Education News
May 10, 2012
Teacher evaluation: what other states are doing
On April 24-25, the Project on Educator Effectiveness and Quality (PEEQ) sponsored a conference that included presentations from other states on their recently developed teacher evaluation systems. Among the states presenting were Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The Superintendent of the Hillsborough County (FL) Public Schools also shared her district’s new teacher evaluation policy.
This is composite of what is happening in their states:
• Teacher unions were involved in the development of new appraisal instruments
• Mentor programs that release the best teachers to mentor new and struggling teachers
• Value-Added Measures (VAM) account for anywhere from 30%-50%
• Principal evaluation frameworks are linked to teacher evaluation frameworks
• Teacher input is a critical component of the evaluation of principals
PEEQ is responsible for measuring the accountability of Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) in Texas, which will be linked to new teacher performance. http://www.utexas.edu/projects/peeq/
May 9, 2012
Beaumont signs up almost 200 new members
Beaumont Teachers Association signed up almost 200 new members (half teachers, half education support professionals) and got more than 600 Stop the Cuts petition signatures during its spring membership campaign. The local now has more than 1,000 members.
The key was planning. Four TSTA staff, four part-time staff, and TSTA Vice President Noel Candelaria visited 16 work sites in four days. The local had asked every association representative to attend a campaign meeting; those who couldn’t come received a packet with specific instructions on what to do the day of the visit. The local followed up with a note to all association representatives two weeks out, then emails one week and again two days before the visit.
All 3,500 BISD employees received an email inviting them to come to the lounge to talk about education issues the day of the visit. Those who joined BTA received a T-shirt that said “We are one” with the local, state, and national TSTA/NEA logos.
May 8, 2012
Photos from the ESP Statewide Conference
TSTA staff member Paty Marquez shares photos from the ESP Statewide Conference in Dallas for education support professionals. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tstapublicaffairs/sets/72157629637608844
May 7, 2012
National Teacher Week: the nation pauses to say 'thanks'
NEA has teamed with Parenting magazine on two groundbreaking projects that highlight teachers’ dedication to their profession and their students during National Teacher Week, May 7-11.
The "My Amazing Teacher" campaign invites the public to celebrate a teacher who changed their life by uploading a video thank-you message on the Parenting website. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, New York Yankee Mark Teixeira, and other notables contributed videos recalling their own “Amazing Teacher.” Students, past and present, can upload their video thank you at http://www.parenting.com/my-amazing-teacher?cid=searchresult.
NEA also teamed up with Parenting on an innovative joint survey of 1,000 public school parents and educators that explored the roadblocks to effective parent-teacher communication. When parents were asked to grade their relationship with their child’s teachers, nearly half gave the teachers an “A,” with the majority on both sides categorizing the relationship as “great” and “open.” http://www.nea.org/home/51796.htm
'5 Days, 5 Ways' giveaway for teachers
During Teacher Appreciation Week, the Teaching Channel is giving away more than 200 thank-you gifts, finishing up with a Friday grand prize for a weekend getaway. https://www.teachingchannel.org/tch-appreciation-week/?utm_source=nea&utm_medium=refer&utm_campaign=taw
May 3, 2012
Six members make HEB finalists list
Six TSTA members are among 30 Texas teachers who are regional finalists for HEB’s Excellence in Education Awards for 2012. Six teaching awards will be presented this weekend in Houston. The TSTA members are:
Loryn Windwehen, Harris Middle School, San Antonio
Laura Thornburg, Lemm Elementary, Spring
Jeannette Cavazos-Gonzales, Sullivan Elementary, San Benito
Graciela Guzman, Hanna High School, Brownsville
Angela Buckingham, Reagan Early College High School, Austin
Laine Leibick, Highland Park Elementary, Austin
read more
Texas Association of Business joins school finance lawsuit
TAB did not join the lawsuit on the side of hundreds of school districts who believe the system is "inadequate" and "inequitable," they joined the lawsuit on the side of a group that has supported additional charter school expansion and other "reforms." "We have decided that the public school system in Texas, at present, is inefficient," President Bill Hammond said at a Capitol news conference. The suit is scheduled for trial in October. http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/05/texas-association-of-business.html
Early voting starts soon
Early voting in the party primaries starts a week from Monday on May 14 and continues through May 25. Election day is Tuesday, May 29, the day after Memorial Day. You may want to consider voting early before the holiday.
May 1, 2012
Texas education commissioner stepping down
Commissioner Robert Scott will step down July 2 from the position he has held since 2007. http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/texas-education-agency/texas-education-commissioner-robert-scott-step-dow
House Public Education considers disciplinary issues
The House Public Education Committee met in Austin on Monday to consider and discuss one of its interim charges: “Review and make recommendations on the effectiveness of Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs) and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEPs) in reducing students' involvement in further disciplinary infractions. Determine the appropriate role of disciplinary alternative placements in promoting education achievement and how technology could be used to supplement education services. Consider appropriate placements in DAEPs or JJAEPs and consistent funding models for those programs. Consider options for counties without a JJAEP or inefficiently few placements in a JJAEP. Identify positive behavioral models that promote a learning environment for teachers to appropriately instruct while addressing any behavioral issues and enforcing student discipline.”
Most of the discussion centered on ticketing of students and the impact it has on student behavior modification. Many members of the committee from the urban areas of the state expressed concern over the number of tickets issued to students and the age ranges impacted by tickets. Last session the Legislature established an age threshold of 12 years of age from some infractions from ticketing.
The committee also heard numerous statistics from Tony Fabelo of the Council of State Government's Justice Center who testified on a multi-year study of discipline and outcomes for 1 million Texas middle and high school students. The overreaching concern from members on the committee centered around the “pipeline” for these students to future incarceration and the cost to school districts and counties in having to re-direct this student population to alternative educational settings. However, ticketing data is not available as this information is not tracked at the state or local level.
Most of the invited testimony from JJAEPs, DAEPs and school districts expressed positive results for students in these alternative programs. However, there is concern that positive behavioral intervention systems (PBIS) should be implemented to deflect students from future criminal activity and incarceration which can be very costly. Committee members were cautioned that Chapter 37 and its provisions are very important to educators and support personnel for personal safety and safety of other students. Any recommendations should reflect the needs for classroom safety first and foremost.
April 30, 2012
Voter registration: today's the deadline
Today is the last day to register to vote for the May 29 primaries. Find out here whether you're already registered, and apply here if you're not.
April 25, 2012
STAAR™ performance standards
The Texas Education Agency released the performance standards students must achieve to pass or excel on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) end-of-course tests this week. There are three performance categories established for STAAR EOCs: Level III: Advanced Academic Performance; Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance; and Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance. Commissioner Robert Scott, in the TEA News Release issued on Tuesday, stated, “[t]hese standards will be challenging for our students.” TEA stated it expects to release the first round of STAAR results in June. Performance standards for STAAR in grades 3-8 will be released this Fall. For additional information about the STAAR EOC standards, go to http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/.
ESEA reauthorization completes critical step in the House
On February 28, the House Education and the Workforce Committee “marked up” and approved H.R. 3989, the Student Success Act and H.R. 3990, the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teaching Act. The bills passed out of committee on a partisan vote of 23 to 16, with all Republicans voting to report the bills out of committee and all Democrats voting against. NEA opposed the bills in part because we believe they walk away from the critical federal role in ensuring equity in education for all students and go too far in prescribing terms of teacher evaluation systems at the federal level – a role more appropriate for states and local school districts. Read NEA’s letter and press release opposing the bills.
Prior to mark-up, NEA had several victories. With the help of pro-public education Republicans on the committee, particularly Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Todd Platts (R-PA), we were able to secure the removal from the bills of private school voucher language and to add privacy language to ensure the public was not able to access teacher's evaluations. Despite these victories, NEA still opposed the final bill.
Senate Bill Introduced to Repeal Social Security Offsets
NEA supports repeal of unfair offsets – the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision – that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits that public employees have EARNED. In December 2011, Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Collins (R-ME) introduced the Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 2010), which would repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. Representatives McKeon (R-CA) and Berman (D-CA) had previously introduced the bill in the House (H.R. 1332). See if your Representative is a cosponsor.
Take Action Today: Urge your Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act. To find out more about what you can do to help make Social Security a reality, go to http://www.nea.org/home/16491.htm
April 24, 2012
NEA supports resolution to roll back high-stakes testing
Educators are urging officials to develop new accountability systems. NEA has signed on to a resolution calling on federal and state policymakers to reduce standardized test mandates and base school accountability on multiple forms of measurement. Other initial signers include the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Parents Across America, and the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest).
“The overuse of standardized tests for high stakes decisions has shortchanged students, teachers, and our education system in too many ways for far too long,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “We’ve lost sight of the reason tests were designed — to help gauge students’ comprehension and progress.”
The resolution’s cosigners have joined with public education advocates Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier to urge state officials to “reexamine school accountability” and develop a system “which does not require extensive standardized testing, more accurately reflects the broad range of student learning, and is used to support students and improve schools.” http://www.timeoutfromtesting.org/nationalresolution
Have you signed the petition?
TSTA President Rita Haecker made an impassioned plea at the TSTA House of Delegates for members to fight for public schools.
"We are facing a threat from those who would love to tear down public education as we know it," Haecker told delegates. "When we see the horrific cuts being made to our schools -- when a Governor and a legislative majority literally change the law to say the state of Texas no longer has to pay for enrollment growth -- our fight is about more than just dollars and cents, it's about the future of public education in Texas.
"We are in the fight of our professional careers, and TSTA is not sitting back and taking it," she continued. "We stepped forward to lead, because we cannot fight this fight alone. We stood up for our students and our schools and launched the Stop the Cuts Now campaign."
Thousands of members, parents, and other concerned community members have signed TSTA's Stop the Cuts Now petition. Have you? Here's the link: http://www.tstaweb.net/forms/2012cutsPetition.html.
April 23, 2012
New: photos from the state convention
Photos from the April 20-21 TSTA House of Delegates in Dallas are now posted on our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tstapublicaffairs/sets/72157629882758223.
Hottest items from the State Board of Education meeting
The new math TEKS, the Permanent School Fund, and adoption of instructional materials were the hottest topics at the State Board of Education’s April 18-20 meeting.
1. New math TEKS approved unanimously: Following a three-hour discussion and 122 amendments, SBOE passed the proposed Math TEKS at the Committee of the Full Board on Thursday and SBOE formally adopted them at its General Meeting on Friday. The amendments included recommendations for teachers, the education community, and business leaders. The Math TEKS took over a year to write and will take effect during the 2014 – 15 school year for Grades K-8 and in 2015 – 16 for high school if the Commissioner determines that instructional materials are available.
The amendments came following a public hearing on Wednesday that included a swipe at the Texas Association of Business (TAB) by SBOE Member Ratliff (District 9). Ratliff expressed a concern about TAB bringing in several proposed revisions to SBOE at the 11th hour, even though the process had been in the works for a year. SBOE members expressed a concern that TEA should not turn the adoption of the Math TEKS into a competition with the Common Core, which has been adopted by 45 states. In developing the Math TEKS, the primary writing groups were given the Common Core standards as well as those from Massachusetts, Minnesota, California, and Singapore.
2. Approval of strategic relationships from the Current Absolute Return Fund of hedge fund investment managers for the Permanent School Fund:
This item was somewhat contentious, beginning on the Wednesday morning when the Committee on School Finance and the Permanent School Fund met. The first issues dealt with a motion by SBOE Member Craig (District 15) to enter into an absolute strategic relationship with two vendors (Blackstone and Grosvenor Capital) and to terminate remaining absolute return fund of hedge fund investment managers (of which there were three). A motion by SBOE member Bradley (District 7) to divide the question failed. This item sparked an exchange between SBOE members Ratliff and Bradley as to what actually transpired at the meeting of the subcommittee on Wednesday; however, the most significant exchange was between SBOE member Garza (District 1) and SBOE Chair Cargill (District 8). Garza challenged Cargill on her handling of the discussion by (1) allowing others to speak without being timed and (2) by asking multiple questions before coming back to his questions. The debate became so contentious that the Parliamentarian reviewed some points of parliamentary procedure and emphasized the one that addressed how Point of Orders shall be addressed. In the end, SBOE voted to enter into a strategic relationship with Grosvenor and Blackstone.
3. State adoption and distribution of all instructional materials: This was another item that spawned much discussion, primarily over amendments offered by SBOE Member Dr. Michal Soto (District 3). Altogether, 51 amendments were offered to amend 19 TAC Chapter 66, which addresses the state adoption of instructional materials. Of these amendments, the ones causing the most debate addressed
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penalties TEA can assess a publisher for failure to correct a factual error, language that would have removed SBOE’s authority to assess a penalty against a publisher for failure to maintain a website or provide a suitable alternative for conveying the information on the website (motion failed);
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language that would have removed a requirement for discounts for volume and multi-year purchases to be included in pricing information (motion failed);
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language to remove requirements for a signed affidavit certifying the involvement of textbook authors (motion failed);
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inclusion of printed copies as well as electronic copies of proposed textbooks by publishers to SBOE members
Other Items of Interest
1. Public hearing on benchmark testing: At the request of SBOE member Clayton (District 12), the Committee on Instruction listened to testimony on the impact of benchmark testing in our schools districts. Although there were only four people giving testimony, significant issues were raised:
• amount of time spent doing benchmark and standardized testing with some school districts losing as many as 45 days of instruction to testing – this doesn’t include test preparation time;
• failure to pass an EOC “demotes” a student from the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) to the Minimum High School Program (MHSP);
• failure to pass an EOC jeopardizes students’ participation in UIL activities;
• apparent “helplessness” of schools to do anything about the emphasis on testing and test preparation – “It’s a legislative issue.”
Commissioner Scott did point out that by law school districts could only set aside ten instructional days for benchmark testing.
2. Permanent School Fund percentage distribution rates for 2014 and 2015: SBOE approved a distribution rate range of 3.0% - 3.5% from the Permanent School Fund to the Available School Fund (ASF)contingent on the receipt of $130 million per year or #260 per biennium from the General Land Office (GLO). The motion was worded in such a way to convey to GLO that its contribution to the Available School Fund should be sent to the PSF (TEA) rather than directly to the ASF. This approval was necessary to comply with an amendment to Texas Constitution 7(5). This amendment changed the distribution from an income-based distribution to a total return distribution.
3. Fourth quarter of 2011 Permanent School Fund Report: PSF returned a rate of 5.93% for the fourth quarter, 19 basis points (or .19%) below the target benchmark. The fund also was ranked in the 27th percentile among funds greater than $1.0 billion. – report by Teaching & Learning Specialist Bryan Weatherford
April 20, 2012
TRS study: defined benefit plan is most cost effective
The most critical portion of the Teacher Retirement System board’s quarterly meeting was the update on the legislatively-required Pension Benefit Design Study; the TRS-Care Study was not a topic on this month’s agenda. Chairman David Kelly reiterated his belief that the current defined benefit system is the most cost effective system and provides the most secure benefits. He said he believed the facts in the study would bear out his belief, which upon conclusion of the presentation, appeared to be the case.
April 16, 2012
TSTA: Perry’s education attitude deteriorates
Texas cannot prepare for a strong future by inflicting deeper budget cuts on the public schools, TSTA President Rita Haecker said today, responding to Gov. Rick Perry’s new “Texas Budget Compact,” which promotes more cuts in state spending.
“Rick Perry is a one-note governor, and that note is a sad, sour one for Texas’ school children and their future,” Haecker said.
More cuts would devastate the public education system, while leading to more increases in local school taxes for property owners. The $5.4 billion that the governor and the legislative majority slashed from the public schools last year already has cost 25,000 tax-paying school employees, including almost 11,000 teachers, their jobs. More than 8,400 overcrowded elementary classrooms are larger than the limit set by state law, and neighborhood schools around the state are being marked for closure.
“Instead of sitting on billions of taxpayer dollars left idling in the Rainy Day Fund, which is flush and growing, the governor and the legislature should be using part of that money to preserve and ensure a strong future for the public schools,” Haecker said.
She urged the governor to call the Legislature into special session to appropriate $2.5 billion of the Rainy Day Fund to reverse school budget cuts scheduled for 2012-13. That won’t cost taxpayers a dime because the fund is projected to have a balance of at least $7.3 billion – and probably more – by the end of the current budget period.“The Texas economy is improving, but Gov. Perry’s attitude toward public education continues to deteriorate,” Haecker said.
Etch A Sketch moment for Gov. Romney
Mitt Romney is already hitting the reset button as he shifts from trying to win over conservative Republicans to the general election. Speaking at a private fundraiser this weekend, Romney said his campaign is about “jobs and kids” now. His proposed policies suggest that nothing could be farther from the truth, NEA says.
“Mitt Romney’s campaign is 'hitting the reset button' for the general election, just as his campaign promised he would,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “He’s already shaking up his policies and trying to start over. Mitt Romney believes he can Etch A Sketch his way into the general election by proclaiming that his campaign is now about ‘jobs and kids.’ Unfortunately, his vision and policies don’t reflect what his words say.
“Take the Romney-Ryan American dream-killing budget, which Mitt Romney has firmly and fully embraced,” continued Van Roekel. “The Romney-Ryan budget is like a valentine to the richest one percent and a ‘Dear John’ letter to the rest of America. The Romney-Ryan budget would cause real pain to most working Americans. Just as a start, Romney supports a budget that would push 2 million kids out of Head Start and slash Pell Grants for more than 9 million students seeking a college education. Romney’s policies aren’t about jobs and kids—they’re about killing the American dream. America can and must do better than that.
"More to the point, Romney’s comments about keeping the U.S. Department of Education to keep check on ’teacher unions’ are offensive and totally unconstructive,” continued Van Roekel. “We need leaders who will work with everyone, who will bring us all together to do what’s best for our children and the future of our nation. It’s time Romney stopped playing politics with our kids’ schools,” concluded Van Roekel.
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7-11
Staples-owned SmileMakers is a partner of NEA Member Benefits. At any time of the year, you can use the special code -- NEAMB -- when placing your order to receive 20 percent off (no minimum order required) and free shipping with any order of $25 or more. But if you use the code NEAMB when ordering during Teacher Appreciation Week, SmileMakers will include a Cat in the Hat motivational sticker dispenser free!http://www.neamb.com/professional-resources/smilemakers-discount-teacher-store.htm
Investing in Innovation grants
The i3 grants support innovative practices that improve student achievement /growth, close achievement gaps, decrease dropout rates, increase high school graduation rates, or increase college enrollment/completion rates. On April 17, there will be a question and answer webinar for anyone interested in submitting FY 2012 Scale-up and Validation applications. http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation
April 13, 2012
SBOE meets next week
All subcommittee meetings will be on Wednesday, April 18, as follows: School Finance/Permanent School Fund, 9 a.m., room 1-100; Instruction, 10a.m., room 1-104; School Initiatives, 10 a.m., room 1-111. The public hearing on the Math TEKS, which are up for adoption, begins at 2 p.m. in room 1-104. Subcommittees will complete any unfinished business after the Committee of the Full Board on Thursday.
April 12, 2012
Pants on fire
Comptroller Susan Combs, whose duties include oversight of state finances, says state lawmakers did not cut public education funding. Politifact Texas awards her the rating reserved for the biggest lies. http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/apr/12/susan-combs/comptroller-susan-combs-says-state-lawmakers-did-n
April 11, 2012
NEA launches ESP Virtual Career Resource Center
The NEA ESP Quality Department has launched a new ESP Virtual Career Resource Center for education support professionals. This new site is accessible to all educators who are members of NEA.
Remembering Carlos Truan
"Most don’t know it, but thousands of public school teachers and students in Texas are indebted to the late Carlos Truan, a former legislator and public education champion from Corpus Christi who died Tuesday," Clay Robison writes in an April 11 blog. Read more at
http://www.tstaweb.net/mtstatic. An Austin American-Statesman article about him can be found at http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/longtime-legislator-pushed-for-bilingual-education-2298361.html.
CDC: Teen birthrates at historic low
The U.S. teen birth rate declined 9 percent from 2009 to 2010, reaching a historic low at 34.3 births per 1,000 women aged 15–19; the rate dropped 44 percent from 1991 through 2010. In Texas, the birth rate per 1,000 15- to 19-year-olds has dropped from 61.7 (54,281 births) in 2007 to 52.2 (47,751 births) in 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db89.htm
April 10, 2012
New education statistics on Latinos in Texas
Excelencia in Education today released research on college completion among Latinos in each state. It shows Texas has the second largest Latino population in the U.S., and half of the K-12 population is Latino. The median age of Latinos in Texas is 27, compared to 35 for White, non-Hispanics, and 17 percent of Latino adults (ages 25 to 64) have earned an associate degree or higher, compared to 34 percent of all adults.
Arts opportunity gap widest for children in high poverty schools
In his latest blog, former NEA Executive Director John Wilson considers the "arts equity" issue in America.
April 5, 2012
'Smart choices are based on good data'
At one time, Texas helped its youngest citizens achieve their dreams, Scott McCown, executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, reflects in the new State of Texas Children report. "Today Texas isn’t making the same sorts of investments in kids," he says. "Yet we know that ensuring opportunity for families is the only path to a working democracy and a vibrant economy. We must invest in education — from early childhood education all the way through graduate and professional education, to ensure opportunity."
McCown said the report, released today, presents a comprehensive look at child well-being in Texas, and "We hope it helps inform Texans about the consequences of our choices."
TSTA offices to close for long weekend
TSTA will be closed on Friday, April 6, and Monday, April 9.
April 4, 2012
Vermont local is on strike today
Teachers in the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union -- which represents the schools serving Ira, Middletown Springs, Poultney, Tinmouth, and Wells -- have worked for nearly two years without a contract and are facing a massive rewrite of their contracts. The school board wants to expand control over the teachers' workday and working conditions and add a provision to allow subcontracting of teachers' work for lower-paid employees who are not local teachers. Details at http://www.vtnea.org.
How you can help:
1) Send donations to help cover expenses. Donations can be made online through the union’s website: http://www.vtnea.org/rutlandsouthwest.aspx
2) Send notes of support to: Chief Negotiator Gary Jurnak at jurneyman99@msn.com; Poultney T.A. President Kaitlin Cioffi at cioffikc@gmail.com; Rutland Southwest E.A. President Pam Hunter Biachegirl@aol.com; and Middletown Springs E.A. President Lorraine Wilkins lorraine1122@myfairpoint.net.
April 3, 2012
School finance trial expected in October
Last week, the Austin American-Statesman reported that State District Judge John Dietz had allowed four of the five school finance lawsuits to be consolidated; the trial is expected to begin in early October. "This case has become the largest of its kind in Texas' decades-long history of school finance litigation. The school districts that have signed on serve about 70 percent of the 5 million students who attend Texas public schools," the Statesman said.
Why didn't 452 of Texas' 1,028 school districts sign on to one of the lawsuits?
NEAMB site unavailable most of Friday
If you're counting on using NEA Member Benefits' website for discounts this weekend, you might want to visit before Friday. The site, www.neamb.com, will be undergoing updates starting at 4 a.m. Friday, April 6. If all goes well, it should be back up in the afternoon.
April 2, 2012
TRS town hall meeting on Wednesday
The Teacher Retirement System is holding a town hall meeting April 4 in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area to discuss pension fund and retiree health care (TRS-Care) plan sustainability studies commissioned by the Texas Legislature; the legislature has asked TRS to complete both studies by Sept. 1. TSTA is strongly advocating for the need to keep TRS a defined benefit plan. The meeting is at 1 p.m. in the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex at 9200 Mid Cities Blvd. in North Richland Hills. It will be webcast live through the TRS website as well as archived for later viewing. If you cannot attend this meeting in person, you can email questions. http://www.trs.state.tx.us/global.jsp?page_id=/about/announcement_town_hall_meetings
Federal research shows arts boost academic achievement
Low-income students who are involved in arts activities have higher academic achievement and are more likely to go to college, according to new research Friday based on studies tracking students over time.
March 30, 2012
Rally photos, video in case you missed them
Just in case you aren't watching our facebook stop the cuts page and don't get the Briefing, here's a recap. Thousands of parents, students, educators, and other supporters of public education participated in the Save Texas Schools march and rally at the Capitol on Saturday. TSTA, TSTA-Student Program, and TSTA-Retired were well represented, and TSTA President Rita Haecker and member Arturo Villanueva of Ysleta ISD were among the speakers. Other speakers included Congressman Lloyd Doggett; Sens. Kirk Watson, Wendy Davis, and Leticia Van de Putte; Reps. Donna Howard, Mike Villarreal, and Senfronia Thompson; and State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff.
Rita’s speech: http://www.tsta.org/sites/default/files/Rally-remarks.pdf
Animoto slideshow: http://animoto.com/play/nTg4KTdxK42GlKx4sAi7Aw
Video “trailer”: http://youtu.be/sJHcJrHtv2w
Longer video: http://youtu.be/OyvreAI8puw
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tstapublicaffairs/sets/72157629659523399
March 28, 2012
NEA President: budget derails American dream for millions
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives begins debate on the Fiscal Year 2013 budget introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). The Ryan budget is a stark contrast to President Obama’s budget blueprint for strengthening the middle class, investing in education, and growing the economy.
"The Ryan budget sets the wrong priorities for America," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "His budget is an American dream killer. He wants to balance the budget on the backs of the nation’s most vulnerable—low- and moderate-income Americans, children and seniors—while giving millionaires, billionaires, and big oil corporations deeper tax cuts. In short, it makes a mockery of shared sacrifice."
March 27, 2012
Watch a slideshow of photos from the rally
Photos from the march and rally are on our Flickr page (click on the link at the bottom of this page). We've taken a few and put them into a slideshow. http://animoto.com/play/nTg4KTdxK42GlKx4sAi7Aw
March 21, 2012
Legislators join TSTA in demanding relief from school cuts
State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer and Texas State Teachers Association President Rita Haecker joined educators from several San Antonio school districts to discuss the impact of budget cuts on San Antonio schools and demand that the state restore funding. Press coverage is at http://www.ksat.com/news/State-leaders-petition-for-education-funding/-/478452/9652436/-/3giq4wz/-/index.html and http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Teachers-group-touts-Austin-rally-for-education-3424625.php and http://www.ksat.com/news/Teacher-group-demands-special-session-on-school-funding-cuts/-/478452/9656232/-/bv39bt/-. Read the news release at http://www.tsta.org/sites/default/files/SanAntonio-press-release-3-19-12.pdf.
March 20, 2012
TSTA President addresses legislators
TSTA President Rita Haecker addressed legislators and staff at the Children at Risk Extended Learning Time Policy Luncheon at the Capitol today. The event was hosted by Rep. Diane Patrick and Sen. Rodney Ellis. Haecker said that the most important component of a child’s education is the teacher; she stressed the importance of teacher preparation and mentoring for new teachers. Extended learning time is a policy issue being considered by members of the legislature this interim, as are extending the school year and class day.
Test drive a Mazda, get money for school libraries
For each Mazda test drive through April 2, Mazda will donate $25 to the NEA Foundation. In the spring, NEA’s Read Across America will solicit applications for $1,000 grants to public school libraries. Any member will be eligible to apply on behalf of their school library. If we meet the $1 million goal, that translates to 1,000 grants nationwide. Anyone with a valid driver’s license -- members, parents, community members -- can participate in the test drives. http://www.mazdatestdriveoffer.com/lorax
March 19, 2012
Stop the Cuts: come to Austin Saturday for a rally!
TSTA is cosponsoring the Save Texas Schools rally at the Capitol this Saturday, March 24. The rally starts at noon; a march from 12th and Trinity starts at 11 a.m. See http://savetxschools.org for details. Carpool information at http://savetxschools.org/caravans-and-buses.
March 12, 2012
TSTA testifies in support of protecting TRS pensions
At the March 12 TRS Board meeting, TSTA testified and made a strong case in support of protecting TRS pensions and the need to provide better retirement benefits. Thanks to TSTA-R members and TSTA staff for their attendance.
March 8, 2012
TSTA President attends White House events in San Antonio
TSTA President Rita Haecker is involved in two events sponsored by the White House in San Antonio this week. The Hispanic Community Action Summit is at Fox Tech High School tomorrow, March 9. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will deliver a keynote speech on the shared commitment needed to educate our way to an economy built to last.
Secretary Duncan and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will also hold a town hall meeting at Café College atrium today, March 8, to discuss the importance of expanding opportunities for Hispanic students to meet President Obama’s education goals for the nation. This event, at 6 p.m. today, will stream live at http://bit.ly/EdSAT.
More than a dozen Administration officials representing a wide-range of policy areas will participate in both events.
The all-day summit on Friday includes innovative forums designed to facilitate in-depth discussions on topics from education to jobs and the economy, health care and the need to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.
Both events are free and open to the public, but space is limited. Members of the public must register in advance to participate in the summit at http://go.usa.gov/P4m. A report on the President’s agenda and the Hispanic community is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/hispanic.
March 7, 2012
Teacher survey finds significant drop in job satisfaction
The top finding of a newly released survey from MetLife: "Teachers are less satisfied with their careers; in the past two years there has been a significant decline in teachers’ satisfaction with their profession. In one of the most dramatic findings of the report, teacher satisfaction has decreased by 15 points since the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher measured job satisfaction two years ago, now reaching the lowest level of job satisfaction seen in the survey series in more than two decades. This decline in teacher satisfaction is coupled with large increases in the number of teachers who indicate that they are likely to leave teaching for another occupation and in the number who do not feel their jobs are secure."
March 6, 2011
TSTA to testify before TRS Monday
On Monday, March 12, TSTA will testify before the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). The Texas Legislature is requiring TRS to conduct studies on trust fund administration and TRS-Care. According to the General Appropriations Act, TRS is required to conduct a comprehensive review of potential plan design and other changes that would improve the long-term sustainability of TRS-Care, and the actuarial and fiscal impacts from potential changes to the TRS pension plan, including changes to retirement eligibility, final average salary, benefit multiplier, and the creation of a hybrid plan that includes defined benefit and defined contribution features, such as a two-part plan or a cash balance plan. TSTA is urging lawmakers to keep the defined benefit plan and seriously consider the impact of any plan changes on members, the teaching profession, and the education system.
TRS is legally restricted from lobbying the legislature, but they remain confident that an objective presentation of all the facts and accurate information will lead to the Trust Fund remaining a defined benefit plan. TRS will be making no recommendations in the study, just presenting facts and analysis. It is also important to note that the Board of Trustees may not alter the benefit design or funding structure of the Trust Fund. That role rests solely with the legislature.
What’s the difference between a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan? Here's an explanation from the U.S. Department of Labor website: A defined benefit plan promises a specified monthly benefit at retirement. The plan may state this promised benefit as an exact dollar amount, such as $100 per month at retirement. Or, more commonly, it may calculate a benefit through a plan formula that considers such factors as salary and service — for example, 1 percent of average salary for the last 5 years of employment for every year of service with an employer. The benefits in most traditional defined benefit plans are protected, within certain limitations, by federal insurance provided through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).
A defined contribution plan, on the other hand, does not promise a specific amount of benefits at retirement. In these plans, the employee or the employer (or both) contribute to the employee's individual account under the plan, sometimes at a set rate, such as 5 percent of earnings annually. These contributions generally are invested on the employee's behalf. The employee will ultimately receive the balance in their account, which is based on contributions plus or minus investment gains or losses. The value of the account will fluctuate due to the changes in the value of the investments. Examples of defined contribution plans include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, employee stock ownership plans, and profit-sharing plans.
NBC News announces Education Nation 2012
From NBC News: Heading into its third year, the “Education Nation” initiative will employ all platforms of NBC News — including MSNBC, programs like “NBC Nightly News,” “Today,” “Rock Center,” and “Meet the Press,” digital properties such as msnbc.com and EducationNation.com, and live events across the country — in a continued effort to shine a spotlight on the challenges, potential solutions and innovations spanning today's education landscape. In 2012, “Education Nation” will deepen public engagement in a solutions-focused discussion on improving student achievement and preparedness for the workforce — giving special attention to innovation and technology.
The centerpiece will be the national summit in New York City from Sept. 23-25, when once again, NBC News will convene policymakers, elected officials, teachers, parents, thought leaders, educators, members of the business community and engaged citizens in a national discussion about education. Built around solutions, the 2012 “Education Nation” summit will showcase real-life examples of communities and classrooms that are closing the skills gap and educating students so they can compete for the jobs of the future. In addition to the summit, the network is also continuing “Education Nation On-The-Road” with stops in Denver (April 15-16), Atlanta (May 6-7) and Miami (May 20-21).
March 5, 2012
More than a court order needed to fix funding
"Much has been written about the 500 or so school districts that have sued the state, seeking to force improvements in the school finance system. Expectations have been raised, but nobody can predict whether the Texas Supreme Court, which will issue the final order some months from now, will try to rescue the public schools or complete the demolition job started by the governor and the legislative majority," Clay Robison points out in a recent Grading Texas blog. But he warns that, as Wayne Pierce, executive director of the Equity Center, noted in a town hall meeting in Edinburg, “Even if these (school) lawyers do a fantastic job and win in court, we still have to win in the Legislature.”
March 2, 2012
Read Across America: movie stars, President participate
Actors Danny Devito and Zac Efron kicked off NEA's national day of reading at the New York Public Library (www.nea.org/readacross), and President Obama signed an official proclamation declaring it Read Across America Day.
March 1, 2012
Senate Education Committee interim charges
Interim charges of the Senate Education Committee were released yesterday: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/assets/pdf/Senate_PubEd_Charges_2012.pdf.
February 29, 2012
Joint interim committee to study school finance
Today, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus announced appointments to the Joint Interim Committee to Study the Public School Finance System. The joint interim committee will conduct a comprehensive study of the public school finance system in Texas and make recommendations to the 83rd Legislature. The committee was created through Senate Bill 1, 1st Called Session, 82nd Legislature.
"The future of Texas is being forged in our classrooms every day," said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. "That is why the Texas Legislature remains dedicated to continuing our investment in public education, directing more resources to the classroom and improving the quality of learning for every student in every school and every district across our state.”
"Nothing will make a greater difference in the future of our state than the willingness of all Texans to put education first and truly make it our top priority in Texas, and I'm pleased to appoint members to this Select Committee to do so," said Speaker Straus.
Lt. Governor Dewhurst has appointed Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) as joint chair of the Committee. Members include: Senators Bob Deuell (R-Greenville), Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock), Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Dan Patrick (R-Houston), Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo), Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio), Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), Royce West (D-Dallas) and Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands).
Speaker Straus has appointed Representative Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen) as joint chair of the committee. The committee members include: Representatives Alma Allen (D-Houston), Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands), Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City), Donna Howard (D-Austin), Dan Huberty (R-Houston), Susan King (R-Abilene), Todd Smith (R-Euless), Vicki Truitt (R-Keller) and Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio).
Rodents, threats: clean it up, Edgewood members say
TSTA local appeals to school board to clean up elementary's rodent infestation, middle school's hostile work environment caused by test score pressure.
February 28, 2012
Rally March 24! TSTA teams with Save Texas Schools
In February, TSTA’s local associations in the San Antonio area partnered with Save Texas Schools on a regional conference. Participants gained
ideas for increasing support for education in the next legislative session and an understanding of the current budget crisis.
Next up: TSTA is cosponsoring the Save Texas Schools rally at the Capitol March 24. The rally starts at noon; a march from 12th and Trinity starts at 11 a.m. See savetxschools.org for details.
February 27, 2012
Stop the Cuts Now gains momentum
Almost every day, you can find new reports about local activities and news reports related to TSTA's Stop the Cuts Now campaign. Have you signed the petition? Go to www.facebook.com/stopthecutsnow.
February 24, 2012
Are you ready for Read Across America?
As you prepare for the March 2 national celebration of reading, remember the resources at www.nea.org/readacross. It's a little dated, but there's a list of teachers' top 100 books for children, compiled from a 2007 online survey, at http://www.nea.org/grants/13154.htm. Other booklists -- including Asian-American, Spanish/English bilingual, multicultural, Native American, African American, and favorites of kids, celebrities, and authors -- are at http://www.nea.org/grants/13023.htm.
February 22, 2012
Test drive a Mazda, get money for school libraries
For each Mazda test drive through April 2, Mazda will donate $25 to the NEA Foundation. This donation will benefit NEA members nationwide, not just those who live in cities visited by “NEA’s Read Across America Tour—Driven by Mazda.” In the spring, NEA’s Read Across America will solicit applications for $1,000 grants to public school libraries. Any member will be eligible to apply on behalf of their school library. If we meet the $1 million goal, that translates to 1,000 grants nationwide. Anyone with a valid driver’s license -- members, parents, community members -- can participate in the test drives. http://www.mazdatestdriveoffer.com/lorax
Texas ranks 10th in graduation among 34 states
Texas has the 10th highest overall graduation among 34 states that are reporting the National Governors Association Compact Graduation Rate for the Class of 2010, according to a comparison study done by the Texas Education Agency. The Compact Rate shows the overall graduation rate for Texas public school students was 84.3 percent. When broken down by ethnic or racial groups, Texas ranks even higher.
February 21, 2012
TSTA applauds legislators who stand up for schools
The Texas State Teachers Association applauds the state legislators who stood up today for Texas children and called for the state to take steps now to stem the bleeding in our public schools.
During a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Vice Chairman Sylvester Turner of Houston, among others, said it was important for the Legislature to act now to restore cuts to the public education budget for the 2012-13 school year.
TSTA repeats its demand, first issued three weeks ago, that Gov. Rick Perry call lawmakers into special session to appropriate $2.5 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to restore those cuts before more teachers lose their jobs and more classrooms become overcrowded. That amount would be about half of what the legislative majority slashed from public school funding last year.
“We must stop crippling our public schools, and we must act now,” said TSTA President Rita Haecker. “This is not a partisan issue. Most Texans believe it is senseless to leave more than $7 billion of taxpayers’ money in the bank while their children’s schools continue to suffer cuts.”
The Rainy Day Fund is projected to have a balance of $7.3 billion by the end of the current budget period. That is enough money to restore school funding and meet other emergency state needs. Moreover, the state comptroller has projected a $1.6 billion balance in general revenue at the end of the budget period, thanks to an improving state economy.
At least 32,000 school employees, including 12,000 teachers, already have lost their jobs, according to one estimate, and more than 8,200 overcrowded elementary classrooms have more students than the limit set by state law.
Economy on upward trajectory, House Appropriations hears
The House Appropriations Committee met today to discuss the current economic picture for the State of Texas which according to testimony is in an upward trajectory in every sense. The Chief Revenue Estimator from the Comptroller’s Office and the Legislative Budget Board testified before the committee with an update on tax collections, job growth and a new estimate for the Rainy Day Fund.
According to the testimony, Texas lost 430,000 jobs since 2008; however, the most recent estimate is Texas has regained 440,000 jobs in the last year making the current unemployment rate for the State at 7.8% versus 10% for the nation. The only economic marker remaining flat at this time is the housing market.
The Texas consumer growth rate is up 5% to 6% increasing sales tax revenue by 9% and giving the oil and gas tax a boast. All revenue appears to be up except the franchise tax which continues to underperform. This was the tax instituted from the 2006 special session which was supposed to replace the property tax reduction scheme which has caused the structural deficit the state is now experiencing.
The Rainy Day Fund was left at $5 billion at the end of the last legislative session. However, due to the revenue growth it is currently at $6.1 Billion. The Comptroller anticipates it will be $7.3 billion by the end of this fiscal year and maybe even upward to $9 billion at the end of this biennium.
State Representative Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) pushed the Comptroller’s representative regarding exactly how much is available in the Rainy Day Fund because schools are hurting and a special session could alleviate some of the burden by infusing some of this unexpected revenue back to the schools.
This spurred much discussion over how much is available and how much is estimated to pay for the Medicaid shortfall anticipated in this biennium’s budget. The Comptroller and LBB projects approximately $4 Billion for this biennium, and then another $8 Billion for the next biennium. However, testimony was given that changing factors could change these estimates, more or less.
Other members of the committee reiterated the need to have a special session to address the lack of funding for public schools for the next school year and utilize some of the Rainy Day funds that the Legislature did not anticipate last session. However, some members of the committee expressed how daunting this task would be based on experience last session on deciding where to stream the money.
The testimony overall made it clear that the only way to increase funding to public schools is for the Governor to call a special session to address increased funding based on the additional funds in the Rainy Day fund. -- report from Portia Bosse
NEA releases Rankings & Estimates report
NEA's combined report, "Rankings & Estimates," provide facts about the extent to which local, state, and national governments commit resources to public education. NEA Research offers this report to its state and local affiliates as well as to researchers, policymakers, and the public as a tool to examine public education policies, programs, and services. http://www.nea.org/home/44479.htm
February 20, 2012
House Public Education Committee conducts interim hearing on charters
The House Public Education Committee met on Friday to discuss charter schools in Texas. The purpose of the meeting was for members of the committee to receive a TEA agency update on charter application process and a status of how many open enrollment charters are currently operating in Texas. Currently, there are approximately 8 open charters available for SBOE review. TEA made it clear that once SBOE grants a charter it has no further review authority or oversight and it is the Commissioner of Education that has future authority over the process of regulating charters.
Concerns regarding the regulation and oversight of charters in Texas centered around when a charter is flagged and what indicators are flagged by TEA staff in determining if a charter operator is doing a good or bad job. Members of the committee questioned how testing and enrollment decline impact charters differently than traditional public schools, and pointed out that TEA doesn't flag decline in enrollment among the same cohort group since coding allows those students not be considered dropouts. Some on the committee felt this to be a potential problem that charters are not evaluated or graded for the number of cohorts lost from year to year.
TEA assured the committee that charters are subject to reporting and accountability "in like ways" to traditional systems ie. grants, PIEMS reporting, and accountability ratings and AYP federal rules. Charters also have to comply with financial accountability and reporting systems.
Discussion also focused on those charters that TEA deems needing closure and how that process should work to prevent a closure that adversely affects the students. The committee was advised most closures occur after the school year, but the thought was stated that Texas should not allow charters to be opened that have the potential for needing closure a month later. This concern is based on a charter in the Houston area that was allowed to start the school year and then TEA determined closure was necessary during the school year which resulted in students being displaced.
The committee was reminded that charters are not required to have certified teachers unless it is for special education or bilingual which is required by federal law. Charters also are not required to comply with Chapter 21 or class size requirements, and charters do not have to comply with state disciplinary laws. A charter can simply kick the student out with no safeguards or process to ensure the student's enrollment in school.
The Committee invited a panel of speakers which included representatives from the Texas Charter Association and a Charter Operator who both testified regarding how effective charters have been in offering parents and students a choice. And further discussed how districts are now contracting with charter operators to come into schools and operate on behalf of the district which has shown to be a positive partnership charters coming into school districts and conveyed it in a positive light alleging a need for more charters across the state.
However members of Education Austin including Ken Zarifis, Co-President of Education Austin; Constanza Serna, a second grade bilingual teacher at Allan Elementary; Daniel Gach, a second grade teacher at Govalle Elementary; and community leaders testified regarding Austin ISD's decision to contract with IDEA charters to take over several Austin schools. These witnesses provided a very different perspective by sharing the District's failure to collaborate with community, teachers and parents, and many of these witnesses who also have children in Austin public schools testified they are not sure a quality program will be provided by the charter. It was expressed by many teachers, parents and community leaders that this process was anything but about "choice" in the public school system. -- report from Portia Bosse
February 17, 2012
15 percent grading policy deferred for one year
Education Commissioner Robert Scott says implementation of the 15 percent grading requirement connected to the STAAR end-of-course exams has been deferred. The action was taken based on input from parents, educators, and State Board of Education members, as well as statutory clarification from state leaders.
The commissioner said the Texas Education Agency’s House Bill 3 Transition Plan is being modified to give public school districts and charter schools "the ability to defer implementation of the statutory provision that requires performance on an end-of-course assessment to count as 15 percent of a student’s final course grade. The modification applies only to the 15 percent grading requirement in Chapter 39 of the Texas Education Code, and will affect only the 2011-2012 school year. For this school year, the ultimate decision whether to include end-of-course exam scores as part of course grades will be determined locally by school districts and charter schools.
“The law still requires students that are first entering the ninth grade in the 2011-2012 school year to achieve a cumulative score on the end-of-course assessments to complete their graduation requirements," Scott said."Districts and charters choosing to defer implementation of the 15 percent requirement for the 2011-2012 school year will only need to notify TEA of that decision. Districts and charter schools will receive instructions from the agency regarding this policy change next week. I remain committed to rigorous public school accountability, and to implementing the reforms in Senate Bill 1031 from the 80th Legislative Session and House Bill 3 from the 81st Legislative Session. The new assessment system will be better for students and educators, and will better ensure Texas students are ready for postsecondary success.”
TRS exploring options for TRS-Care sustainability
On Feb. 15-17, the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) met to discuss several important matters, most notably the legislatively required studies on trust fund administration and TRS-Care. According to the General Appropriations Act, TRS is required to conduct a comprehensive review of potential plan design and other changes that would improve the long-term sustainability of TRS-Care, and the actuarial and fiscal impacts from potential changes to the TRS pension plan, including changes to retirement eligibility, final average salary, benefit multiplier, and the creation of a hybrid plan that includes defined benefit and defined contribution features, such as a two-part plan or a cash balance plan. The Trust Fund is actuarially sound for around the next 60 years, but the legislature is taking steps now to look at options in an attempt to make the Fund even stronger.
The first day of the Board Meeting kicked off in encouraging fashion. Senator Robert Duncan, Chairman Kelly, and Executive Director Guthrie all gave emotional speeches, sending a clear message that they intend to do everything in their power to ensure that the Trust Fund remains a defined benefit plan.
TRS is legally restricted from lobbying the legislature, but they appear confident that an objective presentation of all the facts and accurate information will lead to the Trust Fund remaining a defined benefit plan. TRS will be making no recommendations in the study, just presenting facts and analysis.
It is also important to note that the Board of Trustees may not alter the benefit design or funding structure of the Trust Fund. That role rests solely with the legislature.
TSTA appeared and testified, encouraging the Board to stay the current course and consider the implications of any Plan changes as they might impact members, the teaching profession, and the education system. TRS stated that they would be including those concerns in the study.
TRS will be conducting a town hall meeting in Austin on March 12 to get input from stakeholders, which will also be webcast. In April or May, TRS will receive the results of actuarial and fiscal analysis. At the June Board Meeting, the results of the analysis will be shared with the Board. The study will be released sometime in August or September. Finally, TRS will conduct another town hall meeting after the study is released.
Regarding the TRS-Care study, it is estimated that TRS-Care will be financially depleted sometime in 2015. Accordingly, TRS-Care is the more immediate concern. The law requires a basic plan at no cost for retiree only coverage. Optional coverage may be offered at a cost to retirees.
In the study, TRS will be exploring options for long-term plan sustainability. TRS will be focusing on benefits and eligibility (including how benefits are managed), retiree premiums, and other contributions (state, district, active employee, and federal).
The other important news concerns Active-Care rates and benefits. The Board approved the following changes for FY2013: premiums for Active-Care 1 and 1 HD will increase by 4.0 percent; premiums for Active-Care 2 will increase by 6.0 percent; premiums for Active-Care 3 will increase by 9.0 percent; the deductible on brand-name drugs will increase from $100 to $200; and a member will now be able to take advantage of fulfilling maintenance medications through the mail after just one refill instead of the two previously required.
The Board also voted to increase rates for the three HMO plans as follows: FIRSTCARE will increase by 3.6 percent; Scott & White will increase by between 2.4 and 2.9 percent; and Valley Baptist will increase by 3.0 percent. In addition, both FIRSTCARE and Valley Baptist will add a 30 visit limit to home health services. All of the changes will occur in FY2013.
TSTA will be in constant contact with TRS to monitor and advise on the two studies. We will continue to fight for the best retirement and health care for our members.
February 16, 2012
Coverage of West Texas TSTA members' press conference
Here is the press coverage for the TSTA event at the Teacher Retirement System meeting in Lubbock, as featured at the top of the home page:
http://everythinglubbock.com/fulltext?nxd_id=99382
http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/mediacenter/local.aspx and scroll at the top to "Texas Teachers: Don't Gamble With Our Retirement"
http://lubbockonline.com/education/2012-02-16/board-asked-not-change-pensions
The Lubbock Educators Association spoke at a PTA meeting last night and got 86 more signatures from parents for the Stop The Cuts Now petition.
February 15, 2012
Latest TEA newsletter explains STAAR process
A new Texas Education Today newsletter is now online with information about the STAAR standard-setting process, new textbook (instructional materials) adoption schedule, and more.
February 9, 2012
Education Commissioner calls for "reeling back" testing
"I believe that testing is good for some things, but the system we have created has become a perversion of its original intent," Education Commissioner Robert Scott told TASA's Mid Winter Conference last week, to a standing ovation. He called for a process to measure “every other day of a school’s life besides testing day.”
Video at http://www.tasanet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13760&Itemid=909, podcast at http://www.tasanet.org/images/podcasts/midwinter/2011/robert_scott_mw_2011.m4v (both can take several minutes to load).
February 8, 2012
Superstars to co-chair Read Across America
Betty White, Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, and Ed Helms – vocal stars of a new movie based on Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax – are co-chairs of NEA’s Read Across America celebration March 2.
Now in its 15th year, Read Across America’s goal is to help children discover the joy of reading. The Lorax actors recorded public service announcements (www.nea.org/readacross), and Zac Efron will be a celebrity guest reader at the New York Public Library.
February 6, 2012
Upcoming webinar on bullying
You could earn two continuing education credits by taking a live, online webinar entitled “Bullying: What Every Educator Should Know and Do” on Thursday, Feb. 23. It’s hosted by Dr. Charles A. Williams, director of Drexel University's Center for the Prevention of School-Aged Violence. Look for details at http://www.drexel.com/news/story.aspx?nid=13182 (please note that by signing up, you are authorizing Drexel and/or its authorized representatives to contact you for 18 months regarding their programs).
February 3, 2012
Anti-union bill moving through Congress
Anti-worker, anti-union language has been attached at the last minute to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that's moving through Congress. The House passed the bill today (248-169), and it is expected to move to the Senate on Monday. The provisions in question take away the right for a secret ballot, essentially codify minority-rule elections, and allow for wholesale decertification of a host of unions. More information is available at http://www.afanet.org. You can reach your senator by email at http://www.capwiz.com/nea/issues/alert/?alertid=60941556&type=CO or by phone at 202-224-3121. The message: don't pass the FAA Reauthorization Bill with the unrelated labor provision that would gut collective bargaining rights for aviation and rail workers. This language has no place in a bill for funding of aviation safety, health, and security. Remove the provision or vote the bill down.
Teacher vote averts school closings due to funding crisis
NEA member Sara Ferguson was honored on The Ellen Show this week. A state funding crisis forced teachers in her Pennsylvania school district to decide whether they would work without a paycheck. The district had already made drastic cuts, including layoffs and furloughs of more than a third of its staff. Local association members agreed to work temporarily without pay, demonstrating their deep commitment to the success of their students. The crisis was averted on Jan. 23 when state lawmakers secured an agreement with Governor Tom Corbett. Ferguson, a 20-year literacy and math teacher, was invited to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, and on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, she received a $100,000 check from JCPenney for her school, Columbus Elementary. Read more at http://neatoday.org/2012/01/11/educators-will-work-without-pay-to-keep-broke-district-from-failing. Watch Sara Ferguson on The Ellen Show at http://ellen.warnerbros.com.
Op-ed: Tap rainy day fund for schools now
"Perry's presidential campaign is over. It is time for the governor to drop politics and stop cutting away at our children's educations and our state's future," TSTA President Rita Haecker says in an op-ed on the San Antonio Express-News website.
February 2, 2012
Shortcuts to our Facebook and Causes pages
We have two pages set up for Stop the Cuts activity. The shortcuts are www.facebook.com/stopthecutsnow and www.causes.com/stopthecutsnow.
TRS tweets
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas is now on Twitter.
Change could impact retirement
The Teacher Retirement System's new definition of “school year” could impact creditable compensation during the last year of employment for those who retire before Aug. 31.
February 1, 2012
TSTA says stop the cuts!
We're circulating petitions that call for a special legislative session to stop the education cuts. See a video and photos of this morning's press conference with TSTA President Rita Haecker and Rep. Donna Howard, as well as a link to the petition, at our new Stop the Cuts Now Facebook page.
January 31, 2012
NEA member to appear on the Ellen Show
Pennsylvania teacher Sara Ferguson will be featured on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Thursday, Feb. 2. First Lady Michelle Obama will also appear on NBC's nationally syndicated show. Check out the show’s website to find out what time and channel the show airs in your area.
Ferguson, a third generation educator, teaches literacy and math at Columbus Elementary in the Chester Upland school district. In early January, teachers and staff were told that there wouldn’t be enough money to pay them because the district was running out of state funding. Members of the Chester Upland Education Association voted to work as long as they could for delayed compensation.
Their plight garnered national attention. Last week, Ferguson was invited to Washington, D.C., to sit in the First Lady’s box during President Obama’s State of the Union address.
Chester Upland is an extreme example of the devastating consequences budget cuts are having on students across America. Sara Ferguson provides a face to the many educators who work diligently every day to fulfill the promise of public education for our country’s students.
January 27, 2012
Scott likens standardized testing industry to military-industrial complex
At the State Board of Education meeting Jan. 25-27, Education Commissioner Robert Scott commented that, while he believes standardized tests serve a purpose as part of the accountability system, they have become the be-all and end-all of accountability. He called the assessment process a perversion of what its intent was.
January 26, 2012
Retired TSTA leader Bobby Southwood dies
Funeral services are today at 1 p.m. for Bobby Southwood, who was an active member of TSTA and NEA and a teacher and administrator for 40 years in Harlingen, Arlington, and Irving. Southwood also was active in the Democratic Party, AARP, Boy Scouts, and his church, and he was serving his sixth term in the Texas Silver Haired Legislature, representing Dallas County. Services are at Oak View Baptist Church in Irving.
Changes to GED program
The Texas Education Agency has launched an automated system for ordering GED certificates. Test takers and certificate holders can now immediately download and print their official GED certificates, complete with test scores, at http://www.texged.com.
January 25, 2012
Deadlines fast approaching for three TSTA awards
Jan. 31 is the final day to nominate your local media for a School Bell Award. Multiple categories recognize outstanding media coverage of education issues and events between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. Download the instruction booklet and nomination form at the address below, and submit entries to School Bell Awards c/o TSTA Center for Public Affairs, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
The Ermalee Boice Instructional Advocacy Award recognizes teaching excellence based on professional practice, advocacy for the profession, community engagement, leadership in professional development, and attention to diversity. The recipient will also be TSTA’s nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. The nomination packet must be returned by 5 p.m. Feb. 1 to Ermalee Boice Award Committee c/o TSTA CEG, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
Nominees for the Professional, Human, and Civil Rights Awards are accepted from any TSTA member, local or regional association, or statewide affiliate in four categories: Individual Award and Special Award, both honoring outstanding contributions to professional and human rights; Mickey Leland Memorial Award, recognizing efforts with a widespread social, educational, economic, or political impact; and Willie Velasquez Memorial Award, spotlighting activities that eradicate inequities and improve inter-group relations and understanding. Nomination forms should be returned by Feb. 1 to PHCR Awards Committee c/o TSTA CEG, 316 West 12th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Each entry must be submitted on a separate nomination form.
For details on award criteria, see http://tsta.org/news-center/awards-grants.
NEA president praises President Obama's bold vision
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel praised the State of the Union's message of putting more Americans back to work, rebuilding the economy, and helping middle class families get back on their feet. The president again pledged to continue making education a top domestic priority in his administration.
“He has an ambitious plan to lead the country and provide more hope for middle class families. He understands that investing in education now and opening opportunities to all students are fundamental to the long-term economic well-being of our children and our nation,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel.
January 24, 2012
An upside-down accountability system
How equipped are schools to prepare students for new, tougher tests after last year's misguided decision by Gov. Rick Perry and the legislative majority to slash $5.4 billion from public education? Clay Robison's latest Grading Texas blog addresses yesterday's House Public Education Committee hearing.
January 23, 2012
TSTA testifies before House Public Education Committee
Today, the House Committee on Public Education met to discuss the latest implementation of the state’s high-stakes, standardized test, STAAR. Not surprisingly, committee members, school personnel, and parents all joined in to voice their displeasure with the premature implementation of a new testing system that will use ninth grade students as guinea pigs this year and risk punishing them by setting achievement levels that will be determined after the fact.
Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff testified on the status of STAAR’s development and standards, stating that the first tests are ready to be administered this spring: March 26-29 for ELA I, II, and III; the end of April for grades 3-8; and May 7-18 for End of Course (EOC) exams.
Much of the discussion between committee members and TEA staff centered on the process for setting STAAR standards. TEA staff said research studies are required to substantiate STAAR standards, and they are also required to conduct validity and linking studies among particular STAAR tests and students. The Commissioner of Education will set the majority of the standards for the test, which will be reviewed every three years.
One of the main problems with scoring the STAAR tests involves the requirement that certain EOC exams administered by STAAR will count for 15 percent of a student’s semester grade. There is, however, no uniform standard for converting an EOC STAAR score into a traditional test score on a scale of 0-100. The result is that every school district in the state may convert the EOC STAAR score differently, leading to inconsistent measures from district to district for GPA and class ranking, which greatly affect a student’s acceptance into an institution of higher education.
Several committee members expressed a desire to tweak the current STAAR system, and some noted that the public’s patience with high stakes standardized testing is wearing thin. However, that does not change the fact that we are stuck with an inadequate and punitive system for the next year and a half.
TSTA testified before the committee, emphasizing that improving student achievement requires a much greater commitment from the state than just creating another standardized test.
January 20, 2012
New report: ‘ALEC Exposed in Texas’
Progress Texas says that from 2001 to 2011 Texas lawmakers received more than $16.2 million from American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) corporations, the second highest among the states.
January 19, 2012
You’re invited: San Antonio Save Texas Schools conference
TSTA’s local associations in the San Antonio area are partnering with Save Texas Schools to make sure the legislature understands the vital role public education plays in our state's future. The first step is a Feb. 3-4 regional conference in San Antonio.
Friday evening you’ll hear from San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, Texas Superintendent of the Year Dr. John Folks of Northside ISD, State Rep. Mike Villarreal, and State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, as well as student and parent leaders. A bipartisan panel of legislators will discuss ways to increase support for education in the next legislative session. In Saturday workshops, you’ll learn about the current budget crisis and how to generate support for public schools back home.
Registration is $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and includes meals and conference materials. The Friday evening session is FREE ($10 suggested donation). Spanish translation will be provided; childcare is available with advance registration; and there will be a track on Saturday for high school and college students.
Learn more http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5he3arjed62604b&llr=det8yteab
Save Texas Schools http://www.savetxschools.org
TSTA staff contact for more information susans@tsta.org
January 17, 2012
Agenda posted for SBOE Committee of the Full Board
Curricular issues and adoption cycles for instructional materials are on the agenda for the Committee of the Full-Board at next week’s State Board of Education meeting.
January 12, 2012
MLK Day: The spirit of service
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Below is a link to lessons for grades 3-5 to commemorate his birthday next week.
TSTA offices closed Monday
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, TSTA offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 16.
January 11, 2012
Watch for indoor air quality piece on CNN
CNN will feature NEA members in an upcoming piece on indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools. In a segment that will air Jan. 14 and 15, Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta visits schools in Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut to examine the impact of IAQ on students and employees. Gupta speaks to NEA members and leaders, including NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen who talks about safety and health concerns for students and the potential impact on learning.
An estimated 14 million American children attend public schools that are in urgent need of extensive repair or replacement and have unhealthy environmental conditions, including poor air quality, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate safety systems. NEA is urging Congress to pass President Obama’s Fix America’s Schools Today Act, which would provide $25 billion for modernizing and repairing public schools.
To contact Congress, visit http://capwiz.com/nea/issues/alert/?alertid=54523501.
For a sneak peak of the segment and behind the scenes video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBxGwLCkN4s.
To read more about the segment and leave comments, visit www.neatoday.org and www.cnn.com.
January 9, 2012
House Public Ed to meet this month
The House Public Education Committee will meet at 1 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Capitol to consider the following interim charge: Monitor state and local implementation of the new state assessment system, specifically the impact on students, instruction, teachers, and graduation or promotion rates. Review how districts are implementing the requirement that the end-of-course assessment count for 15 percent of the student's course grade. Recommend any changes to graduation or testing requirements that promote instructional rigor and support postsecondary readiness while appropriately limiting an over reliance on standardized testing.
Go Daddy offers $10K scholarships
In 500 words or less, tell Go Daddy how the internet or internet technology has helped you during the course of your studies, and you could win $10,000 for college tuition. The deadline is March 30.
Texas museums hit as schools take fewer field trips
As Texas schools whittle their budgets in response to the state’s multibillion dollar education cuts, they are eyeing every expenditure, from athletics to busing and even field trips.
January 5, 2012
School boards association publishes food allergy policy guide
The National School Boards Association has published “Safe at School and Ready to Learn: A Comprehensive Policy Guide for Protecting Students with Life-threatening Food Allergies” to help support the safety, well-being, and academic success of students with life-threatening food allergies.
December 26, 2011
TSTA leader John Duncan dies
"It is with great sadness that I inform this group that John Duncan, my predecessor as Region 2C President, passed away this morning about 8 a.m.," Chuck Isner posted on TSTA's Facebook wall today. "Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 @ Westminster Presbyterian Church in Odessa, TX. He was one of the kindest and most gentle men it has been my privilege to know. He will be sorely missed."
December 16, 2011
No apology necessary, Perry is a bum steer
Read Clay Robison's blog today on Texas Monthly's announcement that Gov. Rick Perry is their "bum steer" of the year.
December 15, 2011
NEA RA Delegate Elections
Each year Texas is eligible to send delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. We are providing information for state delegate nominations and how to become a local delegate. In order to meet TSTA’s ethnic-minority goals for delegates to the NEA-RA, local leaders should encourage their ethnic minority members to participate in the state delegate election and the local delegate election.
December 13, 2011
AISD board postpones IDEA charter proposal
The Austin ISD school board early this morning postponed for one week a vote on a controversial contract for a South Texas-based charter operator, IDEA Public Schools, to take over Eastside High School and Allan Elementary in east Austin. Board President Mark Williams said AISD’s process for public input was “poor” and admitted the district had “rushed” the proposal, which has been pushed by AISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.The charter proposal has sparked considerable opposition from the local community and from Education Austin, a TSTA affiliate that represents about 3,000 teachers and other employees in AISD. Protesters jammed into the board room Monday night to protest the charter plan.
December 9, 2011
How to transform teaching and learning: an action plan
An NEA commission this week issued strategies to increase the quality of teacher candidates, ensure teachers remain at the top of their game throughout their careers, and improve student learning by helping educators become leaders in their schools.
TRS to discuss future of benefit plan
On December 8 and 9, 2011, the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas held its December Board Meeting. The Board announced that it will hold its annual retreat in Lubbock on February 15-17, 2012. The February Board Meeting will be a critical caucus at which the Board will discuss the defined benefit/defined contribution study required by the legislature.
Wide range of districts suing state over funding
The state’s inadequate and inequitable school funding system is under attack from a growing number of school districts from across Texas -- rich and poor, large and small, alike. A second lawsuit challenging the funding system was filed in Austin on Friday. The plaintiffs in this case are mostly property wealthy school districts, which contend that the current finance system violates the Texas Constitution because it is inadequately funded and, in effect, imposes a statewide property tax.
Two upcoming Houston events
On Jan. 25, Texas Freedom Network will host a free afternoon symposium on Religion in the 2012 Elections at Rice University, followed by an evening session with Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts at Congregation Emanu El for $20 per person.
December 7, 2011
150 newly certified teachers visit the White House
Today, this year's class of National Board Certified Teachers will join Education Secretary Arne Duncan at the White House from 9:30 - 11 a.m. EST.
Today only: view live webcast
Leading education groups push P-3 alignment
The nation’s leading education organizations have joined together to support alignment of preschool through third grade education to ensure a solid foundation in literacy, math, and social-emotional skills. The Pre-K Coalition today released The Importance of Aligning Pre-K through 3rd Grade, which details best practices and recommendations for improving early learning.
NEA applauds Obama administration for school diversity efforts
New guidelines allow local school districts and college admission boards more flexibility to improve racial diversity, NEA says. Education officials now have more data they can use, including information related to a student’s socioeconomic profile or any hardships the students might have overcome, when making decisions about school assignments and college and university admissions. The new guidelines come in two sets for K-12 and postsecondary.
Mandatory meningitis vaccine for college students
Effective Jan. 1, new college students who are under age 30 and attending class on a Texas campus must be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis prior to school entry. Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The bacterium can also infect the blood. Meningitis is easily spread by direct contact, or by droplets of respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing, kissing, and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation).
December 6, 2011
TSTA president quoted on NEA Today site
TSTA President Rita Haecker is quoted throughout this article on the Dream Act on NEA Today online.
December 5, 2011
What is meant by “poverty”?
What you may not know: Most poor families with children in Texas are working families. A new report describes the official federal poverty measure, how it is used, and the extent of poverty in Texas.
December 2, 2011
Hochberg won’t seek reelection
State Rep. Scott Hochberg of Houston, a longtime friend of Texas school children and teachers and an expert on the state’s complex school finance law, announced today that he will not seek reelection to the Texas House of Representatives next year. TSTA is sad to see him step down but applauds his many years of service to the people of Texas and support of the public schools.
“During his two decades as a State Representative, no Texan has done more on behalf of Texas students and teachers than Rep. Scott Hochberg, and his dedication to improving public education will be sorely missed in the Texas House,” said Ed Martin, TSTA Director of Public Affairs.
November 30, 2011
Rewrite of school lunch rules falls short of goals
Congress prevents U.S. Department of Agriculture from making all the changes it proposed in January to counter obesity epidemic.
Teachers, other workers go on strike in the U.K.
Angered over the British government's planned austerity measures, more than 2 million workers are participating in the "biggest stoppage in more than 30 years."
STAAR media toolkit helps educators explain program
The toolkit includes answers to FAQ, testing calendars, and sample questions. New information is also posted frequently on the main STAAR website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar.
1 in 4 school-age children in Central Texas live in poverty
The child poverty rate in Texas in 2010 was 25.7 percent, or 1.8 million children. Only California had more children in poverty.
November 29, 2011
New rule limits schools’ ability to cut work force
It will be harder for Texas school districts to cut their work force in the middle of the year under a new definition of “financial exigency.”
November 28, 2011
Schools moving beyond one-size-fits-all approach
Experts will discuss how to use technology, especially blended learning, to personalize education and raise student achievement in a free webinar Dec. 7.
Can your child nutrition program use new equipment?
Apply for a School Nutrition Foundation/Winston Industries Equipment Award; you may win new equipment through a competitive grant program. The application deadline is November 29.
November 21, 2011
TSTA: Close corporate tax loopholes
The Texas State Teachers Association today urged Congress to close corporate tax loopholes that have allowed many of America’s most profitable companies to drain nearly $223 billion over the past three years from public schools and other critical services that impact almost every American taxpayer.
Impasse to trigger further cuts to education
The failure of the congressional super committee to agree on a debt reduction plan means that across-the-board cuts, including $3.54 billion from important education programs, will begin to be enacted in 2013. National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel vows to continue working with Congress next year to avoid further cuts to education and to help lawmakers reach a debt-reduction compromise.
November 18, 2011
Report from the SBOE meeting
The State Board of Education and its committees met on November 16-18, 2011. The meeting consisted of the following: Committee of the Full Board, Committee on Instruction, Committee on Finance/Permanent School Fund, and Committee on School Initiatives. The State Board of Education meeting, itself, was on Friday, November 18th.
November 15, 2011
Tuesday of AEW: new partnerships guide
Today, NEA Vice President Lily Eskelsen and Stephanie Wood, executive editor of Parenting magazine, unveil NEA’s new guide for developing effective partnerships to improve student performance, the Family-School-Community Partnerships 2.0 report.
November 14, 2011
American Education Week: Monday kick off!
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and NEA President Dennis Van Roekel kick off AEW with a visit to T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. to recognize staff during a breakfast meet and greet.The leaders then meet with students to discuss the importance of education and what students believe they need to be successful in the 21st century economy.
November 13, 2011
NEA president on C-SPAN
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel took phone calls on a range of education issues on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” Sunday morning call-in program. It was the first day of American Education Week.
November 11, 2011
Nov. 16 is Education Support Professionals Day!
Celebrate, support, and encourage Education Support Professionals (ESPs) on Wednesday, Nov. 16, National ESP Day. First celebrated in 1987, ESP Day is the chance to recognize the positive impact ESP’s have on students, teachers, and the community. Comprising more than 40 percent of the total K-12 workforce, it is impossible to walk through a school hallway without encountering an ESP. Take that opportunity to thank an ESP for all he or she does.
4 fallacies of the 'teachers are overpaid' argument
The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute argue that public school teachers are overpaid, therefore policy makers can balance their budgets by cutting teachers’ benefits without affecting teacher recruitment and retention.
November 10, 2011
How did budget cuts affect you? Responses to the Briefing
"In the ability to get needed replacement equipment and supplies for science class. Our school has roughly 2,500 students running through all the science classes but only a $1,500 budget for replacing broken equipment, chemicals, specimens, etc. At the same time, we are still mandated to have 40% of instructional time is to be doing labs."
"I'm in my 37th year of my teaching profession. My current position looks like it will be cut next year due to the budget shortfall. While I would like to continue for another few years, it looks like I may end up retiring."
"I'm currently teaching in the exact same position I've been teaching in for the past 11 yrs. However, NOW I'm being carried as 'excess' in a 'vacant' position, which is the exact same position I've been teaching for the past 11 yrs. How does one become excess in a vacant position?"
Report hammers SBOE social studies curriculum
"A report ripping the new social studies standards for schoolchildren offers recommendations for how teachers can best skirt its shortcomings — although a state agency responsible for the group that produced the study disavows it," according to the San Antonio Express News.
November 9, 2011
Congratulations to Cy-Fair and Alief!
Congratulations to President Frances Smith and all the members of Cypress-Fairbanks TSTA/NEA and President Ovidia Molina and all the members of Alief TSTA/NEA for last night's victories in important local school board elections. All four TSTA-endorsed candidates -- Christine Hartley and Thomas Jackson in Cy-Fair, and John P. Hansen and Ann Williams in Alief -- won with over 60% of the vote. These victories demonstrate what we can achieve when our local members take an active role in shaping the direction of the school boards that will be playing such an important role in what happens in our classrooms and on our campuses. The TSTA Public Affairs Division helped with robo calls and mailers.
November 8, 2011
Looking for nominations for Friend of Education
Nominations for the 2012 recipient of NEA’s Friend of Education Award are now being solicited. This award honors an individual, organization, or group whose leadership, acts, or support has significantly benefited education, education employees, or students on a national scale.
November 4, 2011
TRS fund exceeds assumed benchmark
Today, the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas met for their November Board Meeting. The Meeting was uneventful -- emphasizing mostly information we have already reported. The Pension Trust Fund ended the fiscal year at $107.4 billion. The Fund ended the previous fiscal year at $95.7 billion. The estimated return on market value was 15.5%, exceeding the assumed benchmark return of 8.0%. As anticipated, the Board adopted a resolution that approved the proposed changes to TRS Rules in Chapters 23 and 25 of Title 34 of the Texas Administrative Code. The approved changes deal with administrative procedures and membership credit, and are the result of statutory changes. The Board will meet again on December 8-9, 2011, for its quarterly meeting.
Are you ready for American Education Week?
Nov. 13-19 is the 90th anniversary of American Education Week, a time to raise public awareness of the importance of education. Materials and videos are online.
November 2, 2011
President Obama meets with TSTA President
On Nov. 1, TSTA President Rita Haecker was one of 11 NEA leaders who met with President Obama in the White House to discuss the American Jobs Act (AJA). AJA will provide funds to retain and hire educators, rebuild schools, and keep America moving forward toward educational and economic success.
Digital book service is free for students with disabilities
Bookshare is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities. In its searchable online library are approximately 125,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals, and assistive technology tools.
October 27, 2011
Report urges states to take a new look at principal training
Texas is one of eight states the report says are "lagging" when it comes to this issue, by having a misalignment between state policies and what research has shown are best practices for principal effectiveness.
NEA executive director visits
NEA’s John Stocks traveled through Texas with TSTA President Rita Haecker and Vice President Noel Candelaria for a week in October. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuIVIPlYdH8.
October 26, 2011
Nominations due Nov. 23 for education awards
Each year the Education Commission of the States presents awards to individuals, states, and organizations that have made significant contributions to public education.
October 25, 2011
Voting on constitutional amendments
Ten constitutional amendments are on the Nov. 8 ballot. TSTA is not taking a position on any of the amendments, including Proposition 6, which deals with the Permanent School Fund. Early voting will continue through Friday, Nov. 4. Learn more about the amendments by clicking on the link below.
October 22, 2011
TEKS, TAKS, STAAR, and ESEA
Here is a tentative timeline that looks at how elements of Texas education comes together (TEKS revisions, TAKS, STAAR) and the implementation of ESEA 2011 as it now stands.
October 21, 2011
Senate fails to pass education jobs bill again
Thousands of educators and students were left in limbo for next school year when the U.S. Senate, for a second time in less than two weeks, failed to pass a bill to put educators back in classrooms instead of on the unemployment lines.
Photos from AOT 4 leader summit
Forty presidents and leaders from throughout Region 4 – the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and East Texas – attended the Presidents and Leaders Summit Oct. 15. The summit focused on political action and what it means to TSTA members. TSTA President Rita Haecker, Vice President Noel Candelaria, Public Affairs Director Ed Martin, and two local school board members, Charles Wilson of Marshall ISD and Bruce Parrot of Dallas ISD, were among the speakers.
October 20, 2011
House interim committee charges released
Interim committee charges for the Texas House of Representatives were released Oct. 20. "There are many important priorities that I am asking you to address in these charges," Speaker Joe Straus said, "including finding ways to strengthen our state’s economy, review our transportation infrastructure, address our water challenges, improve wildfire response and find innovative ways to improve public and higher education." Here’s TSTA's analysis.
Website promotes online safety
Keeping kids safe online is a priority for every NEA member. To help them do this better, NEA Health Information Network has launched a new website.
Study shows IQ can change during adolescence
A fifth of children can gain or lose as many as 20 IQ points during adolescence, a new brain-imaging study finds.
October 19, 2011
TSTA monitoring the ESEA debate in Washington
The bill is being marked up in Senate committee this week, and we'll provide more details when the committee's work is done. In the meantime, watch for updates on the NEA Today website.
Vermont local goes on strike
After a 15-hour marathon bargaining session and nearly 15 months without a contract, Vermont’s second-largest local, the Southwestern Vermont Education Association, is on strike. If you’d like to send words of encouragement, visit their Facebook page.
Free teen prescription drug abuse kit
National Association of School Nurses is giving away a free teen prescription drug abuse kit.
October 17, 2011
NEA "pleased to see improvements" in NCLB bill
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is currently finalizing its draft of a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In a statement released today, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel expressed appreciation for Chairman Tom Harkin’s (D-Iowa) continuing work and flexibility in drafting this important legislation.
October 13, 2011
Oyez, Oyez, Oh Yay!
A new website from the State Bar teaches Texas students about the landmark court decisions they must know for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills assessment tests in U.S. government and history.
October 12, 2011
Free online training on child abuse
New training is available for Texas teachers and other school staff on how to recognize and report child abuse.
The self-paced training is available on the Department of Family and Protective Services website.
It’s National School Lunch Week
This week is National School Lunch Week. TSTA recognizes and appreciates the dedicated work of school cafeteria workers who provide healthy, nutritious meals to almost 5 million students every single school day. Your day starts early, and your meals nourish not just their bodies but their minds and their souls. Thank you for your service and your commitment to great public schools for all Texas children.
NEA president urges Senate to put partisan politics aside
Teachers, education support professionals, parents and others in local communities are rallying behind President Barack Obama’s American Jobs Act, a bold proposal to get the economy moving forward.
October 10, 2011
Teacher job cuts push local payrolls to lowest since 2005
From Bloomberg News: The number of workers employed by local governments in the U.S. fell to the lowest since November 2005 as teachers and other public employees lost their jobs. Local government payrolls, adjusted for seasonal swings, dropped 35,000 in September to 14 million, the Labor Department reported today. The loss was driven by education payrolls, which slipped 24,400 to a more than six-year low of 7.8 million. The declines are in contrast to the overall U.S. economy, where payrolls rose by 103,000, easing concern about a resurgent recession. Cities, counties and school districts have been squeezed by diminished tax collections brought on by tumbling home prices, as well as cutbacks in aid from state governments coping with their own budget shortfalls.
Coalition wants new teacher evaluation systems in ESEA
"We believe strongly that when ESEA is reauthorized it must compel states to create and implement more specific and finely tuned measures directed at improving the quality and effectiveness of teachers and principals and ensuring the equitable distribution of effective teachers across all schools, including those with high proportions of low-income and minority students," a coalition of civil rights and education groups said in a recent letter.
October 7, 2011
SBEC discusses warning letters
The State Board for Educator Certification took action today on several items, including the definition of “deferred adjudication” and warning letters to educators whose conduct may not rise to the level of an official sanction.
October 5, 2011
No miracles: Rick Perry’s record on jobs and education
There is no "miracle" in Texas, which is why President Obama visited Dallas on Tuesday to drum up support for the American Jobs Act, the NEA Today website reported on Oct. 4.
Alabama law drives immigrants out of public schools
Following a U. S. District Court ruling on an Alabama immigration law, scores of immigrant families have withdrawn their children from classes or kept them home this week. Parents are afraid that sending their children to school will draw attention from authorities, according to media reports.
October 4, 2011
New teacher preparation plan released
In "Our Future, Our Teachers," the U.S. Department of Education explains its strategy to ensure that teachers are ready to enter the classroom. It involves rewarding effective teacher preparation programs, improving the quality of schools of education, and removing burdensome regulations.
Honoring schools for environmental awareness
The U.S. Department of Education plans to recognize Green Ribbon Schools for exemplary work in promoting environmental literacy and for environmentally sensitive practices. In 2012, up to 50 awards will be made, but there could be 200 awards by 2017.
September 29, 2011
NASA fellowships for teachers
Applications are available for National Aeronautics and Space Administration fellowships in STEM education. The deadline to submit applications is Oct. 31. Fellows will take graduate courses online and learn to apply research-based strategies to their classroom contexts. Some will participate in summer internships at NASA centers.
September 28, 2011
NEA issues ad on Jobs bill
NEA’s ad on the President’s jobs bill was distributed at noon today.
September 27, 2011
TSTA tells Maryland reporters of Perry’s dismal record
TSTA President Rita Haecker today told news reporters in Maryland about Gov. Rick Perry’s dismal education record in Texas. In a telephone news conference arranged by the Democratic National Committee, she discussed the $5.4 billion in cuts to public school budgets that have led to teacher layoffs and more crowded classrooms.
September 26, 2011
Breakfast alternatives
“Start School with Breakfast: A Guide to Increasing School Breakfast Participation” is a new publication from the NEA Health Information Network and Share Our Strength that promotes alternative breakfast service models – breakfast in the classroom, grab n' go, and 2nd chance breakfast, among others – to educators, school professionals, and those associated with the school community. Within the guide is information about the benefits of school breakfast, new ways to increase school breakfast participation, useful tools for advocates, and success stories from school districts around the country.
Holding lawmakers accountable
“We need real advocates, not anti-government ideologues, setting the next education budget and providing our educators the substantive support they need,” TSTA President Rita Haecker says in an Amarillo Globe-News op-ed. The article ran on Sept. 24 and has run in several other newspapers.
Missed the Teacher Town Hall?
On Sept. 25, NBC News brought together teachers from across the country for the second annual Teacher Town Hall, moderated by "NBC Nightly News” Anchor Brian Williams. Watch it now at the Education Nation website.
September 23, 2011
Drug chat: no lectures, just facts
Participate with your class in a real-time chat with scientists about drugs on Nov. 1. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is holding its fifth annual Drug Facts Chat Day Nov. 1. It’s a unique opportunity for teachers and students to ask expert scientists honest questions about drugs and their impact on the brain and body. Although the chat is open to everyone, only the first 100 schools that register will be able to submit questions.
President announces NCLB waiver plan
This morning, President Obama announced his plan for providing a temporary fix for the undue burdens caused by NCLB by offering states waivers of some of the law’s provisions. This package finally frees schools from the NCLB requirement to judge students and schools based on one test on one day during the school year. The goal under the waiver package will be to encourage students’ progress and to provide extra support to schools that need to close achievement gaps.
September 22, 2011
Update on NCLB waivers
On Sept. 23, President Obama will release the Administration’s package for providing waivers from the undue burdens of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). NEA sent a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan in May requesting relief from various provisions. Thousands of leaders and members visited the online NEA Legislative Action Center to send a message to Duncan about what they’d like to see in a waiver package.
September 19, 2011
Webinar: Economic Stimulus and K-12 Education
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which pumped $100 billion into K-12 education, had two goals: to help schools weather the economic downturn and avert layoffs around the country, and to help spur lasting reforms at the state and local level. Two years later, it's time to take stock. Did it work? "The Economic Stimulus and K-12 Education--Where Did It Hit the Mark and Where Did It Fall Short?" is the topic of a free, live webinar on Sept. 27 featuring two representatives from the U.S. Department of Education.
September 16, 2011
Draft TEKS for math don't add up yet
“A long way to go.” That’s the verdict from two expert reviewers for the draft TEKS for math. At the outset of the review process, the Commissioner of Education wanted the strongest standards in the nation.
September 8, 2011
Texas gets $66.5 million for comprehensive literacy program
More than $180 million in grants were awarded to six states through the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program, which helps states pursue a comprehensive approach to improving literacy outcomes for all children, birth through grade 12.
August 31, 2011
How to help Vermont
“Who could possibly have expected Vermont, more than 100 miles from the nearest seacoast, would experience the kind of damage it received from the innocently named Irene?”
August 23, 2011
Laredo, San Marcos show value of local action
Despite billions in statewide education budget cuts, TSTA members in at least two locations have proven the value of local action: Laredo, where all employees are getting a salary increase, and San Marcos, where each employee will receive a $500 stipend in November.
DOE rejects request to carry forward 2011 AYP ratings
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) did not approve Texas Education Agency's request to carry forward 2011 AYP ratings and maintain School Improvement Program (SIP) intervention stages status for all campuses and districts.
August 17, 2011
One in five U.S. children live in poverty
CBS News reports on a new Annie E. Casey national study.
ACT math score hits record high in Texas
The Class of 2011 posted a record-high math score on the ACT college entrance exam, Texas Education Agency reports. The Texas average score on the ACT mathematics exam reached 21.5 out of a possible score of 36. That 0.7 point increase since 2007 is considered a phenomenal increase in scores, and is higher than the national score of 21.1. In comparison, the national average math score increased 0.1 points over the same time period.
August 15, 2011
Some TRS costs going up
Members’ costs of purchasing service credit and reinstating withdrawn service are increasing, thanks to a new state law, SB1668, and rules approved by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Program
Nomination forms for the 2012 Human and Civil Rights Awards will be available Monday, August 15, 2011.
August 12, 2011
SBEC hears test tampering case
The State Board for Educator Certification on Friday revoked the certification of an educator accused of helping students on the TAKS test. Students had accused the educator of providing help on the TAKS test in one year and in the following year, 100 percent of his students scored at the Commended level.
Your Input Needed on Common Core State Standards
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) has released the draft model to allow feedback from a wide group of stakeholders, including K-12 educators, curriculum and assessment experts, and postsecondary faculty.
August 5, 2011
Fighting Pandora’s Box
Senate Bill 8, a new state law giving school districts more authority over educators’ pay and working conditions, has created a “Pandora’s Box” of potential trouble for teachers. Now, more than ever, it is important to become engaged with your local school board, and TSTA offers you an excellent opportunity. by offering school district employees a way to join together in a single, strong organization that can have an impact on school board elections and make a difference in policy decisions. There is strength in numbers!
August 4, 2011
Two-thirds of Texas campuses meet federal AYP standards
Almost 5,600 Texas schools met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards for the federal school rating system this year, the Texas Education Agency announced today. That number represents 66 percent of all Texas campuses. For more details, including district and campus listings, click here.
August 2, 2011
TSTA: School cuts may worsen next year
The state’s budget cuts to the public schools will be bad enough during the upcoming school year, but they may be even worse during 2012-2013, TSTA Public Affairs Director Richard Kouri predicted Tuesday evening. Kouri discussed the impact of the cuts -- $4 billion from school finance formulas and another $1.4 billion in education discretionary grants -- during an interactive online Town Hall meeting with state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin.
July 29, 2011
Fewer exemplary ratings under new TEA report
State Education Commissioner Robert Scott today released the annual accountability ratings for Texas’ public schools and districts. As anticipated, fewer schools and districts earned an exemplary rating, thanks largely to the elimination of the controversial Texas Projection Measure, which had been used in recent years. Below are links to the Texas Education Agency press release and other accountability information and ratings.
July 22, 2011
SBOE Approves Supplemental Science Materials
Texas educators soon can select from 92 online products to cover all new or revised science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The supplemental science materials were approved today by the State Board of Education.
July 21, 2011
Mitchell 20: A Struggle for Teacher Quality
A documentary is coming about a group of 20 teachers who decided to transform their school, Mitchell Elementary in Phoenix.
SBOE Meets under New Chair This Week
The State Board of Education began two days of meetings today under Barbara Cargill, the new chair appointed by the governor. This is the first meeting of the board since the legislative session ended in June.
July 20, 2011
TRS Explains Legislative Changes to Members
Read their latest newsletter.
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