On April 23, 2013, Commissioner of Education Michael Williams released details of the new 2013 Texas public school accountability system
. The Texas Education Agency will issue the first ratings under this system to school districts, campuses and charters on Aug. 8, 2013.
On the Cover: TCTA at the Capitol
2013 Midsession legislative update
Feature: School Finance Update
Inequitable, inadequate and unconstitutional: The judge has ruled, so what’s next?
Executive Director's Message
Are Texas schools facing a corporate takeover?
Planning Ahead
Should I retire this year to avoid changes to my TRS benefits?
On April 10, 2013, the Obama administration released its 2014 fiscal-year budget proposal, which provides $71 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Education — an increase of $3.1 billion, or 4.6 percent above the 2012 enacted level (pre-sequester). TCTA’s Washington, D.C., lobby firm provided the following highlights of the proposal, which must now go to Congress for approval. The majority of the funding in this budget will affect the 2014-15 school year.
TCTA will share your “aha” teaching moments, your stories of classroom success, the strategies you swear by and other positive teaching-related stories in the summer 2013 issue of The Classroom Teacher. So jot them down (250 words or less, please) and email them to communications@tcta.org by May 15, 2013.
The Texas Education Agency issued a letter March 28, 2013, to public school administrators that highlighted recently adopted changes to the Commissioner’s Rules that will be in effect for spring 2013 testing.
In February 2013, TCTA posted a comparison of the initial proposals for two major bills filed by Texas legislators relating to high school graduation requirements: HB 5 by Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, chair of the House Public Education Committee, and SB 3 by Sen. Dan Patrick, chair of the Senate Education Committee. Since then, SB 3 has been replaced by a committee substitute bill, and HB 5 has been amended on the House floor.
Of the multitude of school groups visiting and performing at the Capitol during spring break week, none was as sweet as the group of first-graders led by TCTA Directors' Council member Mary Mikeska of Georgetown, who lobbied lawmakers throughout the week to adopt their special project.
The Texas Education Agency announced March 12, 2013, that Commissioner of Education Michael Williams will accelerate the scheduled release dates for STAAR, with all general assessments to be released in August following statewide administration of the tests in spring 2013.
State Board of Education Chair Barbara Cargill has appointed an ad hoc committee of SBOE members to review CSCOPE content, the Texas Education Agency announced March 11, 2013. While the system’s lesson plans, like all lesson plans, are not under the authority of the SBOE, TEA reports that legislative leaders have asked the SBOE to review CSCOPE content due to growing public concern about the curriculum management system.
Do you teach students who have great potential but who won't be able to begin their post-secondary education next fall without financial assistance? The TCTA Scholarship Program is accepting applications through May 1, 2013. Thanks to the generosity of the late Charles and Phyllis Gottlieb, the TCTA Scholarship Program has awarded more than $200,000 since 2010, and more than $128,000 is expected to be awarded in fall 2013.