New Texas School Standards Posted for Public Comment

Academic expert and Page Principal Wendy Heger has just completed a key role in the future of education in the state of Texas that will affect more than five million students, their teachers and facilities. As one of four architects on a Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) 22-person committee tasked with updating the state’s school facility standards, she is pleased their recommendations have been codified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and are now available for public comment though June 29, 2020.

The previous standards were rigid and limited administrators’ abilities to respond to evolving needs. The TASA committee proposed creating a base level of compliance as a common platform that would meet quantitative measures, similar to building code compliance. Alternatively, the new standards would allow each of the 1,000-plus districts in Texas to leverage multi-disciplinary efforts involving administrators, educators, and design professionals to develop a compliance plan to fit their needs, subject to third-party review. Elements ranging from science labs to school safety were included in the proposed new standards.

Wendy has extensive experience in programming, operational needs and design standards for academic projects at both secondary and university levels, including design advocacy for school safety from threats of violence. She was tapped to serve on the primary TASA School Facilities Standards Committee and provided input on all proposed standards developed by the 15 subcommittees. She also chaired the Environmental Stewardship subcommittee and co-chaired the Common Areas subcommittee. 

To view the TEA proposed Commissioner of Education Rules for Texas school facility standards, click here.

To learn more about Page’s Academic market sector portfolio and team, click here.