Target education funding to the greatest need

Dear friend:

We have just five weeks remaining in the 2015 session of the Texas Legislature, for which we will ultimately be judged by how we answered this question: What did we do to lay the groundwork for our children to meet, and exceed, our own achievements?

The answer to that question won’t come in the next election cycle, or even the one after that. The results will be known through the works of the next generation, our children and grandchildren.

Public education gave my generation the tools to prosper, and public schools continue to do so. The formula is no mystery: Adequate funding for facilities and supplies, combined with dedicated teachers and engaged parents.

English Language Learners

We are still recovering from the deep cuts made to school funding in 2011. As evidenced by the ongoing school finance litigation brought by hundreds of the state’s school districts, we are not investing enough in our public schools. Further, we need to target funding where it will make the most impact. In fact, 20 pages of the court’s findings discussing the failure of our funding system reviewed low-income, ELL students. The decision and the findings of fact make clear that these populations are where the constitutional deficiencies lie.

SB 161, which I filed to increase funding for English Language Learner (ELL) students, addresses this issue. The bill will be heard tomorrow in the Senate Education committee.

About 800,000 children, or some 17 percent, of Texas K-12 students fit this category. Many of these children are low-income. In fact, since the turn of the century, the number of children considered low income in K-12 has increased by about 1 million.

A focused investment in improving the language skills of low-income students, and students whose first language was not English, would set Texas ahead. We are in a globally competitive economy, which depends heavily on international trade, especially with Mexico.

SB 161 is both a way to add value to our future workforce, while addressing the persistent issues of our state not meeting its constitutional obligations for education, by taking action on ELL funding.

Other education issues

There is no question that students from wealthier school districts generally have greater educational opportunities than low-income children. But this does not mean that funding equity is the only answer as we work to refine our system of public education.

I serve on the Senate Committee on Education committee, where we have heard several significant bills this session. I have strongly opposed proposals to divert public school money to private schools through vouchers, supported further limiting high-stakes tests as the final measure of achievement, and passed a bill through the Senate that removes a barrier to expanding successful dual language programs around the state.

I’m also in support of state Sen. Sylvia Garcia’s SB 1483, which furthers the community schools model. The community schools model is a comprehensive school improvement plan withdemonstrated success nationally and in Texas for supporting struggling schools through a combination of wraparound services, community partnerships, and high-achieving academics.

I opposed a school grading system that will label schools but do nothing to improve accountability, thereby making it easier to close them. And I amended a “parent-trigger” bill by giving schools that are considered failing another year to turn around.

SB 893

I also took a tough vote on a bill that creates a state teacher evaluation system, which local school district may adopt if they choose. That bill, SB 893 by state Sen. Kel Seliger, has been misinterpreted in a couple of ways.

First, it has come to my attention that some teachers believe that the bill’s passage means that their salary can be bumped down to $27,000, regardless of how many years of service they have. Frankly, I have no idea where that is coming from, but let me be clear. This bill does nothing of the sort.

Second, the bill is not mandatory for school districts, which will have the flexibility to create their own assessment criteria. I worked with others to make sure the bill included this discretion.

Issues dealing with the education system are among the most important and difficult issues we face. Unlike roads or other infrastructure, the value of the education system cannot be simply measured in miles and carrying capacity. It is infinitely complex, with each student a unique individual who is worthy of the best that we can give.

Sincerely,

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