Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law a package of education bills today - House Bill 5

Texas Association of School Boards Update: Governor signs HB 5 into Law

"Gov. Rick Perry today signed into law a package of education bills today that he said will improve opportunities for Texas students.

  

Key among those bills was House Bill 5, which reduces end-of-course exams required for graduation from 15 to 5; provides multiple pathways to graduation through endorsement plans in which students may take classes that are more relevant to their chosen career paths; and establishes a new A-F accountability system for districts – not campuses.

Other bills signed by the governor include:

HB 809 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to provide quarterly updates to TEA regarding current and projected employment opportunities. School districts will use the information to plan and implement career and technology education and training programs.

HB 2201 would require the SBOE to approve at least six advanced technology and career-related courses that satisfy the third and fourth credits in math and science.

SB 441 establishes the Texas Fast Start Program to identify and develop methods supporting competency-based, rapid-deployment education delivery models that maximize academic or workforce education credit from public junior and state colleges and technical institutions in order to expedite entry into the workforce. The Texas Workforce Commission will collaborate with the THECB, junior and state colleges, and technical institutes. Fast start programs will focus on current and future employment needs and will enable students to obtain accelerated postsecondary certifications and degrees in high-demand fields.

HB 3662 creates the Texas Workforce Innovation Needs Program to provide selected school districts, public institutions of higher education, and private or independent institutions of higher education with the opportunity to establish innovative programs designed to prepare students for careers for which there is demand in this state."

Is education in Texas on a fast track to mediocrity?

Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Austin made the following comments in the Austin American Statesman:
"...a devastating flood of wrong..."

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Congressional Republicans demand less federal education aid for science, math, early education, disadvantaged schools and students with disabilities. Lowering the maximum individual Pell Grant by more than $800, with total student financial assistance reduced by billions, and slicing initiatives to improve college access and graduation rates means a weaker workforce. This is not a path to success; it is a fast track to mediocrity.

No economic justification underlies this nonsense, only a belief by those in power that it's good politics. When enough people speak out against the harm being caused, this assault on education can be stopped. Closure of neighborhood schools and termination of educators can be prevented when enough Texans say, "No way!"

An umbrella from Republican reign. Facing much more than a rainy day, our schools are being overwhelmed by a devastating flood of wrong. There is no excuse for a state that ranks near the bottom on so many indices to do even less, nor for federal support to shrink. As leaders boast about the Texas economy, we should apply more of the fruits of that success to ensuring an educational system that will sustain success.

Last year, 12 Texas members of Congress responded to concerns voiced by teachers, school boards and administrators about prior state misallocation of $3.25 billion in federal education aid from which they obtained no additional help. The federal education law we authored represents a small but important part of the ongoing struggle over our future. It has one simple purpose — ensuring that federal aid to education actually aids local education instead of being redirected to plug a mismanaged state budget.

It reflects confidence in local school trustees to decide on appropriate use of aid, not Gov. Rick Perry, who arrogantly avoids accountability. This is the same governor who insists he doesn't fire teachers, but he would deny monies for their pay.

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