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88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE

TCTA to testify on TEA, TRS budgets at Senate hearing

Lawmakers adjourned early this week as icy weather descended on Central Texas and other parts of the state. 

The Senate began budget hearings Monday, and school safety and school retiree benefits were among the education issues discussed.

Early next week, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to bring up the budget proposals for TEA (including school finance) and TRS. TCTA will be testifying on several priorities for the session that require funding support, including overall additional funding for public schools; a direct, across-the-board teacher pay raise; increased contributions toward school employee health insurance; funding for school safety measures to employ more personnel, such as behavior interventionists, qualified to deal with students with behavioral issues; and funding for a significant cost-of-living increase for TRS retirees.

eUpdate will take a break next week for TCTA's 2023 Convention and Capitol Visit, so be sure to check out our Capitol Updates for the latest news.

New members shift SBOE stance on school vouchers

The State Board of Education met this week, swearing in four new members whose presence was felt almost immediately. One of the board’s first actions was to walk back a longstanding policy, affirmed as recently as last November, of including opposition to private school vouchers in its legislative recommendations.

The board voted 8-5 to remove the voucher opposition from the SBOE's legislative priorities for this session.

Read more from The Texas Tribune here.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Teacher fired over tweets sues, citing her right to free speech

A teacher employed by a school district under a continuing contract during the 2018-19 school year was placed on administrative leave and later fired after publicly posting comments about illegal immigration on Twitter that were directed to then-President Donald Trump.

The tweets drew national attention and the school district received multiple emails from concerned current and former students, parents and community members, and the teacher was fired after a hearing.

The teacher sued in district court, arguing that her tweets were protected free speech because they were made off campus, after work hours, directed to a public official, and that they concerned topics of public concern. The school district argued that the disruption was significant and interfered with the district's interest in operating its schools in an environment in which children feel safe. Click here to read more.

OTHER NEWS

TEA releases free Literacy for All online training modules

The Texas Education Agency has developed a free Literacy for All training program that delves into the science of teaching reading and explores how cognitive processes impact learning foundational literacy skills. The program is designed to help educators understand the importance of teaching students who struggle to read on grade level in grades 4-12. Learn more and register here.

USDE launches campaign to 'Raise the Bar: Lead the World'

In a major address last week, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona laid out his vision for the direction the U.S. Department of Education will follow in 2023 to promote academic excellence, improve learning conditions and prepare American students to become leaders on the world stage in the future.

Cardona stressed that "Raise the Bar: Lead the World" is not a list of new priorities but a clear call to "strengthen our will to transform education for the better." He outlined how the nation has moved forward yet emphasized it will require everyone working together to produce lasting change in the pursuit of ensuring that the nation’s schools, students and educators have everything they need to be successful. Click here to read more.

• TCTA's 2023 Convention is Feb. 10-11 in Round Rock.
• Apply for Fulbright Teacher Exchanges by Feb. 20.