Schools, Our Future????

82nd Legislative SessionReduction in Funding -

Foundation School Program

No Mandate ReliefIncreased

Accountability Standards

Expanded State Testing

No Light at the End of the Tunnel!

Where Are We Going & What Can YOU Do?

Radical School Reforms 1960’s & 70’sTear 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, textbooks

1983 - Nation At RiskProblems Linked to

60-70 ReformsCurriculumGraduation

RequirementsTeacher PreparationQuality of Textbooks

Did NOT AddressImpact of Societal

Issues

Nation At Risk Recommendations

The New Basics:4 years of English3 years of Math3 years of Science3 years of Social

Studies½ year of Computer

Science2 years of Foreign

Language (College Bound)

Colleges/Universities raise admissions requirements

Upgrade quality of textbooks

Lengthen school day & school year

More homeworkSpecial classes for

disruptive students

1980’s - Texas Blue Ribbon Committee

TABS – BasicTEAMS – Minimum TAAS - MinimumTAKS – Grade LevelSTAAR –

College/Career Readiness

1990’s - Age of Accountability

Measured school success based on test scores in:4 subject areas

Every child tested every year

Schools Rated:ExemplaryRecognizedAcceptableUnacceptable

2000’s – Federal Accountability (NCLB – No Child Left Behind)

Texas Model goes to Washington

2 subject areasStates would reform

schoolsLow performing

schools would get help

Students in failing schools could transfer to other schools

Reality TodayTest-driven education systemTeachers spend more time preparing for “the

tests”Curriculum 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

Reality 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

Greatest 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

privatized

Comparable to:Federal and state

laws that demanded:Every last molecule

of pollution will vanish!

All American cities will be crime-free!

Factors Outside the School’s ControlChild’s ability /healthEducation of child’s parentsInvolvement of parents in child’s educationResources in the homeHow much the child studiesHow much TV the child watches Child’s motivationDysfunctional home-life

Characteristics of Texas Compared to Nation• 2nd – Total Student Enrollment• 1st - Enrollment Growth• 1st - Hispanic Student Enrollment Growth• 42nd – Instructional Expenditures per Pupil

($5,443)• 29th – Pupils per Teacher• 35th – Freshman Graduation Rates• LAST - % of Over 25 Year Old Adults

Completing High School (79.9%)

Characteristics of Texas Compared to Nation• 31st - % over 25 Year Old Adults Completing a

Bachelor’s Degree (25.5%)• 9th - % of People Below Poverty Level in Past

12 Months• 8th - % of Children Below Poverty Level in

Past 12 Months• 41st - % 18-24 Year Olds enrolled in Higher

Ed• 46th - % of High School Teachers Teaching

with a Major in their Main Assignments

Today’s ClassroomClass of 30 Students:

8 Poverty3 Extreme Poverty12 Non-white10 Different

Language5 Not Raised by

Parent1 Homeless6 Mobile7 Abused

Texas Public EducationPast 10 YearsAdded 845,000

students 384,000 in

Kindergarten thru 5th Grade

Economically disadvantaged increased by 897,00049% to 59%

Past 10 yearsAdded 1,040

CampusesAdded 65 Charter

Schools

Texas Public Education

Past 5 YearsBudgets frozen at

2005-2006 fundingConsider inflation,

11% reduction over 5 years

Education Code expanded from 1000 pages to 1,500 pages

82nd Legislative MembershipHouse

101 Republicans49 Democrats

Senate 19 Republicans12 Democrats

Mandate from Voters in 2010 as carried by the 37 Newly Elected HouseNo new taxesShrink governmentCut Government

spendingProtect the Rainy

Day Fund

State PrioritiesBalance the Budget –

without raising taxesVoter IdentificationImmigration –

Abolishing Sanctuary Cities

Pre-Abortion Sonograms

Eminent DomainProtect Rainy Day

Fund

Funding Cuts – SB 1• (-$4 Billion) Foundation School Program• (-$1.3 Billion) – Outside the FSP

– After -School Programs– Pre-Kindergarten Grants– Tutorial Programs for TAKS Failures– TEA ( Cut 350 Employees)– Region Service Centers– Instructional Materials– Technology Allotment

Texas Also Has a $10 Billion Structural Deficit

Bill $

Funding Inequities2010-2011:

District revenues - $3,910 to $13,093 per student

LISD - $4,940 per student

HISD - $4,774 per student

1,033 districts, HISD ranks in the bottom 10%

SB 1 (2011-2013)Gaps in funding

remainAverage cuts to

districts 5.6% for 2011-20125.4% for 2012-2013

Repealed proration - state will not make-up the lost revenue

SB 8 – Legislature’s Efforts to Address Loss of Revenue

• Reduction in Salaries• Furloughs (6 non-instructional days)• Limits FITNESSGRAM to those in PE credit

courses• Amended non-renewal timelines• Suspend without pay in lieu of pending

discharge

Reality for Districts• Termination of staffing

positions:– RIFs– Attrition

• Reassignments:– Librarians– Art/Music

• Cut supplies, materials, technology

• Eliminate special programs

Reality for DistrictsElimination/

Reduction of non-core programs or classes:Extra CurricularMusicArtElectives

Charging a fee to:Ride the busParticipate in extra-

curricular activitiesAccessing

technologyIncrease fees for:

MealsSupplies

Reality for Hudson ISD• 2011-2012

– Loss of $1.3 Million

• 2012-2013– Loss of $965,000

• Elimination of:– 4 Teaching Positions– 1 Curriculum

Specialist– Athletic Department:

• Reduced Allotment Per Student by $35

• Consolidated Bus Trips for Travel/Eliminated Meals

– No Capital Projects– Purchase 1 Bus,

Rather Than 2

Other Bills That Passed: Official State………..• Saltwater fish - Red Drum• Music - Western Swing• Water Lilly - Nymphaea Texas Dawn• Table Domino Game - “Texas 42”• Birthplace of Boogie Woogie - Marshall, Texas

– • Depot Capital of Texas - Giddings, Texas• Getaway Capital of Texas - Lake Whitney• Legendary Home of Chicken Fried Steak –

Lamesa, Tx

Other Bills That PassedSB 2189 – Legalized“noodling”HB 716 – Hunt feral hogs and coyotes from a

helicopter (“pork choppers”)Better luck next session!

The hamburger fell short - State Sandwich Libscomb County’s - the Turkey Buzzard

Capital of Texas!

Bills That Failed• Consolidation• Sunset of State

Board of Education• Middle School

Reform• Private schools to

participate in UIL• Teacher Appraisal

Reform• Major relief from

EOCs/STAAR

New STATE Accountability System – NO CHANGEDriven by state

assessmentsWeakest link

determine ratingsAvailable resources

not factoredExceptions not

considered for demographic differences

New STATE Accountability SystemInterventions and

SanctionsClosure

RequirementsAlternative

Management Options

Accountability Manual

365 Pages

STAAR/EOCRigor increased –depth & level of cognitive

complexity Standards based other state, national,

international assessmentsTimed TestIncreased graduation implications

EOC• 12 End of Course Exams linked to college

readiness:• English I – III• Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II• Biology, Chemistry, Physics• World Geography, World History, US History

• Exams will count 15% of the course grade• District policy – impact of EOC on course

credit

EOC - Graduation Requirements• Pass ALL 12 of the subject area tests AND• Obtain a cumulative score in the 4 subject

areas• 3 Passing Standards based on Graduation

Plan:• Minimum• Recommended• Distinguished (College Readiness on English III

and Algebra II)

• Multiple retakes

Days of TestingGrades 3 – 8

19 days of testing27 with retesting

Grades 9 – 1115 days of testing45 days with

retesting

2013 Train WreckWithout major

changes:Revenue shortfallInequity in fundingImpact of new

college/career ready standards

Accountability Systems State and Federal

Politics

What are the NEEDED CHANGES?• Redesign School

Finance:• Adequate• Equitable

• Quality of School:• Multiple Criteria• NOT Weakest Link

• Less Emphasis on Tests

• Politicians that SUPPORT Public Education

• Local Control

What Can You DO???Grassroots

MovementAdvocate for

Public EducationGet Involved Hold Politicians

Accountable Research Platform

Political Candidates

Registered Voter

Vote in the Primary Election – April ?????? 2012!