The Federal Government is not the only one under the microscope right now. While we hear about potential government shutdowns and stalemates in Washington, here in Texas we are waiting to hear from Austin about our own budget crisis. The 82nd Legislature is in full swing, and the House is actively discussing a number of bills around the State’s budget. Texas ASCD, obviously, is most concerned with what is going to happen to funding for public education. We want to start a discussion to hear what you think about what is going to happen and how it will affect you and your districts.
The House Public Education Committee approved House Bill (HB) 400 by Committee Chairman Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) on April 5, 2011. The vote to approve the bill was 6-4 along party lines.
Some of the provisions in HB 400 include:
- Eliminating the minimum salary schedule for teachers, nurses, counselors, and librarians
- Requiring districts to develop new salary systems based on factors such as student test scores and teacher evaluations
- Eliminating the 22:1 student-to-teacher class-size limit and replacing it with a 22:1 district-wide average and a hard cap of 25 students per classroom
- Reducing teacher contract and due process rights
- Eliminating in-service days and Professional Development from district calendars
- Allowing districts to furlough employees
HB 2484 by Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston), which would change the property tax and school funding system fix put in to place in 2006, was also brought to the floor. The 2006 fix reduced school district maintenance and operations property taxes by one-third. It requires that state funding be used to pay for the property tax reduction before using it for education funding. HB 2484 would make it so that current education formulas are fully funded and left over funds can be used to reduce property taxes. The bill was left pending.
What do you think about HB 400 and HB 2484? What other issues up for debate during this legislative session has you talking at the water cooler, at the dinner table, and to your friends after working hours? Chime in – let’s get the conversation rolling!
