Weekly Summary
Bill filing ended last week as legislators rushed to submit 2563 bills and proposed constitutional amendments, bringing the grand total up to 5924 pieces of legislation.
SB 1, the Senate’s version of the general appropriations bill, was voted out of Senate Finance unanimously and the working legislation represents a budget total of $94.1 billion. To improve funding equity and to keep up with enrollment growth, the bill adds $1.4 billion to the Foundation School Program. It also increases Texas Grants by $120 million. The bill will be considered by the Senate on Wednesday.
No funding cuts have thus far been restored for public schools. While HB 10, signed by the Governor this week, gives $1.75 billion to public education, it actually just pays another bill that had been postponed from the last biennium. Federal sequestration may be adding more hurt to local schools: El Paso ISD and Arlington ISD have reported $2-3 million in budget cuts which mostly affect low-income students.
More bills roll out to change graduation requirements. This time, SB 1724 reduces the total number of End-of-Course exams to 4 or 5, with more tests required depending on the endorsement pursued. The bill contains much of the same language of SB 3, which creates a Foundations diploma program that allows students to receive certification or endorsements in the humanities, business, STEM, and more. And a year earlier than expected, the first set of STAAR tests will be released to the public at the beginning of summer.
News of the Week
House panel approves $1.5 billion more for schools
House budget-writers scraped together an additional $1.5 billion for public education Thursday, but that wasn’t enough to mollify Democrats who say more needs to be found to help Texas schools.
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House Sends Medicaid IOU Bill to Perry
Two days ahead of a crucial deadline, the Texas House sent a bill to Gov. Rick Perry Tuesday that pays off $4.5 billion in Medicaid IOUs and speeds up a $1.75 billion payment that schools were already expecting.
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Career education plan stirs fear of minority ‘tracking’
Lingering memories of those days are fresh on the minds of the many Latino and African-American state leaders who are uneasy with current legislative efforts to loosen Texas’ high school graduation standards so that students can pursue more career training.
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TEA audit uncovers cheating at Canutillo ISD
An audit by the Texas Education Agency of the Canutillo Independent School District found that efforts to cheat federal accountability measures took place under former Superintendent Damon Murphy, and it alleges that the former Canutillo High School principal participated in the scheme.
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Texas Senate education chair says some high school tests may be shelved this spring
Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick said Tuesday that some high school end-of-course tests may scrapped this spring if the Legislature acts quickly enough on a bill that would sharply reduce the number of exams required for graduation.
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STAAR tests to be released early
Questions from the state’s tougher new standardized exams will be released to the public this summer, at least a year earlier than expected, the Texas Education Agency announced Tuesday.
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House Committee Considers School Safety Bills
The House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety first considered four bills allowing individuals with concealed handgun permits to carry weapons on college campuses. There were nearly five hours of testimony, both for and against, on these bills.
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Both sides heard on guns
An overflowing committee room at the Capitol on Thursday was the site of the first of many “grueling” battles Republican lawmakers are waging this legislative session to expand gun laws in Texas as the nation debates increasing gun violence.
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Sen. Tommy Williams: Texas Senate to Consider State’s Budget Next Wednesday
“The Committee felt strongly about maintaining our commitment to increasing school funding equity and a quality education,” said Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams Wednesday after the Senate Finance Committee unanimously recommended a new state budget that grows less than 4% annually earlier today.
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Texas ranks 49th in per student spending
Texas ranks 49th in the nation in spending per student, according to research compiled by the National Education Association. Arizona and Nevada spent less per child on education, according to the research, which was presented in a Texas State Teachers Association news release.
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Testing the state assessment mythology
Assessment allows educators to understand what students know, allowing them to direct instruction towards the goal of mastering the taught curriculum. These noble goals, however, have been eclipsed in favor of using testing primarily as a way to rate teachers, principals, and schools and provide a quick means of determining whether a school is “good” or “bad.”
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Senate Finance Approves $195.5 Billion Budget
The 15 members of the Senate Finance Committee unanimously voted on Wednesday for a $195.5 billion two-year budget that undoes some of the cuts from the 2011 legislative session.
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SB 1724 Reduces 15 STAAR End of Course Tests to Passing 4 or 5 for Graduation
The plan includes the exact language of SB 3 that has already passed the committee. SB 3 created the Foundation Diploma with endorsements that better prepares them for career and college. SB 1724 calls for students in the Foundation Diploma and those with the Career and Business endorsement to take 5 tests in total, with the passage of 4 required for graduation.
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Bill provides scholarships to special-needs students
Our public school system invests considerable resources into providing quality programs, and in many areas does a great job, but for some students with certain disabilities, specialized schools and programs are appropriate for their specific learning needs. SB 115 would provide funds for these special-need students to attend an available, qualifying and matching needs program.
UIL private schools bill advances in Texas Senate
A Texas Senate panel has endorsed letting private schools join the University Interscholastic League for all sports and activities except football and basketball.
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EPISD budget director: Sequestration impact “significant”
EPISD stands to lose from $2.65 to $2.7 million in federal funding for a number of programs, EPISD Budget Director Ester Jacobo told Board of Trustees members Tuesday night. Among the biggest hit are schools that have a high percentage of low-income students.
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Federal cuts to cost Arlington $3 million within a year
Mayor Robert Cluck joined a chorus of city officials across Texas in saying that federal sequestration will have a significant impact on services including public housing, municipal airport operations, education and public safety.
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