Dallas and Fort Worth districts receive state teacher funding
Texas allocates $40 million to 411 school systems for recruitment and mentoring programs under a new law.
By Salma Farouk ·
Forty-one million dollars in new state funding will flow to 411 Texas school systems to support teacher recruitment, preparation, and mentoring. Governor Greg Abbott announced the distribution on Monday, directing the money through the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnerships, or PREP, allotment. The funding is part of a program established by lawmakers in 2025 to strengthen the state's teacher workforce.
The Texas Education Agency states that districts and open-enrollment charter schools applied for the 2026-27 funding cycle. Participation is optional, and the money is distributed using state school finance formulas. Three main programs receive the support. The residency program pays aspiring teachers while they complete a year of classroom practice under a host teacher. The Grow Your Own program helps eligible school employees earn teaching credentials and assists high school students in preparing for teaching careers. The mentorship program funds training and time for mentors working with beginning teachers, paying at least $1,000 for each mentor.
State records show 8,260 participants across these three programs as of September 11. The agency notes that this figure is a snapshot of records entered by that date and may change. In North Texas, the data lists 67 participants in Dallas Independent School District and 37 residency participants in Fort Worth Independent School District. These numbers represent participant counts, not dollar amounts.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a press release that the funding will help districts recruit candidates and provide preparation and mentorship to educators beginning their careers. Abbott added that Texas educators shape future generations and that it is critical they enter the classroom ready to succeed. The agency confirmed in a September newsletter that initial PREP funding would begin flowing in October through the Foundation School Program, based on each school system’s payment schedule.
The funding stems from House Bill 2, which Abbott signed into law in June 2025. The school finance law also raised the state’s basic per-student allotment from $6,160 to $6,215. The PREP allotment was created specifically to address teacher retention and preparation needs across the state. The money is now moving from the state to local districts for the 2026-27 school year.
