ATPE News is the official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the largest educator association in Texas. The magazine addresses the most important issues affecting public education in the state. Learn more at ATPE.org.
Issue link: https://atpe.epubxp.com/i/435977
10 | atpe.org atpe news your ally. your voice. by Jennifer Canaday, ATPE Governmental Relations Manager Capitol Watch Looking Ahead to the 84th Legislature Texas will welcome a new slate of statewide elected offcials, all Republicans, in January. They include Governor-Elect (and outgoing attorney general) Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor- Elect Dan Patrick, who will preside over the Texas Senate. Turnout in the Nov. 4 general election was abysmally low, with around one-third of registered voters coming out to vote. In practically all statewide races, the Republican winner earned roughly 59 percent of the vote, with Democrats garnering approximately 38 percent. Republicans picked up enough wins to secure 98 seats in the Texas House, compared to 52 Democrats, and gained a seat in the Senate, where the split will be 20-11. What does this new crop of legislators mean for education in Texas? Here is a preview of some of the issues ATPE will be following during this legislative session. School Finance Throughout 2014, ATPE looked closely at candidates to see how they might approach the school fnance crisis. The state is currently appealing a district court's ruling that Texas's method of funding public education is unconstitutional. Governor-Elect Abbott has overseen the state's defense in his role as attorney general. Citing that pending litigation, he offered few insights during the campaign about his school fnance goals beyond stating that he supports "fully funding our schools." The conventional wisdom, based on past experience, is that the 84th Legislature will not take comprehensive action on school fnance until all appeals have been exhausted and the Supreme Court issues a fnal ruling. That is unlikely to occur by the time the regular legislative session adjourns on June 1. Meanwhile, the election results suggest that we are likely to see more legislation promoting "choice" and "fexibility" while incorporating outcomes-based funding and competitive grants for specifc initiatives. Examples may include funding educational programs that can demonstrate long-term success through data (e.g., what Abbott refers to as "gold standard" pre-kindergarten programs); merit pay for teachers; giving districts "mandate relief " (which often means permitting them to ignore quality control measures in statute such as class-size limits or the minimum salary schedule); and assorted privatization and tax relief proposals billed as cost-savers. Healthcare/TRS ATPE has long fought to preserve the Teacher Retirement System's defned beneft structure, and an additional priority for 2015 is urging the legislature to provide suffcient funding to meet the healthcare needs of active and retired educators while protecting the solvency of TRS. In response to ATPE's Candidate Survey, Abbott stated that he supports maintaining the current TRS structure and considers educators' healthcare a cost that should be shared by the state, school districts, and educators. He wrote, "When dealing with health care costs, the solutions are multifaceted and generally involve more funding from multiple sources. Educators should not have to shoulder these costs alone." Privatization Another priority for ATPE this session will be fghting the privatization of public schools. The election outcomes bode well for supporters of privatization. Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dan Patrick has been one of the state's most outspoken cheerleaders for "school choice" and will almost certainly push the Senate to consider proposals such as tax breaks for companies that pay students' private school tuition. ATPE will urge the legislature to reject any voucher, scholarship, tax credit, or similar program aimed at enrolling students in private, home, or for-proft schools at taxpayers' expense. A new variety of privatization reform that has been gaining popularity around the country is the single statewide school district, often called an "Achievement School District" (ASD), that can oversee all of a state's low-performing schools. Most Here is a preview of some of the issues ATPE will be following during this legislative session.