Revisions to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Facility Standards have been published in the October 8, 2021 issue of the Texas Register. They will go into effect on Monday with an implementation date of November 1, 2021. Revisions can be read here (start on page 313) and are intended to give school districts more local control as well as guidance and flexibility in the design of 21st-century schools. Key updates include:
- (1) the inclusion of all projects requiring the hiring of a licensed architect or engineer in Texas,
- (2) an increase in the space minimum of middle school science laboratories,
- (3) two methods of compliance,
- (4) a change to campus-based aggregate square footage compliance, and
- (5) new safety and security requirements stemming from the passage of Senate Bill 11.
The Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) developed a committee to explore the existing standards and make recommendations to the TEA for revisions. Kerri Brady, Huckabee’s Vice President of Educational Practice, and Dawson Orr, Clinical Professor of Education Policy at Southern Methodist University, co-chaired the years-long engagement with a committee made up of 22 members and 95 subcommittee members. Their committee was charged with evaluating and recommending changes to the TEA School Facilities Standards. The process Kerri designed involved proactively evaluating topics related to 21st-century learning and school design, including school safety and security.
As school districts navigate these changes, Huckabee is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our partners. We have always been, and will continue to be, an advocate for Texas public schools.
Overview of the TASA School Facilities Committee Process
