August 29, 2014 Judge Dietz has released his decision of the constitutionality of the Texas system of school finance. The Dietz ruling declares the funding system unconstitutional on multiple counts: “The Court finds that the Texas school finance system effectively imposes a state property tax ... Keep Reading
Education
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights August 15
Districts Ace 2014 Accountability Ratings Nine out of ten Texas public school districts earned the “Met Standard” designation in the 2014 state accountability system ratings released this week by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Districts, campuses and charters receive one of three ratings under ... Keep Reading
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights July 25
There is talk in Austin that there may be a decision in the current school finance lawsuit as soon as mid-August. Whatever the decision is, it will be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court. Even if the appeal was made to the Supreme Court within 30 days of the decision by Judge John Dietz, oral ... Keep Reading
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights June 20
Colleague mulls removing school finance judge (Austin American-Statesman © 06/20/2014) An outside judge is weighing whether a colleague presiding over Texas' long-running school finance trial should be removed because of perceived bias. San Antonio-based Judge David Peeples will hold a hearing ... Keep Reading
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights November 26
Recent News Stories SBOE - Evolution dispute entangles Pearson biology textbook at State Board of Education The State Board of Education’s ideological struggle with the teaching of evolution in Texas classroom resurfaced late Thursday night as the board prepared to give final approval to new ... Keep Reading
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights November 22
The State Board of Education (SBOE) met this week to hear testimony and to debate the draft rules for new graduation requirements. Texas PTA urged SBOE in public testimony this week and through its petition NOT to require every student to follow the same path to graduation, not to require every ... Keep Reading
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights November 11
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is expected to make decisions regarding the new graduation requirements that will be implemented beginning with the 2014-2015 school year on the following timeline: November 20th - Proposed rules will be filed and discussed; public testimony will be ... Keep Reading
Arnold Public Affairs Education Highlights October 21
Texas saw its sales tax collections rise in September, with revenue of $2.01 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent over the same month last year. September was the 42nd consecutive month in which sales tax revenue has increased. Sales tax is a key source of revenue for state government, as it is used ... Keep Reading