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Texas students deliver 'notable and mostly positive' results on national exam

The first nationwide examination of student learning during the pandemic revealed serious declines across the country, though Texas improved its rank in fourth and eighth grade reading and in eighth grade math. Reading scores for Black students also improved more than all other states over the past three years, and Texas ranked first in the country in eighth grade math scores for Black students.

The results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress — often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card — reinforce “the importance of instruction and the role of schools in both students’ academic growth and their overall wellbeing,” said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the exam.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath credited the “hard work of Texas teachers and students” for the state’s “notable and mostly positive” performance when compared to the rest of the country.

Click here to read more and see how Texas students performed.

Vote for education on Nov. 8

As a Texas teacher, you know that state education policies can make or break your ability to teach and your students’ ability to succeed. If you want changes, you need to vote for education — for yourself — in the upcoming elections. 

With more than 370,000 teachers in Texas voting together, your teacher voice can be POWERFUL! You can take advantage of early voting through Friday, Nov. 4 — click here to find polling locations and hours in your area (you’ll be asked to enter information to check your registration status first). Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across Texas.

TCTA doesn’t endorse candidates, so we don’t provide members with a slate of names to vote for. But at Texas Teachers Vote, you can find information on the candidates for the Texas House, Texas Senate, and State Board of Education. Find more information here about the top statewide races that can affect public education. Then take action and vote!

Miss our Leave & Absences webinar Tuesday? Watch now

If you were unable to join us for Tuesday's webinar on Leave & Absences, you can click here to watch it now. Dohn Larson and Julie Leahy answered members' questions about requests for time off, explaining state vs. local leave, when your district can deny a request for leave, how absences could impact your job and how leave factors into retirement.

Join us Dec. 6 to preview the 2023 legislative session

At 6 p.m. Dec. 6, members of TCTA's lobby team will recap the Nov. 8 election and preview the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature, which starts in January. They'll share TCTA's legislative priorities, saving time to answer members' questions. Click here to register and submit questions.

Lawsuit against district over child's IEP dismissed by courts

A student enrolled in a Texas school district after spending the first nine years of his life in a crib in Bulgaria. The student was severely malnourished and had diagnosed disabilities of autism and Down syndrome, and as a result had a habit of eating objects within his reach, regardless of whether they were edible. This caused him to choke or experience other related medical emergencies. 

Upon his enrollment, the district developed an individualized education program that was designed to accommodate the student's disabilities. The child's parent filed a lawsuit, alleging the district failed to provide a free and appropriate public education that met the child's needs. After a federal court dismissed the case, the parent appealed. Click here to read why the appellate court also dismissed the lawsuit.

OTHER NEWS

USDE relaxes rules for student debt forgiveness programs

The Education Department on Monday finalized a package of rules to overhaul several student debt forgiveness programs, aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get relief if they are duped by their colleges or if they put in a decade of work as teachers or other public servants.

The new rules take hold in July and are separate from President Joe Biden’s sweeping student debt forgiveness plan, which has been held up in court amid a legal challenge. Click here to read more.

Traveling over the holidays? Save with discount programs

As you make plans for travel over the holidays, be sure to check out TCTA's discount programs. Save on car rentals with Avis, Budget and Alamo, and hotel reservations at thousands of participating Choice Hotels and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, including La Quinta by Wyndham. Check TicketsatWork for deals on flights and vacation packages, as well as hundreds of gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Click here to explore all of TCTA's discount programs.

Invite colleagues to join TCTA with Take 2, Make $25

Help us recruit new members through our Take 2, Make $25 program. Give colleagues your TCTA member number and ask them to include it on their application. You'll get $25 for every two eligible First-Time Active members who join TCTA by Dec. 31. If you would like brochures to share with colleagues on your campus, email membership@tcta.org or call 888-879-8282.

• Daylight saving time ends Nov. 6.
• Election Day is Nov. 8. Early voting ends Nov. 4.
• Veterans Day is Nov. 11.
• Thanksgiving is Nov. 24.