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Schools, Our Future????

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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!

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Where Are We Going & What Can YOU Do?

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Radical School Reforms 1960s & 70s 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

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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

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Nation At Risk Recommendations The New Basics: 4 years of English 3 years of Math 3 years of Science 3 years of Social Studies 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

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

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1990s - 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

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2000s 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

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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

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Reality Today Over-burdened with bureaucratic requirements, procedures Lowest performing group will determine rating of campus and district : 27 Tests 3 rd 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

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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

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

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Factors Outside the Schools Control Childs ability /health Education of childs parents Involvement of parents in childs education Resources in the home How much the child studies How much TV the child watches Childs motivation Dysfunctional home-life

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

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

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Todays 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

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

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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

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82 nd 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

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

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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

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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 2011-2012 5.4% for 2012-2013 Repealed proration - state will not make-up the lost revenue

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Debate- Schools Not Efficient Staff Patterns Employees1999-20002009-2010 Campus Administration 2.6%2.8% Central Administration.9%1% Teachers51.3%50.5% Auxiliary Staff27.6%27% Aides and Support Staff 17.6%18.7%

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SB 8 Legislatures 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

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

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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

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

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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

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Other Bills That Passed SB 2189 Legalizednoodling HB 716 Hunt feral hogs and coyotes from a helicopter (pork choppers) Better luck next session! The hamburger fell short - State Sandwich Libscomb Countys - the Turkey Buzzard Capital of Texas!

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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

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

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

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Accountability Manual 365 Pages

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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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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!