Legislative Update

5-11-12 Check out our new radio ad for TeachtheVote.org and vote early!

 

Early voting for the May 29 Texas primary elections begins Monday, May 14 and runs through May 25. Every public school employee in the state should take it upon themselves to get out and use their vote to support candidates that support public education. Dealing with crowded polling places and busy schedules can make getting to your polling place on time a difficult task. Early voters do not have to vote at their precinct location as they do on election day. Simply go to any early voting location in your county, show your Texas driver license or voter registration card, and cast your ballot. Check your local newspaper for early voting locations. Many races will be determined during this primary, so don’t wait until the general election to get involved.

 

Before you head to the polls, be sure to check out TeachtheVote.org, ATPE’s new website designed to allow voters to see where the candidates stand on important public education related issues. You can listen to a new TeachtheVote radio ad here.

 

When you visit TeachtheVote.org, all you need to do to find out who is running for office in your area is enter your address into the search. Once you know who the candidates are, you can view their profiles, which contain their responses to ATPE’s candidate survey, voting records on education-related legislation and other pertinent information. Using this information, you can decide which candidate most deserves your vote.

 

TeachtheVote.org is not just for educators, so spread the word to your family and friends and encourage them to support pro-public education candidates in this important primary election.

 

Make your voice heard—don’t forget to vote!

 

5-4-12 End of the week wrap-up

 

Legislative candidate info now available on Teachthevote.org

ATPE is happy to announce that TeachtheVote.org now contains information on candidates running for the Texas Legislature in the May 29 primary elections. TeachtheVote.org is ATPE’s new website designed to allow voters to find out where the candidates stand on important public education issues. Visitors to TeachtheVote.org can enter their address and find out who is running for office in their area. Once they know who the candidates are, they can view the candidates’ profiles, which contain responses to ATPE’s candidate survey, voting records on education-related legislation and other pertinent information. Using this information, users of the website can decide which candidate most deserves their vote. Also available on the site: in-depth information about the most important educated-related issues and information on campaign events.

 

TeachtheVote.org is not just educators; it’s for all voters. Be sure to spread the word about this great new resource to your friends and family.

 

House Public Education Committee considers alternative education programs

The House Public Education Committee met April 30 to discuss the committee’s 4th interim charge:

 

“Review and make recommendations on the effectiveness of Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs) and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEPs) in reducing students' involvement in further disciplinary infractions. Determine the appropriate role of disciplinary alternative placements in promoting education achievement and how technology could be used to supplement education services. Consider appropriate placements in DAEPs or JJAEPs and consistent funding models for those programs. Consider options for counties without a JJAEP or inefficiently few placements in a JJAEP. Identify positive behavioral models that promote a learning environment for teachers to appropriately instruct while addressing any behavioral issues and enforcing student discipline.”

 

The committee heard from several invited witnesses who discussed topics ranging from data gathering and funding to cognitive-based methods of improving student behavior. Cherie Townsend of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department informed the committee that there has been a 38 percent decline in JJAEP placements, a 31 percent drop in mandatory expulsions, and a 47 percent decrease in discretionary placements from 2010-11. The committee also heard from several public witnesses before adjourning.  

 

Commissioner of education to step down

Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott announced May 1 that he will resign his office effective July 2. That date marks the fifth anniversary of Scott’s appointment to the post by Gov. Rick Perry. At this time it is not known who will be his successor.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

4-27-12 Voter registration deadline is Monday!

 

The deadline to register to vote in the May 29 primaries is this Monday, April 30.

Many races for the Texas Legislature and the State Board of Education will be decided in the primaries because many primary winners will face no general election opponent.

 

You’ve seen how $5.4 billion in cuts have affected your school. The primaries are your opportunity to take a stand for your students. Here’s how:

 

1. Make sure you are registered to vote. Confirm your registration at https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/SearchSelectionVoter.jsp. If you are not currently registered, make sure that getting registered is on your to-do list for this weekend. You can complete an online voter registration application at https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp.

 

2. Get to the polls during early voting (Monday, May 14–Friday, May 25) or on primary election day (Tuesday, May 29). Imagine the impact we can make if each of Texas’ more than 600,000 public school employees votes in the 2012 primaries.

 

4-20-12 Week-end wrap up

 

ATPE testifies before redistricting committee

The House Redistricting Committee met April 17 to examine whether the size of State Board of Education (SBOE) districts inhibit the ability of board members to provide representation to their constituents and whether a change to the number of districts or the makeup of the board would enhance the ability of the board to perform its duties.

 

Several SBOE members were on hand to testify before the committee. All agreed that adding more districts would not make a significant difference. Most preferred to expand reimbursement accounts for board member travel as an alternative. ATPE testified before the committee to lay out ATPE’s legislative positions on the subject. Those positions include: keeping the board an elected body; requiring that a majority of the board have an education background; and advancing the concept of revising SBOE elections to be non-partisan to ensure that SBOE members are not elected based on straight party voting.   

 

School finance court dates set

State District Judge John Dietz, who presided over the last round of litigation challenging the state’s school finance system, set a trial date of Oct. 22 for the newest set of lawsuits challenging Texas’ school funding system. The date allows for a ruling to be made in time for the Legislature to take action on the issue during the 83rd legislative session, which begins in 2013. 

 

Perry releases budget compact

Gov. Rick Perry unveiled his budget compact earlier this week that calls for Legislators to pledge to oppose any tax increases during the next legislative session. The budget plan includes cutting more from the state budget; not tapping the rainy day fund; and does not spare public or higher education from further cuts. The compact is based on the budget proposal put forth a few weeks ago by ultra-conservative groups such as Texans for Fiscal Responsibility; the proposal suggests cutting public education funding even further and replacing all public pension systems with a 401(k) program.  

 

PAC’s Peak Challenge deadline

The deadline for the 2012 PAC’s Peak Challenge is May 1. In case you don’t know, the goal of the PAC’s Peak Challenge is to raise $12,000 for ATPE-PAC by May 1. As of the time of this posting, we were just shy of that goal, so get your contributions in right away. Remember, members and local units contributing the most will receive special recognition in ATPE publications and at the 2012 ATPE Summit in July, and your contributions count towards the ATPE-PAC awards program.

 

To learn more about ATPE-PAC and the PAC’s Peak Challenge, click here.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

4-3-12 TRS town hall meeting

 

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees will hold another town hall meeting tomorrow to discuss two studies the 82nd Legislature instructed the agency to conduct. One study evaluates the actuarial and fiscal impact of potential changes to the TRS pension plan, including changes to retirement eligibility, final average salary, the benefit multiplier, and the creation of a hybrid plan that includes defined benefit and defined contribution features, such as a two-part or a cash balance plan. The other study is a comprehensive review of TRS-Care plan designs and changes that would improve the long-term sustainability of TRS-Care.

 

The meeting will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday April 4, at the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex (9200 Mid Cities Blvd.) in North Richland Hills. The meeting will be broadcast live on the TRS website for anyone who cannot attend in person.

TRS is also once again seeking your input. Online viewers will be able to submit questions to presenters during the meeting. Instructions on how to submit questions will be given at the start of the meeting. ATPE encourages all members to take advantage of this opportunity to communicate directly with TRS officials. For more information, click here.

 

Group sessions

 

TRS is conducting group sessions for members who are considering retiring on or before Jan. 31, 2013, to meet with TRS benefits counselors for a step-by-step walk through of the retirement process. A schedule of the sessions, along with instructions for reserving a spot, can be found here.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

3-19-12 Rally at the State Capitol this weekend

 

Save Texas Schools, a grassroots, nonpartisan coalition of parents, teachers, students and community members, is holding a rally from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at the Texas State Capitol. With the recent state budget cuts causing crowded classrooms, program reductions, and school closures statewide, Save Texas Schools is spearheading an effort to demand that our lawmakers put public education first.

 

The group is also circulating a petition that calls for state leaders to pledge their support for taking the following actions during the next legislative session:

 

·         Making outstanding public education a top priority for Texas

·         Restoring all school funding cuts made by the 2011 Legislature and provide sufficient resources for our growing student population

·         Revising school finance laws to be fair to all students

·         Fixing the $5.4 billion annual deficit to avoid further cuts to education

·         Reevaluating and limiting high-stakes standardized testing.

 

You can learn more about Save Texas Schools and sign the petition at www.savetxschools.org.  

 

ATPE is sponsoring the rally and will be on hand during the rally with T-shirts and banners promoting www.TeachtheVote.org, ATPE’s new website designed to allow voters to see where candidates stand on important education issues. The first 100 visitors to ATPE’s tent on the Capitol grounds will receive a free TeachtheVote.org T-shirt. ATPE encourages all educators to attend and help ATPE teach the vote. Details are below:

 

Save Texas Schools March and Rally

 

·         11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 24

·         March begins at 11 a.m. at 12th and Trinity

·         Rally begins at noon on the south steps of State Capitol

 

3-2-12 Senate interim charges released, committee to study school finance named

 

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released interim charges related to public education earlier this week. Interim charges direct legislative committees to conduct studies on various issues during the interim and often serve as a preview of what the Legislature’s focus will be during the next session.

 

The issues the Senate Education Committee is charged with studying include:

 

·         Public school management practices and the role of Education Service Centers.

·         Educator and principal preparation programs and ways to improve teacher recruitment and retention.

·         The growing demand and benefits of virtual schools.

·         The performance and accountability of charter schools.

·         The impact of school choice (voucher) programs on other states. 

 

The committee was also issued a joint charge with the Senate Criminal Justice Committee; Both committees are charged with conducting a comprehensive review of school discipline practices. You can find a full list of education-related charges here, and a list of all interim charges here.

 

Dewhurst, along with Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) also announced appointments to the Joint Interim Committee to Study the Public School Finance System, which is a special committee created by legislation passed during the 82nd legislative session. The committee is charged with conducting a comprehensive study of the current school finance system and making recommendations on how the Legislature can improve the system.

 

The Senate members of the committee are:

 

Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), who will serve as joint chairwoman.

Sen. Bob Deuell (R-Greenville)

Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)

Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen)

Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound)

Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)

Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)

Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio)

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio)

Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)

Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands)

 

The House members of the committee are:

 

Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen) ), who will serve as joint chairman.

Rep. Alma Allen (D-Houston)

Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas)

Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands)

Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City)

Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin)

Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Humble)

Rep. Susan King (R-Abilene)

Rep. Todd Smith (R-Bedford)

Rep. Vicki Truitt (R-Southlake)

Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio)

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

3-1-12 Primary election dates officially set

 

After weeks of back and forth wrangling over the state’s redistricting plans, the dates for the 2012 Texas primary elections have officially been set. A federal court in San Antonio has ordered that the primary elections be held May 29. Runoff elections will take place July 31. A new candidate filing period will open March 2 and run through March 9.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

2-24-12 TRS seeks input, House Public Education Committee hearing

 

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is seeking input on two studies the Legislature has instructed the agency to complete by Sept. 1. One study will evaluate the actuarial and fiscal impact of potential changes to the TRS pension plan, including changes to retirement eligibility, final average salary, benefit multiplier and the creation of a hybrid plan that includes defined benefit plan (DBP) and defined contribution plan (DCP) features, such as a two-part or a cash balance plan. The other study will provide a comprehensive review of TRS health care plan designs and changes that would improve the long-term sustainability of TRS-Care.

 

The agency has already conducted a special board meeting on the studies – broadcast live online – in which members and stakeholders could submit questions and comments. A similar meeting is scheduled for March 12. In the meantime, stakeholders and the general public can submit comments directly to TRS here. The comment period will be open until March 31. ATPE encourages all members to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

House Public Education Committee meeting

 

The House Public Education Committee met Feb. 17 to discuss its third interim charge:

 

Evaluate the charter schools system in Texas. Examine success and failure stories in Texas and other states. Review the educational outcomes of students in charter schools compared to those in traditional schools. Identify any best practices and how those practices may be applied statewide. The study should include recommendations.

 

The committee heard from several invited witnesses who testified on all aspects of Texas’ charter school programs including the process for obtaining charters, accountability measures, financing, evaluations and sanctions for low performing charter schools. ATPE appeared before the committee to share our concerns about the Texas charter experiment. While ATPE does not oppose charter schools, there is no strong evidence indicating that charter schools are better for students than traditional public schools. For that reason, ATPE recommends that the state adhere to a rigorous authorization process when granting charters and supports requiring charter schools to meet appropriate financial accountability and academic performance standards before allowing them to continue or expand.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

2-17-12 Commissioner of Education defers implementation of 15 percent STAAR grading requirement.

 

Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott announced today that he is officially deferring implementation of the rule that requires students’ scores on the new STAAR end of course (EOC) exams count for at least 15 percent of the student’s final grade for the course. The move is the result of growing concerns about there being little or no guidance from the state on how districts should convert the EOC score into a grade given the variety of ways in which that grade could affect students’ GPA and class rank.

 

The issue was the subject of House Public Education Committee hearing last month that featured impassioned testimony from school officials and parents concerned about the transition to the more challenging tests. The outcry led to Scott calling the state’s standardized testing system a “perversion of its original intent.” Even still, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), of which Scott is the head, rejected pleas to delay the implementation of the grading policy because it did not believe it had the legal authority to do so. Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) responded, along with fellow committee members Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo), by sending a letter of intent to TEA stating that it supported a waiver of the 15 percent rule for the 2011-12 school year. The letter made clear that this is a temporary delay and that test scores should still be a factor in determining students’ final grades.

 

ATPE will continue to follow this story as it unfolds. 

 

2-17-12 TRS Board meeting

 

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees held a special meeting Feb. 15-17 in Lubbock to discuss legislatively mandated studies that must be completed by Sept. 1. One study will evaluate the actuarial and fiscal impact of potential changes to the TRS pension plan, including changes to retirement eligibility, final average salary, benefit multiplier, and the creation of a hybrid plan that includes defined benefit plan (DBP) and defined contribution plan (DCP) features, such as a two-part or a cash balance plan. The other study will provide a comprehensive review of TRS health care plan designs and changes that would improve the long-term sustainability of TRS-Care.

 

The meeting, which was broadcast live over the Internet, was well attended by retirees and stakeholders. ATPE testified before the board and asked that the studies include potential impacts to the education system from changes in pension benefits, such as how it might affect efforts to recruit and retain educators. ATPE strongly opposes changing the TRS benefit structure from a defined-benefit pension system like the current system to a 401 K type plan based on defined contributions. TRS staff members responded that they intend to include such information in their report.

 

The board also heard from several experts. These experts said that there isn’t really any reason to make the type of changes the study will examine since the TRS pension system is very healthy and costs are low when compared with other states or private sector retirement plans. Mary Beth Braitman, a pension plan design expert with Ice Miller LLP, testified that simply switching from a DBP to a DCP does not necessarily translate into cost savings as plan design is the key cost driver, not plan type. Keith Brainard, director of research for the National Association of State Retirement Administrators and actuary Joseph Newton furthered the argument by pointing out that while TRS has the lowest contribution rate in the nation for teacher retirement systems (6 percent) that do not participate in Social Security and typical private retirement plans cost employers 9 percent of payroll.

 

The news on the TRS health care plans was not as good. The TRS Care health plan for retired educators will run out of money in 2015 unless the Legislature addresses the issue during the next legislative session. The key problem is that funding is tied to payroll rather than health care cost drivers, which are increasing at a greater rate than payroll. The study will examine ways to address this issue while observing the Legislature’s stated intent of not raising premiums during the next biennium.

 

The TRS ActiveCare program for active educators saw a premium increase and benefit decrease during the last year. The TRS actuary recommended premium increases of 4 percent for ActiveCare 1 and 1HD, 6 percent for ActiveCare 2 and 9 percent for ActiveCare 3. The board approved these rates along with the following increases for ActiveCare HMO plans: 3.6 percent for First Care, 3 percent for Valley Baptist and 2.4 percent to 2.9 percent for Scott and White. 

 

TRS will hold a town hall meeting March 12 to continue the discussion.

 

Stay tuned for updates.   

 

2-13-12 Ask a question at this week’s TRS meeting

 

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees will meet in Lubbock Feb. 15-17 to review the results of two studies called for by the 82nd Legislature. One study evaluates the actuarial and fiscal impact of potential changes to the TRS pension plan, including changes to retirement eligibility, final average salary, benefit multiplier, and the creation of a hybrid plan that includes defined benefit and defined contribution features, such as a two-part or a cash balance plan. The other study is a comprehensive review of TRS plan designs and changes that would improve the long-term sustainability of TRS-Care. Aside from the special locale and being broadcast live over the Internet, this meeting will be special in that viewers will be able to submit questions about the studies to be answered live by the presenters.

 

From the TRS website:

 

“On Thursday morning, Feb. 16, the board will receive a presentation on the status of a pension fund study, which has been required by the Texas Legislature. This presentation will include a panel discussion on pension fund issues and will address the various features of pension funds and the wide range of options being undertaken by public and private pension funds to achieve the purposes for which they were established. During this discussion on Feb. 16, the board will entertain questions from those at the meeting as well as those viewing the webcast. The TRS website will feature instructions on how to submit questions electronically during the webcast.”

 

ATPE encourages all members to watch the meeting and take advantage of this opportunity to communicate directly with TRS officials.

 

To view the presentation and submit your questions, go to www.trs.state.tx.us.

 

1-27-12 Education Committee discusses state testing requirements

 

The Public Education Committee convened for its first interim hearing Jan. 23. The committee heard two agenda items concerning the implementation of the new STAAR testing program and high school level End of Course Exams (EOC).

 

Before delving in to the agenda, Committee vice chairman Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) had a discussion with officials from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the other committee members about Premont ISD, which has canceled all its athletics programs in an attempt to save money. Hochberg’s line of questioning clearly highlighted the direct correlation between the amount of money per student districts receive and the districts accountability rating. On average, districts rated “exemplary” receive $800 more than districts rated “recognized.” Similar disparities can be found on down to districts rated “unacceptable.”

 

The first item on the agenda was a panel of TEA officials who spoke on test development and standard setting. The discussion quickly turned to concerns regarding requiring districts to count students’ EOC results as 15 percent of the student’s final grade in each of the tested classes. The primary concern was that there is little or no guidance from the state on how districts should convert the EOC score into a grade given the variety of ways in which that grade could affect the student’s GPA and class rank. This discussion continued on into the second panel, which was made up of superintendents from around the state. The only consensus on the various policies the representative districts discussed adopting was that there was no consensus.

 

After the two panels were finished, the committee opened the meeting for public testimony. Most of the testimony was from citizens concerned about the impact of the 15-percent requirement or the negative impact of standardized testing in general.

 

This issue will likely be revisited as the committee continues interim work. It’s also likely to be revisited during the next legislative session. ATPE will continue to follow the committee’s progress and will report any pertinent developments.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

1-20-12 Redistricting update, House Public Education Committee hearing

 

The legal battles over the state’s redistricting plans have the dates and deadlines for the upcoming election season in flux. As it currently stands, the Texas primary elections will take place April 3. However, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling today stating that the panel of three federal judges in San Antonio acted inappropriately in drawing up new redistricting maps while the maps drawn up by the 82nd Legislature were being challenged in court. The Supreme Court has instructed the San Antonio judges to draw up new maps that pay greater deference to the Legislature’s intent and the federal voting rights act. The ruling did not include any type of timeline and could result in the Texas primary being delayed even further.

 

ATPE will continue to follow this case as it unfolds and provide you with the latest dates and deadlines as they become available. In the meantime, make sure you are registered to vote by March 5, the deadline for the current primary election date.

 

House Public Education Committee meeting

 

The House Public Education Committee will hold its first hearing of the interim at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23. The hearing will focus on the committee’s second interim charge:

 

Monitor state and local implementation of the new state assessment system (STAAR), specifically its impact on students, instruction, teachers and graduation or promotion rates. The committee is to review how districts are implementing the requirement that end-of-course assessments count for 15 percent of a student's course grade as well as recommend any changes to graduation or testing requirements that promote instructional rigor and support postsecondary readiness while appropriately limiting an overreliance on standardized testing.

 

ATPE will attend the hearing and be prepared to testify before the committee about our positions on state testing and offer suggestions on ways to improve the system. You can watch a live webcast of the hearing here. You can find a full list of committee interim charges here.

 

Stay tuned for updates.

 

1-6-12 TRS Social media pages

 

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is now a part of the social media world. Earlier this week, the agency went live on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. The goal is to create another way for the agency to engage and communicate with its members.

 

You can find more information on these new accounts, as well as links to the various pages, here.

 

Stay tuned for updates.