Pledging Allegiance to Texas Public Schools
admin | Sep 23, 2009 | Comments 0
HANK GILBERT’S PLAN FOR K-12 EDUCATION IN TEXAS
A Message From Hank
Click here to download Hank's Plan for K-12 Education in Texas in PDF format
This plan is titled “A Pledge of Allegiance to Texas Education” because we must commit ourselves as a state to making our public schools and colleges the centerpiece of our future prosperity. It takes time and a lot of work — the kind of time and work that classroom teachers put in day after day and year after year.
Unfortunately, state leaders don’t put in the same kind of commitment. But sounding the clarion call for a new statewide priority could bring about the most sweeping education reforms Texas has seen since House Bill 72 was adopted in 1984.
In the aftermath of HB 72, attempts at education reform have been piecemeal at best, and carried over from one governor to the next and one legislative session to the next. The time for piecemeal reform is over.
As Governor, I will propose sweeping and comprehensive reform legislation as soon as I take office and ask the Texas Legislature to pass it and send it to me for my signature by the end of the 83rd Session.
That is an admittedly ambitious goal. However, our leaders have risen to this challenge before. The time is ripe for us to rise to the challenge again.
As a former public school teacher and parent of two school-aged children, I know how desperately we need comprehensive education reform in Texas. We’ve needed it for a decade, but Rick Perry has put politics above policy and failed to deliver on his promise to make education a priority.
Simply throwing money at the problem isn’t the answer. Good, sound, public policy is.
The plan you have before you isn’t every single education reform I’ll propose. As the campaign continues, you’ll see a lot more from me on education. This plan is, however, the cornerstone of my comprehensive education reform plan.
Many of you will ask how I plan to fund such ambitious goals. On November 24th, I’ll roll out my plan for comprehensive school finance reform, but you won’t see it or hear about it today. That’s because I don’t want policy to be eclipsed by budget calculations, revenue projections, and financial minutia. Texas public school students and teachers deserve better than that—and, when I am governor, I’ll make good on that promise. This is the starting point for the conversation about the future of education in Texas.
Texas was built on bold visions and ambitious plans. It is time to dream big, Texas.
HANK’S VISION FOR K-12 EDUCATION IN TEXAS
Hank believes every child has the right to a quality, publicly funded education. He believes in returning more local control to school districts, developing and retaining qualified teachers, and innovative strategies to help Texas students graduate high school well-prepared for college or the workforce. Hank believes that real and comprehensive reform is the key to improving education in Texas.
BACKGROUND
The first public school law was enacted in Texas during the days of the Republic, in 1840. The Constitution of 1845 provided that one-tenth of annual state tax revenue be set aside as a perpetual fund to support free public schools. Following Reconstruction, the Constitution of 1876 established the Permanent School Fund comprised of 45 million acres of public land for school support.
Over the next century and a quarter, education in Texas changed significantly, from being overseen by a State Superintendent of Public Instruction and funded by a statewide ad valorem tax and rural common schools, to 1,030 school districts and more than 7,000 individual campuses. These campuses serve 4.67 million students1 funded by a complex mix of local funding from property taxes and state formula funding.
Texas’ public school enrollment ranks second in the nation, behind only California2.
Problems In Need Of A Solution
Although Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of the money spent on public education3, the state ranks 45th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student4, 34th in average teacher salaries5, 50th in terms of the percent of the population over 25 with a high school diploma6, and 41st in terms of its high school graduation rate7.
In addition, for much of the last decade, Texas schools and students have been burdened with a school accountability and student promotion system overly dependent on standardized testing, specifically the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test (TAKS Test). Although House Bill 3, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature, improved upon a bad situation, more work remains to be done.
While changes in Texas high school graduation programs in the last two decades have done more to ready students for college, they have done little to help students who may desire to immediately enter the workforce or are unable to attend college. Some even suggest that Texas’ college-focused high school programs may be helping keep the state’s drop-out rate elevated.
In terms of early childhood education, Texas missed an opportunity to make landmark reforms in its pre-kindergarten program in 2009. Although the Texas Legislature approved legislation to improve pre-k instruction, Governor Rick Perry vetoed the bill.
PATHWAYS TO CHANGE
Hank Gilbert believes that education reform in Texas cannot be done piecemeal. He will provide strong leadership to guide the Legislature into taking immediate action in the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature to promote the adoption of a comprehensive public primary and secondary education reform bill.
HANK’S PLAN
- Dropping The Drop Out Rate
Texas’ high drop-out rate is unacceptable. Hank proposes a variety of measures to curb the state’s drop-out rate.
Hank proposes providing “catch-up” programs for credit-delinquent students.
Failing one core class in high school puts students at a disadvantage and can affect whether or not a student will graduate on time—especially if a student can’t afford or does not have access to summer school. Hank proposes “catch-up” programs which will help students in danger of failing a core subject or who have failed a core subject. These will include before and after school programs including an additional period of instruction before or after school and online learning opportunities, including making virtual summer school courses in core subjects available to students statewide— including students who want to accelerate their learning as opposed to catch up a failed course.
Hank proposes creating a free, online tutoring service available to all Texas public school students.
Hank proposes a system modeled off of Alabama’s successful “HomeWorkAlabama.org” website where students can connect to a tutor for live help via the Internet. Tutors will help students through the use of instant messaging, interactive virtual “chalkboards,” shared browsing, and similar features including enhanced capabilities to help students with science and math. Tutors would be online from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Hank proposes making high school more relevant for students.
Hank proposes making high school education more relevant to students in the 21st Century. In addition to increased career and vocational training outlined elsewhere in this proposal, Hank proposes mandatory dual-credit opportunities be offered in all Texas high schools (this can be done through distance learning), and funding more science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) magnet high schools, and more vocational magnet schools.
Hank proposes creating a Graduation Coach Program for at-risk students.
Because drop-out prevention must begin early, Hank proposes a Graduation Coach Program which will begin by helping at-risk students with the transition from middle school to high school and helping students fulfill their personal graduation plan. Graduation Coaches will help students with vocational exploration, course selection, and with securing tutoring and additional subject area assistance when needed.
Hank proposes integrating evidenced-based dropout prevention strategies to decrease the dropout rate among African American and Latino students.
Dropout prevention isn’t something that belongs just in schools. It requires school- and community-based programs and involvement to keep students in school. It also involves integrating the components of existing State programs to help students outside the classroom. If students don’t have food at home, or don’t have adequate housing, it will adversely affect their performance in the classroom. Hank proposes funding evidenced-based drop-out prevention strategies—some of which are already in use in pilot programs across the State.
Hank proposes requiring schools to employ counselors solely to address psychological, social, and behavioral issues among students.
School counselors have many responsibilities under current policy—much of which doesn’t necessarily revolve around a student’s psychological, social, and behavioral needs. School counselors are overburdened with paperwork and other duties. Hank proposes a program funded with state dollars to require that every Texas school have at least one counselor dedicated solely to addressing psychological, social, and behavioral needs of students.
- Early Childhood Education.
At the present time, the state funds only half-day pre-k programs for eligible students with formula funding.
Hank proposes increasing funding for the TEA’s Early Start Grant program to allow districts to fund expanded pre-k (pre-k education for children three years of age from low-income families, and pre-k for any child, regardless of financial need).
Hank proposes mandatory full-day pre-k programs in districts with high drop-out rates, significant ESL populations, and high poverty rates by 2012.
The early years of a child’s educational development are important, and play a major role in whether or not a student succeeds—or fails—in school. Mandating full-day pre-k in districts with high drop-out rates, large populations of students for whom English is a second language, and in districts or neighborhood schools where more than 60 percent of students enrolled in grades k-5 are in households with an income at or less than the federal poverty level helps address this problem. The Texas Education Agency would be directed to conduct a study and establish standards and percentages relating to which drop-out rates and ESL population percentages would be most appropriately suited for mandatory full-day pre-k by 2012.
Hank proposes universal Pre-K By 2013.
Hank proposes mandating that Texas public school districts offer voluntary, publicly funded, “universal” pre-k programs for all three and four-year-old children whose parents wish to enroll them by 2013. There is much value in universal prekindergarten. Studies have shown that universal pre-kindergarten can improve prereading, prewriting, and prenumeracy skills for children from all walks of life8.
Hank proposes limiting pre-k class sizes to 22 children, with an 11 to one child per staff ratio.
Hank proposes requiring pre-k classes be taught by certified teachers with an additional nine hours of class training in early childhood education, and that aides assisting certified teachers be required to attend annual training courses in child development and early childhood education offered by local regional service centers.
- Improve Math & Science Education In All Texas Public Schools.
Texas must develop critical thinkers for our future; science and math instruction are key to preparing students for solving the complex problems of the 21st century.
Hank proposes strengthening math and science education in Texas’ elementary schools.
Hank proposes expanding Texas’ existing Master Teacher program to ensure that educators who are specialists in core academic subjects such as science and math are available to provide mentoring to other teachers to ensure elementary school students receive a quality education in these core subjects. Hank proposes creating the Science & Math Master Educator Grant Program to put more Master Teachers in science and math in more elementary schools across Texas.
Hank proposes enhanced educator requirements for math and science.
Hank proposes strengthening the math and science education requirements for new elementary school teachers to ensure they are prepared to instruct students in these fields of study.
In addition, Hank proposes that science teachers from grades 6-12 should be required to participate in additional staff development geared toward the specific science subject areas and grade levels taught. Hank proposes creating partnerships between Texas college and university science departments and local Education Service Centers to ensure that our state’s science teachers are kept abreast of both the latest technical developments in their field and new and innovative ways of educating students.
- Middle Grades Matter, Too.
For too long, education policy writers have focused much attention on the early grades and high school, and middle grade education in Texas has fallen through the cracks. Hank’s reform plans will change that.
Educating Middle Grade Students Who Graduate And Succeed.
Hank’s goal for middle grade education is to reform it in such a way that 90 percent of middle grade students who transition into high school complete high school. Hank’s proposes reducing the ninth grade failure rate by giving middle grades students the preparation they need to do well in high school and graduate.
Giving Students A Leg Up.
Hank proposes a statewide gear-up program in the middle grades for seventh and eighth grade students who have fallen behind and need intensive, accelerated instruction in mathematics, language arts, and reading. This will help make these students high school ready.
Summer Bridge Programs.
Hank proposes providing a statewide four-to-six week summer bridge program, which will be available both at schools and virtually to students who lack transportation or have other obstacles preventing them from attending, for seventh and eighth grade students who need additional instruction to succeed in high school.
- Increasing The Focus On Vocational Education & Training.
In an ideal world, every Texas high school graduate would both want to and be able to afford to go to college. The reality, however, is different.
Hank believes students who need and desire an alternative to a college degree should be able to earn an education which will better suit them for the work they want to do. Too, Texas’ businesses and the State’s economy need highly qualified workers to perform rewarding jobs in a variety of occupations that do not require a college degree but do require technical knowledge or even technical or state certifications.
Hank’s plan would revise the state’s graduation tracks and add an additional vocational education graduation track geared toward creating work-ready students and with a focus on apprenticeship and dual credit courses to allow students to leave high school either holding a professional certification in a vocational field of their choice or ready to continue their education in college-level vocational programs.
Hank proposes creating the Vocational & Technical High School Program.
Under Hank’s plan, a new graduation track geared toward vocational and technical career training would be added to the existing graduation tracks. The Vocational & Technical High School Program would create curriculum guidelines to allow high schools to prepare students to achieve state and/or professional accreditation certificates for a variety of professional fields including healthcare.
Hank proposes creating stakeholder partnerships between high schools, colleges, labor unions and central labor councils, and businesses to improve vocational education.
Hank proposes that the state establish guidelines to allow public schools to create and maintain stakeholder partnerships between industry, labor unions and labor councils, and colleges to further vocational education at the high school level. These programs would still need to be taught by certified teachers or individuals holding certifications in their field who have completed a course of study prescribed by the State Board for Educator Certification to enable them to teach selected subjects in Texas public schools.
Hank proposes giving students real-world experience through apprenticeship programs.
Under Hank’s proposal, students on the Vocational & Technical High School Program would receive real world experience through apprenticeship or internship programs in their chosen field for credit during their final year of high school. This will help Texas produce well-qualified graduates ready to enter the workforce. Hank proposes that schools work closely with not only industry stakeholders, but labor unions and local labor councils to develop geographically-appropriate apprenticeship programs for Texas public schools.
Hank proposes expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.
Any one of Texas’ public school students could have an idea for a product or service that changes the way we live our lives. Quality vocational and career training should prepare those students to develop, market, and share their product or service with the world and help those students understand the ins and outs of the business, retail, and service, and e-commerce marketplaces.
- Attracting And Retaining Qualified Teachers
In order to address its broader educational problems, Texas must attract and retain more qualified teachers. Texas’ rank nationally of 34th among the states in average teacher salaries is appalling and must change. Low pay is forcing teachers to leave the profession and causing prospective teachers to select other professions altogether. Hank’s proposals will remedy that.
Hank proposes an across-the-board $5,000 teacher pay raise.
Hank proposes an across-the-board $5,000 pay raise for teachers, with $2,500 coming in the 2011-2012 school year and the remainder in the 2012-2013 school year.
Hank proposes indexing the State Minimum Salary Schedule To Inflation.
Every legislative session, pay raises are promised to teachers, but not delivered. Hank proposes indexing the State Minimum Salary Schedule to inflation (the CPI) to ensure that, as the cost of living goes up, teachers automatically get an annual raise— without the raise being tied up in appropriations battles or partisan bickering.
Hank proposes expanding the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years of experience.
For years, the State Minimum Salary Schedule for Classroom Teachers, Full-Time Librarians, Full-Time Counselors, and Full-Time Nurses has topped out at 20 years of experience. However, a teacher who enters the teaching profession at age 24 or 25 would, if they stayed in the profession, expect to teach for at least 30 or more years before being eligible for retirement. That means, exclusive of local supplements and locally funded raises, a teacher might teach for ten or more years without a single pay raise, unless the Legislature gave them one. Hank proposes expanding the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years of experience.
Hank proposes expanding the Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
This program, which is designed to assist persons who teach in low-income areas or in subject fields designated as “shortage fields” repay their student loans, is limited in eligibility and scope. Hank proposes a temporary, 10-year expansion of the program to cover all teachers—regardless of subject area or school district—as long as those individuals teach in Texas public schools (and remain a classroom teacher) for at least ten years.
- Real School Accountability & Student Assessment
House Bill 3 took us part of the way toward a better system of school accountability, but did not get us all the way.
Hank proposes ending the “Test and Punish” culture in student assessment and public school accountability.
Hank proposes developing student assessment and public school accountability models which use multiple assessment measures and aren’t primarily based on standardized test results.
- Building Educational Infrastructure For The 21st Century.
Hank proposes creating a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade or more.
Hank proposes creating a state building fund which will be funded by general revenue bonds to meet the physical plant requirements of the districts in the state for the next decade or more. This will remove new school construction and finance from the budgets of local ISDs—allowing them to shift resources to teacher pay and instruction. This would apply only to instructional facilities.
- Taking The Politics Out Of Curriculum Development & Textbook Adoption.
Hank proposes stripping the State Board of Education of all oversight for curriculum development and textbook adoption.
In recent years, Texas has become the laughing stock of the nation thanks to how politically polarized curriculum development and textbook adoption has become. Hank proposes stripping the Sate Board of Education of all oversight for curriculum development and textbook adoption and placing those tasks in the hands of the Texas Education Agency and the Commissioner of Education. Input from educators and the public would still be required in developing TEKS and curriculum standards, but politics would be removed from the equation by placing the task in the hands of professional educators instead of politicians.
- Making Schools Safer And More Welcoming By Putting A Stop To Bullying.
Hank proposes changing the way Texas deals with schoolyard bullies.
Hank proposes a multi-part plan to curb bullying in Texas public schools. Hank proposes expanding the definition of bullying to include cyberbullying (bullying through computers, cell phones, text messaging, and instant messaging), and expanding the definition further to include incidents that occur off school property if the communication is likely to cause a disruption on campus. In addition to other reforms, Hank proposes expanding PEIMS reporting to require that incidents of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment be reported. Hank proposes a requirement to report specifically if incidents were the result of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.
- 21st Century Educational Technology.
Restoring Innovative Technology Leaders At TEA.
Texas deserves to be the leader in how new and innovative, student-centric learning technologies are applied. Texas had a rich history in using technology to bridge distance, time, and organizational barriers. Hank believes that restoring the Texas Education Agency’s capacity to rapidly enable leading edge technologies is a must. Texas is too large to rely only on a few regions who have highly qualified technology staffs. Hank believes we need to restore innovative technology leaders in TEA’s Austin office and re-position Texas to be the leader in K-12 distance education. Master teachers, university faculty, business organizations, and national experts can provide a rich set of mentors and educators using technology to challenge students in ways not currently possible.
Texas libraries are working together to share resources and holdings across our state. Hank believes adding public and educational libraries in a truly integrated manner with K-12 schools will provide expanding capabilities that challenge students and enrich their educational experience.
SOURCES
1 Enrollment in Texas Public Schools, 2007-2008, Texas Education Agency. http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/research/pdfs/enrollment_2007-08.pdf; Accessed 14 September 2009.
2 National Education Association. http://www.nea.org/home/29402.htm Accessed 14 September 2009.
3ibid
4Ibid.
5Ibid.
6U.S. Census Bureau tabulations, http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/cps2006/tab13.xls accessed September 13, 2009. See also Spencer, Jason and Jo Ann Zinuga, “Texas again ranks last in percentage of grads,” Houston Chronicle, June 30, 2004, p. 1. 7
7 Kathleen O’Leary Morgan and Scott Morgan, State Rankings 2008, Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, Inc., 2008 at 134.
8Gormley, William T, Ted Gayer, Deborah Phillips, and Brittany Dawson. “The Effects of Universal Pre-K on Cognitive Development.” Developmental Psychology. Vol. 41, No. 6, 872-884. 2005.
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