Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced $40 million for 411 school systems through the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnerships (PREP) Program Allotment on October 26, 2026. Administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the funding supports teacher recruitment, preparation and mentoring, with the aim of improving educator retention in Texas public schools.
Key Takeaways
- Texas announced $40 million in PREP funding for 411 school systems.
- The program supports five pathways covering teacher preparation, recruitment and mentorship.
- House Bill 2, signed in June 2025, established the PREP allotment as part of an $8.5 billion public education funding package.
- Eligible school districts and open-enrollment charter schools can choose to participate.
- Allocations vary by program, eligible participants and applicable state funding formulas.
Texas Announces $40 Million for Educator Workforce Development
The new allocation is intended to help school systems recruit teaching candidates, prepare them for classroom responsibilities and support educators early in their careers. The funding is directed to participating school systems rather than distributed as an equal payment to individual teachers.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the program would help districts recruit qualified candidates and provide meaningful preparation and mentorship. The focus is on strengthening the pipeline of educators entering public schools while giving beginning teachers support as they transition into classroom roles.
Although the announcement covers 411 school systems, it does not mean each will receive the same amount. Funding depends on the PREP pathway, the number of eligible participants and the rules governing each allotment.
PREP Program Provides Five Teacher Preparation Pathways
The PREP Program Allotment offers five partnership types: PREP Mentorship, PREP Grow Your Own, PREP Preservice Residency, PREP Preservice Traditional and PREP Preservice Alternative Certification. Each addresses a different stage of teacher development.
PREP Mentorship provides structured support for beginning teachers. Grow Your Own helps eligible school employees and high school students pursue pathways toward teaching careers. The three preservice options support prospective educators through residency-based, traditional and alternative certification routes.
Separate teacher preparation funding initiatives include the University of Houston’s Project BRIDGE, which will support specialized graduate training for 42 Houston-area educators. That federally funded initiative is distinct from PREP, but both address professional preparation within the state’s educator workforce.
The PREP framework allows participating districts and charter schools to pursue the pathways for which they qualify. Program-specific requirements determine which activities and candidates are eligible for support.
House Bill 2 Established the State Funding Framework
House Bill 2, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature and signed into law in June 2025, created the PREP Program Allotment. The legislation provided $8.5 billion in new public education funding, including investments in teacher pay and educator workforce development.
The broader Texas education policy framework shapes how lawmakers allocate school resources and how the Texas Education Agency implements funding and certification requirements. PREP is one component of that system, with a specific focus on teacher preparation and mentorship rather than general school operating expenses.
The allotment is administered through Foundation School Program funding formulas. Certain preservice allocations account for factors such as whether a placement is at a rural school and the socioeconomic needs of its students. Participating school systems must use the funds for eligible activities under the relevant program rules.
Program Rollout and Funding Differ by School System
For the 2026-27 school year, eligible districts and open-enrollment charter schools applied for Preservice Residency, Grow Your Own and Mentorship funding through the state’s LASO Cycle 4 process. The TEA lists all five PREP partnership types, including traditional and alternative preservice preparation, for the subsequent LASO Cycle 5 application process in fall 2026.
Participation is optional, and each pathway has its own funding structure and limits on the number of supported teacher candidates or employees. The amount available to a district depends on its eligible participants, placements and applicable formulas, not simply on the statewide $40 million total.
These distinctions are important when assessing the allocation. Two participating districts may use PREP funding for different combinations of residencies, employee preparation or mentorship, depending on their workforce needs and eligibility.
Teacher Retention Results Will Depend on Implementation
PREP is intended to improve the recruitment and retention of teachers by expanding preparation options and offering more structured support at the start of teaching careers. Its results will depend on how school systems implement the funded activities and whether participating educators remain in the profession.
Measures such as teacher-candidate participation, completion of preparation programs and retention among beginning teachers can help assess the initiative over time. The $40 million announcement establishes the scale of the current allocation, but it does not by itself demonstrate future staffing or retention outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding did Texas announce for teacher recruitment and retention?
Texas announced $40 million through the PREP Program Allotment to support teacher recruitment, preparation and mentorship.
How many Texas school systems are included?
The announcement covers 411 school systems. Individual funding amounts depend on program eligibility and the applicable allocation formulas.
What is the PREP Program Allotment?
It is a Texas Education Agency initiative established under House Bill 2 to fund eligible teacher preparation, recruitment and mentorship partnerships.
Which teacher workforce activities qualify for support?
The five pathways cover Grow Your Own programs, preservice residency, traditional and alternative preservice preparation, and mentorship for beginning teachers.
How does House Bill 2 relate to the program?
House Bill 2 established PREP in 2025 as part of a larger public education funding package that provided $8.5 billion in new funding.
