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Schools, Our Future????

182nd Legislative SessionReduction in Funding - Foundation School ProgramNo Mandate ReliefIncreased Accountability StandardsExpanded State TestingNo Light at the End of the Tunnel!

2Where Are We Going & What Can YOU Do?

3Radical School Reforms 1960s & 70sTear down the walls between classroomsAbolish all rules & requirementsEnglish teachers can teach math, math teachers can teach EnglishStudents design their own coursesStudents learn whatever they feel like learning wheneverRemove graduation requirements, grades, tests, textbooks41983 - Nation At RiskProblems Linked to 60-70 ReformsCurriculumGraduation RequirementsTeacher PreparationQuality of TextbooksDid NOT AddressImpact of Societal Issues

5Nation At Risk RecommendationsThe New Basics:4 years of English3 years of Math3 years of Science3 years of Social Studies year of Computer Science2 years of Foreign Language (College Bound)Colleges/Universities raise admissions requirementsUpgrade quality of textbooksLengthen school day & school yearMore homeworkSpecial classes for disruptive students

61980s - Texas Blue Ribbon CommitteeTABS BasicTEAMS Minimum TAAS - MinimumTAKS Grade LevelSTAAR College/Career Readiness

7 1990s - Age of Accountability Measured school success based on test scores in:4 subject areasEvery child tested every yearSchools Rated:ExemplaryRecognizedAcceptableUnacceptable

8 2000s Federal Accountability (NCLB No Child Left Behind)Texas Model goes to Washington2 subject areasStates would reform schoolsLow performing schools would get helpStudents in failing schools could transfer to other schools

9Reality TodayTest-driven education systemTeachers spend more time preparing for the testsCurriculum narrowedNon-tested subjects/activities pushed asideIncreased numbers of college students in developmental coursesPrograms created to keep the increasing numbers of students from dropping out of school

10Reality TodayOver-burdened with bureaucratic requirements, proceduresLowest performing group will determine rating of campus and district :27 Tests 3rd through Exit (EOC)5 Groups of Students (All, AA, Hisp., Wh., Eco. Disadv)Financial Gains for Private Sector Businesses:Tutoring ResourcesTesting ServicesTest Prep Materials

11Greatest Flaw in the New Reform 2014ALL students in every school must be proficient in reading and math. (On Grade Level)Special NeedsNon-EnglishDisadvantagedHomeless

Failure to MeetSchools will be closedTeachers firedPrincipals firedPublic schools privatized12Comparable to:Federal and state laws that demanded:Every last molecule of pollution will vanish!All American cities will be crime-free!

13Factors Outside the Schools ControlChilds ability /healthEducation of childs parentsInvolvement of parents in childs educationResources in the homeHow much the child studiesHow much TV the child watches Childs motivationDysfunctional home-life14Characteristics of Texas Compared to Nation2nd Total Student Enrollment1st - Enrollment Growth1st - Hispanic Student Enrollment Growth42nd Instructional Expenditures per Pupil ($5,443)29th Pupils per Teacher35th Freshman Graduation RatesLAST - % of Over 25 Year Old Adults Completing High School (79.9%)15Characteristics of Texas Compared to Nation31st - % over 25 Year Old Adults Completing a Bachelors Degree (25.5%)9th - % of People Below Poverty Level in Past 12 Months8th - % of Children Below Poverty Level in Past 12 Months41st - % 18-24 Year Olds enrolled in Higher Ed46th - % of High School Teachers Teaching with a Major in their Main Assignments16Todays ClassroomClass of 30 Students:8 Poverty3 Extreme Poverty12 Non-white10 Different Language5 Not Raised by Parent1 Homeless6 Mobile7 Abused

17Texas Public EducationPast 10 YearsAdded 845,000 students 384,000 in Kindergarten thru 5th GradeEconomically disadvantaged increased by 897,00049% to 59%

Past 10 yearsAdded 1,040 CampusesAdded 65 Charter Schools

18Texas Public EducationPast 5 YearsBudgets frozen at 2005-2006 fundingConsider inflation, 11% reduction over 5 yearsEducation Code expanded from 1000 pages to 1,500 pages

1982nd Legislative MembershipHouse101 Republicans49 DemocratsSenate 19 Republicans12 Democrats

Mandate from Voters in 2010 as carried by the 37 Newly Elected HouseNo new taxesShrink governmentCut Government spendingProtect the Rainy Day Fund20State PrioritiesBalance the Budget without raising taxesVoter IdentificationImmigration Abolishing Sanctuary CitiesPre-Abortion SonogramsEminent DomainProtect Rainy Day Fund

21Funding Cuts SB 1(-$4 Billion) Foundation School Program(-$1.3 Billion) Outside the FSPAfter -School ProgramsPre-Kindergarten GrantsTutorial Programs for TAKS FailuresTEA ( Cut 350 Employees)Region Service CentersInstructional MaterialsTechnology Allotment22Funding Inequities2010-2011:District revenues - $3,910 to $13,093 per studentPISD received $5,225 per student (2010-2011) SB 1 (2011-2013)Gaps in funding remainAverage cuts to districts 5.6% for 2011-20125.4% for 2012-2013Repealed proration - state will not make-up the lost revenue

23Debate- Schools Not Efficient Staff PatternsEmployees1999-20002009-2010Campus Administration2.6%2.8%Central Administration.9%1%Teachers51.3%50.5%Auxiliary Staff27.6%27%Aides and Support Staff17.6%18.7%24SB 8 Legislatures Efforts to Address Loss of RevenueReduction in SalariesFurloughs (6 non-instructional days)Limits FITNESSGRAM to those in PE credit coursesAmended non-renewal timelinesSuspend without pay in lieu of pending discharge25Reality for DistrictsTermination of staffing positions:RIFsAttritionReassignments:LibrariansArt/MusicCut supplies, materials, technologyEliminate special programs

26Reality for DistrictsElimination/Reduction of non-core programs or classes:Extra CurricularMusicArtElectivesCharging a fee to:Ride the busParticipate in extra-curricular activitiesAccessing technologyIncrease fees for:MealsSupplies

27Reality for Peaster ISD2011-2012Loss of $505,6632012-2013Loss of $302,429

Total of $808,092Over two years.28Other Bills That Passed: Official State..Saltwater fish - Red DrumMusic - Western SwingWater Lilly - Nymphaea Texas DawnTable Domino Game - Texas 42Birthplace of Boogie Woogie - Marshall, Texas Depot Capital of Texas - Giddings, TexasGetaway Capital of Texas - Lake WhitneyLegendary Home of Chicken Fried Steak Lamesa, Tx29Other Bills That PassedSB 2189 LegalizednoodlingHB 716 Hunt feral hogs and coyotes from a helicopter (pork choppers)Better luck next session!The hamburger fell short - State Sandwich Libscomb Countys - the Turkey Buzzard Capital of Texas!30Bills That FailedConsolidationSunset of State Board of EducationMiddle School ReformPrivate schools to participate in UILTeacher Appraisal ReformMajor relief from EOCs/STAAR31New STATE Accountability System NO CHANGEDriven by state assessmentsWeakest link determine ratingsAvailable resources not factoredExceptions not considered for demographic differences

32New STATE Accountability SystemInterventions and SanctionsClosure RequirementsAlternative Management Options

33Accountability Manual365 Pages

34STAAR/EOCRigor increased depth & level of cognitive complexity Standards based other state, national, international assessmentsTimed TestIncreased graduation implications

35EOC12 End of Course Exams linked to college readiness:English I IIIAlg. I, Geometry, Alg. IIBiology, Chemistry, PhysicsWorld Geography, World History, US HistoryExams will count 15% of the course gradeDistrict policy impact of EOC on course credit

36EOC - Graduation RequirementsPass ALL 12 of the subject area tests ANDObtain a cumulative score in the 4 subject areas3 Passing Standards based on Graduation Plan:MinimumRecommendedDistinguished (College Readiness on English III and Algebra II)Multiple retakes37Days of TestingGrades 3 819 days of testing27 with retestingGrades 9 1115 days of testing45 days with retesting

382013 Train WreckWithout major changes:Revenue shortfallInequity in fundingImpact of new college/career ready standardsAccountability Systems State and FederalPolitics

39What are the NEEDED CHANGES?Redesign School Finance:AdequateEquitableQuality of School:Multiple CriteriaNOT Weakest LinkLess Emphasis on TestsPoliticians that SUPPORT Public EducationLocal Control

40What Can You DO???Grassroots MovementAdvocate for Public EducationGet Involved Hold Politicians Accountable Research Platform Political CandidatesRegistered VoterVote in the Primary Election March, 2012!

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