Back-to-School Checklist: Ways Texas Educators Can Be Proactive Going into the New School Year

Whether you are a veteran or first-year educator at a Texas school, heading into the new school year comes with many responsibilities and, for some, a sense of starting over. Teachers and other professional staff may be starting work in a new school district or at a new grade level, switching to a new campus or classroom, or meeting a new team. Administrators are busy ensuring staffing is adequate for enrollment numbers and making last-minute adjustments. Other staff are ensuring everything is in place to welcome students to their campus.

When the focus is on preparation, it is easy to forget important issues that may come up as you start your new school year or later on.

Here’s a back-to-school checklist to help educators, campus leaders, and district staff stay organized, compliant, and ready for a strong start for the upcoming school year.

Find Out What Day to Report: New-Hire Orientation, Convocation, & First Duty Day

Most district calendars and duty rosters are available by the end of the spring semester. Check the calendar to determine the first day to report. District calendars are available on district websites.

Confirm Your Salary/Stipends

Review the district salary schedule and compensation plan for information about your salary and any stipends that you anticipate receiving. Salary schedules are subject to change from year to year but are generally easily accessible through a district’s website. Some districts may have changed salary structures over the summer, so it is important to understand any changes early to address any questions or concerns.

When you receive your first paycheck for the new school year, ensure that you are on the right step for your service record. Checking a service record and salary on a regular basis is important. Any discrepancy is more easily addressed the sooner it is discovered. (Also, if you are choosing to pay your ATPE membership dues via payroll deduction, make sure that deduction shows. If it does not, please contact ATPE Membership at members@atpe.org.)

If you expect to receive a stipend, locate your district’s compensation plan on the district’s website to review the amount, the schedule by which it will be paid, and any other requirements.

Understand Certification and Assignment Requirements

Verify that your certification is active and appropriate for your assignment. If you are teaching outside your certification area, serving under a permit, or enrolled in an alternative certification program, ensure that all required paperwork has been completed and approved. Addressing certification questions before students arrive can help avoid complications once the school year begins.

Reassignments

Education contracts generally state that the professional can be reassigned at any time. This clause allows the district to change the educator’s or other professional’s specific assignment to another specific assignment that also fits under the contract’s description of the professional capacity. The new assignment might be in a different grade level and subject area or even at a different campus. Sometimes this happens abruptly at the beginning of the school year when enrollment numbers are different than predicted.

Because the educator or professional agreed to being reassigned when signing their contract, districts can legally reassign an employee at any time throughout the school year.

Setting Up Your Room

When setting up your classroom, keep in mind that there may be restrictions at your campus on making certain changes to its environment. For example, can you paint the room or change the furniture in the room? Is there certain content that your administration wants to see in view? What bulletin boards are assigned to a particular educator in a hallway? Seek answers before making major changes, and keep in mind that many reassignments happen within the first few weeks of school and can trigger relocation for an educator.

Make a Good Impression on New Supervisors

Whether you are new to a campus or have a new administrator assigned to your campus, having a new supervisor will be a big change at the campus. Make a lasting impression by welcoming the administrator and showing you are approachable. Remain professional and willing to be a team player. The ability to communicate with your supervisor will be helpful when issues arise later in the school year, whether those issues relate to students, parents, other employees, or your performance.

Understand the Nuances of Districts of Innovation and Charter Schools

The Texas Education Code is not as reliable as it once was. A District of Innovation (DOI) plan allows a district to opt out of nearly any law in the Texas Education Code, including important rights, such as class size, planning time, and duty-free lunch.

Reviewing a prospective district’s DOI plan can give a teacher an idea of what laws may not apply. Many of the rules and regulations of the Texas Education Code (TEC) and Administrative Code (TAC) do not apply to charter schools as well.

Back-to-School Gifts

All districts will have gift solicitation policies you can and should review before requesting or accepting donations, and school board policies that govern employee standards of conduct may further dictate how and when an educator can seek items for the purposes of the classroom/school. For more information, check out “Putting Together a ‘Back to School’ Wishlist?”

Review Your Employee Handbook and the Educator Code of Ethics

Each year districts provide employees with an employee handbook outlining procedures and policies not only for the district but also under Texas and federal law. It is important to read the entire handbook, including the Educator Code of Ethics, to help avoid negative employment actions later in the school year and to understand procedures and benefit questions.

Understand District Leave Procedures

Review district procedures for requesting leave, reporting absences, and providing any required documentation. While state and federal laws may provide certain leave rights, districts often have local procedures that employees must follow. Understanding those procedures at the beginning of the school year can help prevent avoidable employment issues later.

Duties Outside of Regular Campus Hours

When starting at a campus, staff are provided with hours that they must report to their campus and the time they can leave. Most salaried employees under a contract will not have specific hours in their contract, so districts can ask staff to stay outside of their normal working hours for reasonable assignments, such as attending a science fair or an open house. If personal activities might prevent you from attending an event that is before or after your regularly assigned hours, speak to your supervisor early to see if any other options might be available.

Ensure Understanding of Special Education Compliance

Review ARD/IEP, 504, and ESL documentation for any students under IEPs, BIPs, or 504 plans to confirm the services that must be implemented to follow the plans. If you have questions about any of the information that you receive, including how to document the services, ask questions early.

Save Important Documents

Keep copies of important employment-related documents, including your contract, assignment information, salary notices, certification records, evaluations, and significant employment communications. Having documentation readily available can be invaluable if questions arise during the school year.

Final Thoughts

Being proactive and informed at the beginning of the school year can help alleviate surprises later. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, counselor, administrator, or other professional, checking off these key tasks will help you start the 2026-27 school year informed. And to help you be better prepared for your first day, you can use ATPE’s checklist found at first day of school checklist.

You can also access answers to common legal questions on ATPE’s website.

Have a great year!