEL tool for daily emotional check-ins. Add this district and specific tool to the state SEL implementation tracker.
Policy Lever: Program Implementation
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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District Re-establishes Student Health Advisory Committee
The Board will vote on revising policy FFA(LOCAL) to reinstate the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). This action complies with a new state law (SB 12) that prohibits districts from dissolving the SHAC under a District of Innovation plan, reversing a previous decision to merge SHAC duties into the District Education Improvement Committee (DEIC).
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 12 is a state-mandated policy change re-establishing the SHAC. Monitor the future composition and recommendations of this committee, as it is a key venue for parental input on health and wellness curriculum.
Policy Lever: State Law Compliance
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| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
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Agenda Lacks Detail on TEA Investigation Action Item
The board is scheduled for ‘Discussion and Possible Action Regarding TEA Investigation’ following a closed session consultation with its attorney. The agenda provides no details on the subject matter of the Texas Education Agency investigation. This lack of specificity prevents the public from having adequate notice of the business being conducted.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 19 is an action item on a TEA investigation with no subject matter disclosed. Monitor the open session discussion and any action taken to identify the policy area involved. The lack of notice is itself a governance concern.
Policy Lever: Lack of Public Notice
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Financial Report Shows High Federal Revenue Dependency
The September 2026 financial report shows the district has budgeted over $14.2 million in federal revenue for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This amount represents 43.45% of the district’s total budgeted revenue, indicating a significant dependency on federal funding and its associated conditions.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 8’s financial report (Attachment 7) confirms the district’s high dependency on federal funds. Note this for context on any future federal alignment issues or grant acceptances.
Policy Lever: $14.2M Federal Revenue
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