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Schools, Our Future????

Schools, Our Future????. 82 nd Legislative Session. Reduction in Funding - Foundation School Program No Mandate Relief Increased Accountability Standards Expanded State Testing No Light at the End of the Tunnel!. Where Are We Going & What Can YOU Do?.

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Schools, Our Future????

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  1. Schools, Our Future????

  2. 82nd Legislative Session • Reduction in Funding - Foundation School Program • No Mandate Relief • Increased Accountability Standards • Expanded State Testing • No Light at the End of the Tunnel!

  3. Where Are We Going & What Can YOU Do?

  4. Radical School Reforms 1960’s & 70’s • Tear down the walls between classrooms • Abolish all rules & requirements • English teachers can teach math, math teachers can teach English • Students design their own courses • Students learn whatever they feel like learning – whenever • Remove graduation requirements, grades, tests, textbooks

  5. 1983 - Nation At Risk • Problems Linked to 60-70 Reforms • Curriculum • Graduation Requirements • Teacher Preparation • Quality of Textbooks • Did NOT Address • Impact of Societal Issues

  6. Nation At Risk Recommendations • The New Basics: • 4 years of English • 3 years of Math • 3 years of Science • 3 years of Social Studies • ½ year of Computer Science • 2 years of Foreign Language (College Bound) • Colleges/Universities raise admissions requirements • Upgrade quality of textbooks • Lengthen school day & school year • More homework • Special classes for disruptive students

  7. 1980’s - Texas Blue Ribbon Committee • TABS – Basic • TEAMS – Minimum • TAAS - Minimum • TAKS – Grade Level • STAAR – College/Career Readiness

  8. 1990’s - Age of Accountability • Measured school success based on test scores in: • 4 subject areas • Every child tested every year • Schools Rated: • Exemplary • Recognized • Acceptable • Unacceptable

  9. 2000’s – Federal Accountability (NCLB – No Child Left Behind) • Texas Model goes to Washington • 2 subject areas • States would reform schools • Low performing schools would get help • Students in failing schools could transfer to other schools

  10. Reality Today • Test-driven education system • Teachers spend more time preparing for “the tests” • Curriculum narrowed • Non-tested subjects/activities pushed aside • Increased numbers of college students in developmental courses • Programs created to keep the increasing numbers of students from dropping out of school

  11. Reality Today • Over-burdened with bureaucratic requirements, procedures • Lowest performing group will determine rating of campus and district : • 27 Tests – 3rd through Exit (EOC) • 5 Groups of Students (All, AA, Hisp., Wh., Eco. Disadv) • Financial Gains for Private Sector Businesses: • Tutoring Resources • Testing Services • Test Prep Materials

  12. Greatest Flaw in the “New Reform” 2014 • ALL students in every school must be proficient in reading and math. (On Grade Level) • Special Needs • Non-English • Disadvantaged • Homeless • Failure to Meet • Schools will be closed • Teachers fired • Principals fired • Public schools privatized

  13. Comparable to: • Federal and state laws that demanded: • Every last molecule of pollution will vanish! • All American cities will be crime-free!

  14. Factors Outside the School’s Control • Child’s ability /health • Education of child’s parents • Involvement of parents in child’s education • Resources in the home • How much the child studies • How much TV the child watches • Child’s motivation • Dysfunctional home-life

  15. Characteristics of Texas Compared to Nation • 2nd – Total Student Enrollment • 1st - Enrollment Growth • 1st - Hispanic Student Enrollment Growth • 42nd – Instructional Expenditures per Pupil ($5,443) • 29th – Pupils per Teacher • 35th – Freshman Graduation Rates • LAST - % of Over 25 Year Old Adults Completing High School (79.9%)

  16. Characteristics of Texas Compared to Nation • 31st - % over 25 Year Old Adults Completing a Bachelor’s Degree (25.5%) • 9th - % of People Below Poverty Level in Past 12 Months • 8th - % of Children Below Poverty Level in Past 12 Months • 41st - % 18-24 Year Olds enrolled in Higher Ed • 46th - % of High School Teachers Teaching with a Major in their Main Assignments

  17. Today’s Classroom Class of 30 Students: • 8 Poverty • 3 Extreme Poverty • 12 Non-white • 10 Different Language • 5 Not Raised by Parent • 1 Homeless • 6 Mobile • 7 Abused

  18. Texas Public Education • Past 10 Years • Added 845,000 students • 384,000 in Kindergarten thru 5th Grade • Economically disadvantaged increased by 897,000 • 49% to 59% • Past 10 years • Added 1,040 Campuses • Added 65 Charter Schools

  19. Texas Public Education • Past 5 Years • Budgets frozen at 2005-2006 funding • Consider inflation, 11% reduction over 5 years • Education Code expanded from 1000 pages to 1,500 pages

  20. 82nd Legislative Membership • House • 101 Republicans • 49 Democrats • Senate • 19 Republicans • 12 Democrats • Mandate from Voters in 2010 as carried by the 37 Newly Elected House • No new taxes • Shrink government • Cut Government spending • Protect the Rainy Day Fund

  21. State Priorities • Balance the Budget – without raising taxes • Voter Identification • Immigration – Abolishing Sanctuary Cities • Pre-Abortion Sonograms • Eminent Domain • Protect Rainy Day Fund

  22. Funding Cuts – SB 1 • (-$4 Billion) Foundation School Program • (-$1.3 Billion) – Outside the FSP • After -School Programs • Pre-Kindergarten Grants • Tutorial Programs for TAKS Failures • TEA ( Cut 350 Employees) • Region Service Centers • Instructional Materials • Technology Allotment

  23. Funding Inequities • 2010-2011: • District revenues - $3,910 to $13,093 per student • PISD received $5,225 per student (2010-2011) • SB 1 (2011-2013) • Gaps in funding remain • Average cuts to districts 5.6% for 2011-20125.4% for 2012-2013 • Repealed proration - state will not make-up the lost revenue

  24. Debate- Schools Not Efficient Staff Patterns

  25. SB 8 – Legislature’s Efforts to Address Loss of Revenue • Reduction in Salaries • Furloughs (6 non-instructional days) • Limits FITNESSGRAM to those in PE credit courses • Amended non-renewal timelines • Suspend without pay in lieu of pending discharge

  26. Reality for Districts • Termination of staffing positions: • RIFs • Attrition • Reassignments: • Librarians • Art/Music • Cut supplies, materials, technology • Eliminate special programs

  27. Reality for Districts • Elimination/Reduction of non-core programs or classes: • Extra Curricular • Music • Art • Electives • Charging a fee to: • Ride the bus • Participate in extra-curricular activities • Accessing technology • Increase fees for: • Meals • Supplies

  28. Reality for PeasterISD • 2011-2012 • Loss of $505,663 • 2012-2013 • Loss of $302,429 Total of $808,092 Over two years.

  29. Other Bills That Passed: Official State……….. • Saltwater fish - Red Drum • Music - Western Swing • Water Lilly - Nymphaea Texas Dawn • Table Domino Game - “Texas 42” • Birthplace of Boogie Woogie - Marshall, Texas – • Depot Capital of Texas - Giddings, Texas • Getaway Capital of Texas - Lake Whitney • Legendary Home of Chicken Fried Steak – Lamesa, Tx

  30. Other Bills That Passed • SB 2189 – Legalized“noodling” • HB 716 – Hunt feral hogs and coyotes from a helicopter (“pork choppers”) • Better luck next session! • The hamburger fell short - State Sandwich • Libscomb County’s - the Turkey Buzzard Capital of Texas!

  31. Bills That Failed • Consolidation • Sunset of State Board of Education • Middle School Reform • Private schools to participate in UIL • Teacher Appraisal Reform • Major relief from EOCs/STAAR

  32. New STATE Accountability System – NO CHANGE • Driven by state assessments • Weakest link determine ratings • Available resources not factored • Exceptions not considered for demographic differences

  33. New STATE Accountability System • Interventions and Sanctions • Closure Requirements • Alternative Management Options

  34. Accountability Manual 365 Pages

  35. STAAR/EOC • Rigor increased –depth & level of cognitive complexity • Standards based other state, national, international assessments • Timed Test • Increased graduation implications

  36. EOC • 12 End of Course Exams linked to college readiness: • English I – III • Alg. I, Geometry, Alg. II • Biology, Chemistry, Physics • World Geography, World History, US History • Exams will count 15% of the course grade • District policy – impact of EOC on course credit

  37. EOC - Graduation Requirements • Pass ALL 12 of the subject area tests AND • Obtain a cumulative score in the 4 subject areas • 3 Passing Standards based on Graduation Plan: • Minimum • Recommended • Distinguished (College Readiness on English III and Algebra II) • Multiple retakes

  38. Days of Testing • Grades 3 – 8 • 19 days of testing • 27 with retesting • Grades 9 – 11 • 15 days of testing • 45 days with retesting

  39. 2013 Train Wreck • Without major changes: • Revenue shortfall • Inequity in funding • Impact of new college/career ready standards • Accountability Systems • State and Federal • Politics

  40. What are the NEEDED CHANGES? • Redesign School Finance: • Adequate • Equitable • Quality of School: • Multiple Criteria • NOT Weakest Link • Less Emphasis on Tests • Politicians that SUPPORT Public Education • Local Control

  41. What Can You DO??? • Grassroots Movement • Advocate for Public Education • Get Involved • Hold Politicians Accountable • Research Platform Political Candidates • Registered Voter • Vote in the Primary Election – March, 2012!

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