Author Archives: HISD Communications

Special Session begins on July 18

Leave a reply

State law allows the governor to reconvene the Legislature for special or extended sessions that can last up to 30 days.  There is no limit to the number of special sessions the Legislature can have, and only the governor can dictate what topics must be addressed.

On June 5, the governor called for a special session to start Tuesday, July 18, 2017 with the priority of passing the sunset safety-net bill, which will keep five state agencies open, including the Texas Medical Review Board.  The Texas Medical Review Board issues licenses to doctors.  Abbott said once the Senate passes the sunset bill, the Legislature can tackle a long list of other issues he’s laid out, including a commission on school finance, vouchers for special needs students, and bathroom legislation.

The Legislature will have up to 30 days to finish its work.  Gov. Abbott said if he is going to call the legislators back at taxpayers’ expense, he wants to “make it count.”  He said that if the Legislature cannot get everything done, it will not be because they “lacked time,” but because they “lacked the will” to get it done.

Several topics on the Governor’s special session agenda impact public education:

  • Giving teachers a $1,000 pay raise without spending any additional money
  • Changing laws to retain good teachers and fire ineffective ones
  • Creating a Commission on Texas School Finance Reform
  • Vouchers for special needs kids
  • Bathroom or privacy legislation, like HB 2899
  • Prohibiting automatic payroll deductions for union dues
  • SB 2 “or better” property tax relief legislation that includes a rollback provision (Note: this bill caps cities and counties tax rates)

Other topics to be covered during the special session can be found here.  HISD’s Government Relations team will return to Austin to fight for the district during the special session.

 

How HISD fared this legislative session

Leave a reply

HISD’s 2017 state legislative agenda included finance, educational equity and local control and governance. Read below for a summary of how HISD fared after the 2017 session in Austin, where HISD’s government relations staff was stationed to support the district’s priorities.

Finance

Until the end of session, HISD’s board, superintendent, finance and government relations staff fought hard for a solution that would lower the district’s recapture obligation for the next two school years.  Unfortunately, by the end of session, the school finance bill died and the state’s budget continued the state’s practice of shifting more of its constitutional obligation to fund public education to local taxpayers.  The state’s declining contribution to public education is a result of its over-reliance on local property taxes, or recapture, to fund schools.

Per state law, HISD is property-wealthy and must pay recapture to the state.  An election was held May 6 asking voters how they wanted HISD to pay its recapture obligation – write a check to the state comprised of local property taxes or pay by losing a portion of the district’s commercial tax base to another school district.  The May election was the second time this question was put before the voters. The ballot measure known as Proposition 1 prevailed with over 60% of the voters wanting HISD to write a check to pay its recapture obligation.  HISD’s payment for this year is $83 million, and the payment will grow in future years as property values rise.

HISD’s recapture situation proves the school finance system is broken. With state revenues down, the 2017 legislative session was not the time for school finance reform. The House and Senate were at odds on almost every issue this session, and school finance was no exception. Speaker Joe Straus made school finance reform and reducing recapture a high priority. On April 20, the House passed HB 21, a school finance bill championed by House Public Education Chair Dan Huberty, which reduced HISD’s recapture obligation for the next two years and provided meaningful financial relief to school districts statewide. However, the bill came with a $1.9 billion price tag and deferred a payment to the Foundation School Program – two components the Senate disliked. For weeks, HISD’s board and superintendent continued to urge Senators to pass the House version of HB 21 because it helped the majority of students statewide and reduced recapture.

The Senate gave HB 21 a public hearing on May 11 and offered is own version, or committee substitute, which reduced the overall funding from $1.9 billion to about $530 million and added a voucher program for special needs students.  The Senate also removed the deferred payment. During the hearing, school advocates registered to testify immediately changed their position from “support” to “against.”  School choice, or vouchers, was one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top priorities this session, and the Senate believed parents have a right to choose the educational environment best for their child: public or private. Many school advocates believed adding special education vouchers to HB 21 killed the bill.  An explanation of HB 21 as it passed the House and the Senate is below. The bill died because the House and Senate could not reach an agreement before the May 27 deadline.

HB 21 by Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Humble) spent $1.9 billion overall:

  • Reduced recapture payments for ISDs statewide
  • Increased the basic allotment per student from $5,140 to $5,350
  • Allowed recapture-paying districts like HISD to receive the transportation allotment
  • Established a $159 million financial hardship grant for districts losing targeted revenue assistance (ASATR)
  • Helped small, rural schools by phasing-in elimination of the small school district allotment
  • Increased the bilingual education weight from 0.10 to 0.11
  • Created a new funding weight for dyslexic students

CSHB 21 by Sen. Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) spent $530 million overall:

  • Increased recapture payments for ISDs statewide
  • Did NOT increase the basic allotment – it remained flat (at $5,140 per student)
  • Established an Education Savings Account (ESA) or voucher program for special needs students
  • Helped small, rural schools by phasing-in elimination of the small school district allotment
  • Established a financial hardship grant of $150 million for districts losing targeted revenue assistance (ASATR), but limited districts being able to receive support
  • Included $20 million for an Autism Grant program
  • Allocated $100 million for facilities with half going to charter schools and the other half to the Existing Debt Allotment for school districts
  • Created a state-appointed Commission on Public School Finance that would make recommendations on how to improve the current system

The following finance-related bills were supported by the district but died during the legislative process:

  • HB 1037 (Capriglione) and SB 358 (Watson): Allow recapture-paying school districts like HISD to receive their transportation allotment from the state. The intent of these bills was incorporated in the House version of HB 21
  • HB 1059 (Murphy) and SB 1247 (Huffman): Trigger a reattachment process for detached properties, which is currently missing from the statute.  HISD and Houston’s business community supported HB 1059 in committee and the bill was left pending. SB 1247 did not receive a public hearing
  • HB 1324 (S. Thompson): Recognize half of the local homestead exemption in school finance formulas and remove a financial penalty for school districts. It lowers recapture, as well. The bill was a pre-filed amendment to HB 21, but was withdrawn
  • HB 1326 (S. Thompson): Count students enrolled in full-day pre-K in a school district’s recapture calculation only. Also, lowers recapture payments
  • HB 1838 (Meyer): Institute a recapture limit tied to inflation
  • HB 3375 (S. Thompson): Tie new local property value growth to the equalized wealth level, which is a good thing for schools. The bill passed as an amendment to HB 21, but HB 21 died.
  • HB 3795 (Dutton): Allow recapture-paying districts to count charter school students zoned to their district in recapture calculations, which will lower recapture payments also. HB 3795 had a public hearing and was left pending. HISD expressed appreciation to Rep. Dutton for starting the conversation around the impact of charter schools on school districts. 

Educational Equity

The district believes one of the best ways to improve equity among students is to educate students in a 21st-century learning environment equipped with the latest technology and Internet access at home and school. Digital resources are essential for students to feel prepared for post-secondary opportunities and life-long careers.

The final state budget invests $25 the million in the E-Rate program, which will improve Internet access for public schools statewide.  This $25 million investment triggers a federal match of $250 million to the state.  As a national trendsetter in digital learning, HISD worked with the state before and during the legislative session to make sure funds were appropriated for the biennium.

Local Control & Governance

Bills were filed this session to regulate school boards and school districts; however, most died.  Some of the bills the district fought – like the bathroom bill – will return during the special session, which starts on July 18, 2017 and will last up to 30 days.

HISD worked diligently this session to protect local control.  School districts need the flexibility to innovate and make decisions that are best for their students and families.  The local control topics debated this session include bathroom usage, sanctuary cities, school board governance, school bond elections, and taxation.

Bathroom bill

The bathroom bill discussion dominated a large portion of the session.  The Senate passed, SB 6 by Sen.Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), which required people to use the restroom of their biological sex and would apply to all public facilities.  HISD opposed SB 6, and an HISD trustee delivered the testimony.  The House filed HB 2899 by Rep. Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton), a different approach to the bathroom conversation that prohibited local governments from enacting ordinances that protect certain groups of people from discrimination beyond those groups protected under state law.  HB 2899 nullified any existing local orders, ordinances, or other measures that establish such protections.  HISD opposed HB 2899, too, with a letter from an HISD trustee. In the final weeks of session, the Legislature limited the bathroom discussion to schools.  The House added schools-only language to a school safety bill, SB 2078.  The House amendment codified existing practice at the campus level and would allow schools to continue to accommodate students with unique needs.  The amendment would also allow the Texas attorney general to protect a school district if a lawsuit was filed.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Education Committee Chair Larry Taylor stated publicly that the House amendment did not go far enough.  Patrick said he would ask the governor to call a special session, if the bathroom bill the Senate passed died during the regular session.  Patrick sees it as an issue of privacy and safety for women and girls.  The speaker responded that the House handled the bathroom issue responsibly and expressed his frustration that the Senate should have been more focused on school finance than bathrooms.  After a series of dueling press conferences between the House and Senate, the bathroom issue was punted to Gov. Abbott, who added the House’s version of the bathroom bill to the special session agenda.

Sanctuary cities

Banning sanctuary cities was a top priority for statewide leaders, and SB 4 was signed into law requiring local law enforcement to check the immigration status of individuals they detain or arrest. The bill exempts schools, but still has major implications for students and families.  HISD’s board, superintendent, and schools will continue to reassure families that our schools are safe places for students, and no student will face deportation while at school.

School board governance

Regarding school board governance, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) authored SB 1566.  According to the author, the bill’s legislative intent is to empower school boards to focus on student outcomes and provide them with effective tools and training.  The bill allows the board to compel the superintendent’s direct reports to testify in public hearings and appear in closed session.  The bill requires district staff to respond to board requests for information no later than the 20th business day upon receipt (30 days if the request is burdensome).  Once SB 1566 passed both chambers, it was a “Christmas tree,” or a bill that has multiple, random bills attached to it.  One of those amendments requires the school nurse to notify parents when a child in the classroom has lice, and another allows school staff who are licensed handgun owners to transport and store firearms in their personal vehicle on school property.

Representative Sarah Davis (R-Houston) filed two governance bills that died.  HB 1150 required school districts to post certain information online every month (academic policies, current finances, board meeting minutes, and all district plans and objectives under consideration by the board).  HB 1152 required the school board to hold a local election when changing the names of schools.

Elections and transparency

About 50 bills related to transparency, ballot language, and elections were filed, all died.  Overall, these so called “transparency” bills were a threat to local control.  Some  required school districts to place prescriptive and detailed information on the ballot for school bond elections, and some required a school board to hold an election to authorize using unspent bond funds on other expenses.  The remaining bills required school districts to hold elections only in November.  Right now, school districts can hold elections in May or November, and tax ratification elections can be held within 90 days after the tax rate is adopted.  The two main bills districts were concerned about were SB 460 and SB 461 by Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville).  These two bills passed the Senate, but did not make it out of the House.

Property tax reform

SB 2 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt was the vehicle for property tax reform this session.  The bill capped cities’ and counties’ ability to raise their tax rates.  School districts’ tax rates are already capped.  SB 2 was a priority bill for Lt. Gov. Patrick and the Senate majority, citing Texans’ need for property tax relief.  The Senate also wanted voters to decide what their tax rate should be – this is known as a rollback election.  The House replaced SB 2 with its version of the bill and removed the rollback election provision. Ultimately, SB 2 died at the end of session, and the governor added it to the special session agenda in July.

An analysis of the state’s public education budget

Leave a reply

Overview

SB 1, the state budget bill, allocates $217 billion in all funds for the next two years.  The approved budget was a compromise between both chambers and passed May 26, 2017.  The Senate passed the budget 30-1, and the House passed the budget 135-14.  All of the “no” votes were Democrats.  Five members of HISD’s delegation voted against the budget: Sen. Sylvia Garcia, Rep. Harold Dutton, Rep. Alma Allen, Rep. Armando Walle and Rep. Shawn Thierry.  The remaining thirteen members of HISD’s delegation voted for the budget.

SB 1 provides over $55 billion to K-12 public education during the 2018-19 biennium.  There are pluses and minuses for K-12.  However, the budget continues the trend of the state shifting its constitutional obligation to local taxpayers.  School districts will see a cut in state general revenue, which means the local share of funding public education will increase.  That is a concern for HISD and districts around the state.

On a positive note, HISD is pleased to see an increase in the Austin Yield and additional funding for E-Rate (or classroom connectivity) in this budget.  The Austin Yield increase will provide some indirect relief on HISD’s recapture payments, and digital learning was a priority for HISD this legislative session.

SB 1 Highlights – Public Education

  • SB1 does NOT increase the basic allotment, which means higher recapture payments.
  • SB 1 funds enrollment growth (80,000 students per year).
  • SB 1 continues to shift the state’s constitutional obligation to fund public education to local taxpayers.
  • SB 1 does NOT fund high-quality pre-K with state dollars – districts will have to use their own funds.
  • SB 1 funds programs like Teach for America, Communities In Schools and P-TECH grants for early college high schools focused on technology.
  • SB 1 funds digital learning statewide by investing in the E-Rate program.
  • SB 1 requires school districts to pay a larger share of the health care costs for retirees (TRS-Care).

What’s in the state budget (SB 1) for public education?

  • The basic allotment stays the same (@ $5,140 per student) for both years of the 2018-19 biennium. This is a concern.  The basic allotment is the one part of the formula that benefits all schools.  When the basic allotment remains flat, that causes more school districts to enter recapture and causes districts paying recapture to write larger checks to the state.  The death of HB 21 (the school finance bill) meant there would be less impetus to raise the basic allotment.
  • There is an increase in the Austin Yield, which will indirectly take some of the sting out of HISD’s recapture payments. That’s a good thing.
  • $2.65 billion for enrollment growth (an increase of 80,000 students per year in Texas).
  • $350 million will go toward the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) to continue health care benefits for retirees; however, school districts will have to increase their contribution rate from .55 to .75. This change will cause a $3 million cost increase for HISD.
  • After much back and forth on high-quality pre-K funding, the budget conferees agreed to shift the burden to school districts. Therefore, the state is encouraging school districts to use part of their pre-K money from the state to cover high-quality pre-K at the campus level. School districts are not getting any money from the state for high-quality pre-K during the 2018-19 biennium.
  • Digital learning received $25 million for the 2018-19 biennium, and the federal government will match that with $250 million to improve classroom connectivity statewide (E-Rate). The $25 million is funded with a one-time withdrawal from the state’s Rainy Day Fund in FY 2018.  Digital learning was a priority for HISD this session.
  • The New Instructional Facilities Allotment (NIFA) was funded at $47.5 million.  The NIFA funds are for “fast growth” districts and charter schools.  HISD is not a fast growth district.  Our student population is pretty steady.  However, with the passage of HB 1081, HISD should be able to qualify for these funds this biennium.
  • P-TECH was funded at $5 million for the next biennium.  HISD can apply for the grant.  This program is for early college high schools focused on technology.  This was a priority for the Texas Urban Council (TUC) and HISD is a member the TUC.
  • Educational Service Centers (ESCs) were cut by $1.25 million. The ESCs service school districts statewide.  The Region 4 ESC services Houston ISD and surrounding districts.
  • Communities in Schools maintains its current level of funding ($31 million). HISD works with Communities in Schools.
  • Teach for America will receive $11 million for the biennium. TFA is one of HISD’s partners.  HISD hires their teachers.

 

How does the budget impact local school property taxes?

In SB 1, state funds drop substantially and are replaced with local school property taxes:

  • The Legislature cuts state general revenue funds for school districts by more than $1.218 billion from the FY 2016-17 biennium to the FY 2018-19 biennium.
  • The last time the Legislature cut general revenue to school districts was in 2011 (when Texas had a large budget shortfall), which was slightly more than 2017, at $1.275 billion rather than $1.218 billion.
  • The drop to state funds equates to an average drop statewide of more than $250 per district student over the biennium. ($1.218 billion/4.8 million ISD ADA; no state funds are cut for charter schools) or roughly $5,500 per 22-student classroom. (Compared with $339 nine-year drop in state aid per student from 2008-17, the two-year $250 drop is drastic.)
  • Local school property taxes will be increased substantially. The Legislature provides in Rider 3: “Property values, and the estimates of local tax collections on which they are based, shall be increased by 04 percent for tax year 2017 and by 6.77 percent in tax year 2018.”  The percentages have been increased a lot from those in the appropriations bills passed earlier in session in March and April, and the total 13.8 increase for the biennium is substantially higher than in the past five biennia and could set up funding cuts in future years if the Legislature’s forecast higher property values do not materialize.
  • The Legislature is increasing reliance on recapture by $725.9 million for the biennium. It was $3.845 billion in the FY 2016-17 biennium and will rise to $4.57 billion in the FY 2018-19 biennium – comprising more than 10 percent of the appropriation to the Foundation School Program.  In FY 2018, recapture will be almost double the amount that comes from the state lottery. 

Houston ISD’s Projected Recapture Payments:

  • 2016-17: $83 million (current biennium)
  • 2017-18: $210 million
  • 2018-19: $285 million

Note: these are rough estimates

 

Education bills signed into law, vetoed, or left unresolved

Leave a reply

The legislative session that ended on May 29 saw dozens of bills related to education signed into law, while others were vetoed or left unresolved.  New legislation can go into effect immediately if it passed both chambers with two-thirds of the vote and received the governor’s approval. Otherwise, new legislation goes into effect on Sept. 1, 2017, if it received the governor’s approval or signature.

New Legislation

Here are the bills that passed both chambers and have been approved by the governor. Click on each bill to learn more about it:

  • SB 7 by Sen. Bettencourt intends to end inappropriate teacher-student relationships; imposes a criminal penalty
  • SB 22 by Sen. Larry Taylor creates a grant program for early college high schools focused on technology, P-TECH
  • SB 30 by Sen. West teaches high school students how to engage with police
  • SB 79 by Sen. Nelson relates to TPIA (or open records) requests
  • SB 160 by Sen. Rodriguez removes the special education cap
  • SB 179 by Sen. Menendez, David’s Law relates to penalties for bullying and cyber-bullying
  • SB 195 by Sen. Garcia allows districts to apply for additional state funds to create Safe Passage programs for students in violent neighborhoods
  • SB 436 by Sen. Rodriguez relates to the Special Education Continuing Advisory Council
  • SB 463 by Sen. Seliger extends the use of individual graduation committees (IGCs) for students who fail to pass no more than 2 STAAR EOCs (extended until 2019)
  • SB 490 by Sen. Lucio requires school districts to report counselor data in PEIMS
  • SB 587 by Sen. Campbell allows military families coming from outside of Texas to enroll in virtual schools
  • SB 671 by Sen. Campbell allows dual language elementary proficiency to count for a high school foreign language credit
  • SB 725 by Sen. Miles allows ISDs to donate food to students through non-profits and have a grace period for students whose lunch account balance expired
  • SB 748 by Sen. Zaffirini relates to special education/ARD changes
  • SB 801 by Sen. Seliger allows the State Board of Education (SBOE) to review materials for grade/subject level appropriateness
  • SB 802 by Sen. Seliger relates to best practices in dual credit course transfers
  • SB 825 by Sen. Larry Taylor makes the PSAT optional
  • SB 826 by Sen. Larry Taylor relates to course sequencing for English and Math courses
  • SB 1005 by Sen. Campbell ends TAKS Maintenance
  • SB 1091 by Sen. Seliger imposes some restrictions on dual credit
  • SB 1318 by Sen. Van Taylor on Math Innovation Zones
  • SB 1353 by Sen. Larry Taylor on facility funds for annexed school districts
  • SB 1398 by Sen. Lucio cleans up the “cameras in the classroom” legislation for special needs students
  • SB 1404 by Sen. Hughes requires schools to report to PEIMS the types of expanded learning opportunities/afterschool programs they have and the number of students participating
  • SB 1440 by Sen. Campbell creates a new exception for candidate forums under the Open Meetings Act
  • SB 1553 by Sen. Menendez relates to campus trespassing notices
  • SB 1566 by Sen. Kolkhorst changes many school board governance policies
  • SB 1784 by Sen. Larry Taylor updates the definition of open source instructional materials
  • SB 1839 by Sen. Hughes relates to educator preparation
  • SB 1843 by Sen. Campbell lets 10th-12th graders take the armed forces exam
  • SB 1873 by Sen. Hinojosa requires ISDs to report students’ physical education data to TEA
  • SB 1882 by Sen. Menendez relates to District-Charter Partnerships
  • SB 1963 by Sen. Creighton allows virtual observations for teacher prep programs (except for classroom teachers)
  • SB 2039 by Sen. Zaffirini on sex trafficking professional development for school staff
  • SB 2080 by Sen. Larry Taylor requires a PEIMS report for students in a residential treatment facilities
  • SB 2084 by Sen. Larry Taylor relates to the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) calculation for blended learning students
  • SB 2105 by Sen. Miles on public workforce data reports by region
  • SB 2141 by Sen. Larry Taylor on due process for special education students
  • HB 22 by Rep. Huberty changes the A-F accountability system that passed last session; delays implementation for one year; and differentiates between D and F ratings
  • HB 136 by Rep. Bell on adding CTE to the state’s mission for public schools
  • HB 264 by Rep. Hernandez on graduation requirements and outreach materials for students
  • HB 332 by Rep. Meyer on security plans for schools used as polling locations
  • HB 357 by Rep. Huberty provides free Pre-K for children of fallen police officers, firefighters and first responders
  • HB 441 by Rep. Martinez bans school on Memorial Day
  • HB 523 by Rep. Schofield requires school districts to post online the video/audio recordings of trustees
  • HB 639 by Rep. Doc Anderson on CTE insurance for participating students
  • HB 657 by Rep. Bernal on the ARD committee’s decision to promote a special needs student based on assessments
  • HB 674 by Rep. Eric Johnson bans suspensions below 3rd grade
  • HB 728 by Rep. Guerra on an Advanced Computer Science Program
  • HB 1076 by Rep. Oliverson on mandatory spinal screenings for students
  • HB 1081 by Rep. Arevalo raises the New Instructional Facilities Allotment (NIFA) per pupil and expands the definition to include districts like HISD
  • HB 1545 by Rep. Clardy relates to high school credits for Peace Officer Training
  • HB 1553 by Rep. Lozano develops a turnaround partnership where higher education can partner with an ISD to improve the district’s academic performance
  • HB 1556 by Rep. Mary Gonzalez allows a foster care/surrogate parent of a special needs student to make decisions for that child
  • HB 1569 by Rep. Ashby requires certain data for students in a residential facility
  • HB 1593 by Rep. Bohac relates to family engagement plans; adds programs and interventions to teach families how to encourage student-learning at home
  • HB 1638 by Rep. Guillen on dual credit goals
  • HB 1645 by Rep. Lozano on Special Olympics Letters for students
  • HB 1661 by Rep. Phelan deals with candidates withdrawing from an election
  • HB 1886 by Rep. Miller relates to dyslexia testing
  • HB 1934 by Rep. Minjarez relates to teaching licenses for military spouses
  • HB 2039 by Rep. Huberty creates an Early Childhood Teacher Certificate for pre-K- third grade
  • HB 2087 by Rep. VanDeaver covers student data privacy
  • HB 2130 by Rep. Roberts requires TEA to do a special education interim study
  • HB 2263 by Rep. Gooden removes a campus intervention team once an underperforming campus no longer has an unacceptable rating; establishes deadlines for TEA to send communications to school districts about the status of or action required for their turnaround plans
  • HB 2369 by Rep. Nevarez helps lower ISDs’ water bills
  • HB 2442 by Rep. Ken King cleans up the “minutes of instruction” bill from last session
  • HB 2537 by Rep. Guerra says counselors should inform foster care students about fee waivers
  • HB 2729 by Rep. Lucio III regarding certificates and credentials for CTE students
  • HB 2880 by Rep. Dutton reduces the level of crime for threatening to use a firearm on a school bus
  • HB 3157 by Rep. Dennis Bonnen regarding vision screenings for students at school
  • HB 3270 by Rep. Bohac relates to background checks for contractors and sub-contractors hired to provide construction or maintenance work on public works projects for school districts
  • HB 3349 by Rep. Gervin-Hawkins allows industry-related teachers to get certified in a shorter amount of time
  • HB 3526 by Rep. Howard adds Technology to the name of the (T) IMA
  • HB 3563 by Rep. Koop eliminates redundant parent notices
  • HB 3593 by Rep. Bernal creates a cybersecurity course in schools
  • HB 3632 by Rep. Moody allows more time for military families to request a special education due process hearing
  • HB 3706 by Rep. Lucio III allows alternative education programs to be at a campus or online and help students with post-secondary opportunities
  • HB 4056 by Rep. Rose requires schools to use research-based best practices to create a positive school climate 

Vetoed Legislation

The following bills were vetoed by the governor and will not go into effect:

  • HB 61 by Rep. Guillen establishes a new indicator for special education students in the accountability system

Governor’s veto statement on HB 61: “I have signed House Bill 22, which reforms our public school accountability system to provide additional transparency on school performance. Multiple provisions of House Bill 61 are based on the existing accountability system, which was overhauled by House Bill 22.  Additionally, parts of House Bill 61 regarding the use of video cameras in special education classrooms are already adequately addressed by Senate Bill 1398, which I have signed.”

  • HB 1342 by Rep. Parker requires school districts to provide age-appropriate, research based child abuse prevention training to students

Governor’s veto statement on HB 1342: “I have signed Senate Bill 2039, which directs the Texas Education Agency to develop an optional curriculum regarding sexual abuse prevention for use by school districts.  While both Senate Bill 2039 and House Bill 1342 seek to achieve a good purpose, Senate Bill 2039 does so in a more suitable way.  By recognizing both the importance of this topic and the right of parents to opt their children out of the instruction, Senate Bill 2039 strikes the correct balance.  House Bill 1342 was well-intentioned, but it lacked a provision for parental opt-out.  This is inconsistent with the longstanding rule in Texas schools that parents can remove their child from ‘any part of the district’s human sexuality instruction.’  Tex. Educ. Code § 28.004(i).”

  • HB 1500 by Rep. Giddings amends Domain IV to reflect post-secondary performance

Governor’s veto statement on HB 1500: “In 2015, the Texas Legislature prioritized parental engagement and increased transparency by developing an A through F grading system for school districts and campuses. House Bill 22, which I have signed, makes positive changes to the existing A through F system. House Bill 22 ensures students, parents, and taxpayers know how well our schools are doing. It also aligns the new grading system with Texas’ sanction and intervention strategies. House Bill 1500 is based on the existing grading system and conflicts with House Bill 22.”

  • SB 196 by Sen. Garcia requires website notices for schools that don’t have counselors, nurses, or librarians

Governor’s veto statement on SB 196: “Our public schools should be focused on educating students in the classroom. Senate Bill 196 detracts from that focus and imposes a needless regulatory mandate on schools.”

Unresolved Legislation

The following bills passed both chambers, but were not resolved:

  • SB 2078 by Sen. Larry Taylor relates to school safety, bathrooms and emergency plans; the schools-only bathroom language was added as a floor amendment
  • SB 2131 by Sen. West covers college advising
  • HB 515 by Rep. VanDeaver limits assessments
  • HB 1291 by Rep. Geren includes patriotism in the TEKS along with a Common Core Ban and SB 1883 was added
  • HB 3767 by Rep. Allen relates to district and campus-level committees
  • HB 4064 by Rep. Bohac relates to digital learning training for educators