STAS Update and the Texas Political Landscape - …schd.ws/hosted_files/superintendentssummerleader2017/e4/STAS Update...STAS HISTORY • In 1998, a consultant (former senator) was

STAS UPDATE AND THE TEXAS POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Jesus H. ChavezCo-Executive Director

South Texas Association of Schools

STAS HISTORY• In 1998, a consultant (former senator) was hired to assist with

lobbying efforts for 76 Legislative Session (1999)• After the 76 Legislative Session, superintendents organized and

created the South Texas Association of Schools during summer of 1999 (Region 1)

• Mr. Martin Peña was named Executive Director for the South Texas Association of Schools and has been the only Executive Director during the past 18 year

• In 2002-2003, Region 2 school districts joined South Texas Association of Schools and has had districts from Region 2 ever since.


STAS MEMBERSHIP REGION 1(26 DISTRICTS)Brownsville ISDDonna ISDEdcouch Elsa ISDEdinburg CISDHarlingen CISDHidalgo ISDLa Joya ISDLa Sara ISDLos Fresnos CISD


Lyford CISDMcAllen ISDMission CISDPharr San Juan Alamo ISDPoint Isabel ISDRaymondville ISDRio Hondo ISDRoma ISDSan Benito CISD

San Isidro ISDSan PerlitaSanta Rosa ISDSharyland ISDSouth Texas ISDUnited ISDWeslaco ISDZapata CISD

STAS MEMBERSHIP REGION 2(20 DISTRICTS)Agua Dulce ISDAransas County ISDBanquete ISDBenavides ISDBrooks County ISDCalallen ISDFreer ISDGeorgewest ISDGregory-Portland ISDLa Gloria ISD


Mathis ISDRicardo ISDRobstown ISDSanta Gertrudis ISDSarita ISDSinton ISDSkidmore-Tynan ISDTaft ISDTuloso-Midway ISDWest Oso ISD

STAS DEMOGRAPHIC INFO• South Texas Association of Schools is made up of 46

school districts in South Texas. • Our districts served over 352,000 students in 2016. • Eighty-four percent (84%) of our students are

economically disadvantaged• Sixty-four percent (64%) are identified at risk• Thirty-two percent (32%) are English language learners. • The great majority of our students are Hispanic.


STAS BENEFITS1. Participation in school finance priorities meeting (South Texas

Emphasis)2. Representation and Active lobbying efforts in Austin on a

weekly basis during session (South Texas Emphasis)3. Legislative Updates4. Legislative alerts regarding important school finance

topics/proposed changes5. Will arrange Superintendent/Legislator meetings in Austin6. Legislative Reports7. Financial modeling by Moak/Casey on proposed finance

changesSouth Texas Association of Schools

STAS PRIORITIES FOR 85TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION1. Providing an adequate formula based funding system (Foundation School

Program). We support increasing the basic allotment (currently at $5140/wada).

2. Improving equity in the current formula based system (Foundation School Program) by eliminating all hold-harmless provisions that cause equity problems.

3. Retaining and updating the current Cost of Education Index (CEI) using the same demographic factors in the current system.

4. Increasing the weight factor in current law for economically disadvantaged students and bilingual/ELL students using the same current methods to determine eligibility.

5. Retaining the 10% rule that provides automatic admission to state university using current rules/guidelines.


STAS PRIORITIES FOR 85TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION6. Providing funding for a full-day prekindergarten program for current

state eligible students.

7. Supporting the elimination of the high school allotment if funds are place in the basic allotment.

8. Opposing any school choice proposal other that those currently available in public schools.

9. Updating the transportation formula to adequately provide for transportation costs. The transportation allotment formula has not been updated since 1984.


MAJOR BILLS &

EVENTS


SENATE BILL 1 - STATE BUDGET$217 billion, two-year budget$107.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2018-191 Billion from Rainy Day fund, nearly 2 Billion from transportation delayed payment$800 million for border security$500 million in additional funds for the state’s child welfare system


Medicaid not fully funded, supplemental next session

University special item to be studied

PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDINGFOR 2017-2018• $2.7 Billion in additional funding for the biennium to cover cost of

enrollment growth (reduces state funding for schools by about $1.1 billion)

• $1.5 Billion in additional funding for the biennium to cover the cost increase in the Tier 2 Austin Yield--six "Golden Pennies" 2017-2018 Yield = $99.41

• $50 Million for the biennium to assist districts with rapid/ steep declines in property values

• $47.5 Million for the biennium to fund the New Instructional Facilities Allotment student yield to $1,000.00 and adds additional facilities that qualify

• $350 million for TRS to continue healthcare benefits for retirees.


THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO:• Basic Allotment

• Equalized Wealth Level--Tier 1 and Tier 2

• Transportation Allotment

• Cost of Education Index

• Small (Both) and Mid-size Adjustments

• Weights: Economically Disadvantaged, Bilingual, Career and Technology, Special Education, etc.

• High School Allotment

• Existing Debt Allotment

• Tier 2 Yield--non GP--$31.95South Texas Association of Schools

NO FUNDNG WAS PROVIDED FOR:

• Instructional Facilities Allotment--IFA• Available Aid for Tax Reduction--ASATR• Pre-Kindergarten Grants (2) including the

Governor's Quality PK program


HOUSE BILL 21 BY CHAIRMAN HUBERTY(NOT PASSED BY LEG)Some of the main elements of HB 21 by Huberty as adopted by the House include:v Eliminates the transportation allotment (approximately $680 million for the biennium)v Eliminates the high school allotment (approximately $750 million for the biennium)v Eliminates the staff salary allotment (approximately $273 million for the biennium)v Eliminates the Chapter 41 1992-93 revenue level hold harmless (approximately $53 million for the

biennium)v Establishes a new weight of 0.10 multiplied by the adjusted allotment for students with dyslexia

or related disordersv Increases the bilingual weight from 0.10 to 0.11v Includes "technology applications" courses and eight grade CTE courses in those eligible for the

CTE weightv Establishes a financial hardship transition program of $125 million in 2017-18 and $34 million in

2018-19 to offset losses from features of the bill or the end of ASATRv Begins a six year phase-in that would eliminate the distinction in the small school district

adjustment within the Foundation School Programv Intends to increase the Basic Allotment from $5,140 to $5,350 in the appropriations bill


SB 2145 BY CHAIRMAN TAYLOR(NOT PASSED BY LEG)The plan:v Increases Equityv Does away with all of the old holds harmless provisions in current law.v Allows Available State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR) to expire as per current law (the end of the 2016-2017

School Year)v Retains the weights as per current lawv Places all small ISD’s in the higher of the two present adjustmentsv Eliminates the present two tier system and the golden penniesv All M & O pennies will have the same value per WADAv Eliminates the use of prior year values to determine current year fundingv Eliminates the High School Allotment, New Instructional Facilities Allotment, Gifted and Public Education

Allotmentsv Retains Regular program, special education, Bilingual, compensatory education, transportation, and Career and

Technology

All dollars saved from removing inefficiencies are used to increase the basic allotmentSouth Texas Association of Schools

CS HOUSE BILL 21 AND SCHOOL CHOICEEDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS(POISON PILL FOR SCHOOL FINANCE REFORM)An extra $530 million for public schools if the education savings account program becomes law

v For special education & 504 students

v Would give qualified students about $7,000 per year

v Parents would give up student rights under IDEA, 504

Did not pass!South Texas Association of Schools

COMPROMISE VERSION OF HB 22 ON A-FThe final version:v does not delay A-F ratings for districts (first official ratings scheduled for August 2018)v delays A-F for campuses until 2019v requires an overall rating as well as a rating for each domainv reduces the system from five to three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the

Gapsv differentiates between D (needs improvement) and F (unacceptable) ratingsv requires that the method used to evaluate performance for purposes of assigning school districts and

campuses an overall and a domain performance rating allows for the mathematical possibility that all districts and campuses receive an A rating

v gives commissioner broad authorityv requires the commissioner to adopt rules for a local accountability system regarding the assignment of

campus performance ratings by school districts and open-enrollment charter schoolsHB 22 takes effect immediately (upon governor's signature or inaction) because it received a vote of at least two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.


SB 2119 BY SELIGER (TOP 10%)

Died after coming out of Higher Education Committee(4 ayes, 3 nays)


SB 463 INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION COMMITTEES05.23.2017 — On Tuesday, May 23, the House passed SB 463 (Seliger), which would extend the Individual Graduation Committees put in place in 2015 by SB 149 and the reporting requirements for students graduating based on IGC review process. The version the Senate sent to the House extended the IGCs to September 1, 2019, but House Public Education Committee Chairman Dan Huberty amended the bill on the floor to extend IGCs to September 1, 2021.

As introduced in January, SB 463 and its companion HB 966 (Huberty) would have made IGCs permanent.

The House-amended version of SB 463 now returns to the Senate. The bill's author, Sen. Kel Seliger, may concur with the changes or call for a conference committee.

(TASA Capitol Watch)South Texas Association of Schools

Sunday, June 18, is the last day the governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular session. If the governor neither vetoes nor signs the bill within the allotted time, the bill becomes law.


POLITICALLANDSCAPE

IN TEXASSouth Texas Association of Schools

POLITICAL LANDSCAPEAll state elected offices are held by Republicans

The Texas House of Representatives has:v 95 Republicansv 55 Democrats

The Senate has:v 20 Republicansv 11 Democrats


FREEDOM CAUCUSThe Texas Freedom Caucus in a hastily called press conference telling the press their intent to kill bills on the Local and Consent calendar in retaliation for what they say is unfair treatment during the House session on May 11, 2017. The Texas Tribune BY MARISSA EVANS AND JIM MALEWITZ MAY 12, 2017 11 AM

South Texas Association of Schools Photo by Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

FREEDOM CAUCUSJust ahead of Mother’s Day, two bills seeking to curb Texas’ alarming rise in maternal deaths were among more than 100 that met their demise Friday, the result of maneuvering by a group of House Republicans dedicated to disruption in the chamber.

In a stunning blow to public health experts and advocates, the 12-member House Freedom Caucus used a parliamentary maneuver to kill a wide slate of bills, including House Bill 1158, which would have connected first-time pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid to services, and House Bill 2403, which would have commissioned a study on how race and socioeconomics affect access and care for pregnant black women.

Both bills were aiming to help the state better understand how to better reach expecting mothers. The Texas TribuneBY MARISSA EVANS AND JIM MALEWITZ MAY 12, 2017 11 AM


SPEAKER STRAUS V. LT. GOV. PATRICK


AND THEN WE HAVE SB 4 SCUFFLE


VOTING IN TEXAS


Texas Voting

CategoryNovember 2016

(Presidential)March Primary (Republicans)

March Primary (Democrats)

November 2014 (Gubernatorial)

Registered Voters15,101,087 14,238,436 14,238,436 14,025,441

Voting Age Population (VAP)19,307,355 19,307,355 19,307,355 18,915,297

Percentage of VAP Registered78.21% 73.75% 73.75% 74.15%

Turnout8,969,226 2,836,488 1,435,895 4,727,208

Percent of Turnout to Registered59.39% 19.92% 10.08% 33.70%

Percent of Turnout to VAP46.45% 14.69% 7.44% 24.99%

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?


SPECIAL SESSION

Would bring legislators back to Austin to deal with unresolved debates over property taxes and a "bathroom bill" that would regulate which restroom transgender Texans can use.


WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE LEGISLATIVELY?1. Learn about and implement new laws just passed (Need for change).2. Review issues and priorities not passed and prioritize for STAS.3. Keep meeting as a region and influence the implementation of new

laws specifically CSHB 22 through State Board of Education, Commissioner Superintendent Advisory Committee, and Accountability Policy Advisory Committee (APAC).

4. Stay up to date on any interim studies/charges and attend/testify if possible.

5. Meet with your representatives(s) and senator. Thank them and recognize them but also review your concerns and wishes for next session


WHERE DO WE GO FROM HEAR INTERNALLY WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT?1. Promote voting within your district for every election. As superintendent you

can remind all employees, and students, to vote. DO NOT TELL THEM WHO TO VOTE FOR OR WHAT POSITION TO TAKE.

2. Emphasize voter registration, especially with your high school principals and government teachers. See Secretary of State resources.

3. Invite your representative(s) and senator to district events. Better yet, take board members and have a meeting at their local office.

4. Keep your employees and board informed about legislative issues. In July or August send out a legislative summary (the good, the bad, and the ugly).

5. Include legislative update when you present to community groups.


WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE PERSONALLY & OUTSIDE DISTRICT?1. Get to know your representative(s) and senator. Have breakfast or

lunch at least once yearly. Get to know them personally.

2. Support pro-education candidates across the state. Parent PAC is the best way to do this. Parent PAC supports pro-education candidates from both parties.

3. Be sure you participate in statewide legislative efforts particularly with TASA & TASB. We need to align priorities.


THINGS YOU INDIVIDUALLY CAN DO

1. Legislative Involvement

2. Action within your district

3. Personal Advocacy


THANK

YOU,

QUESTIONSSouth Texas Association of Schools





Documents

STAS Update and the Texas Political Landscape - …schd.ws/hosted_files/superintendentssummerleader2017/e4/STAS Update...STAS HISTORY • In 1998, a consultant (former senator) was