Texas Lawmakers Mixed on Charter School Proposal
At a Thursday Senate Education Committee hearing, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, continued his push for school-choice reform by attempting to build consensus around his bill to expand charter schools.
Patrick’s Senate Bill 2 would overhaul the state's charter school system by creating a new state board to authorize new charter schools and lift the cap on the number of these schools that can exist in the state. Current law sets a limit at 215 charter schools, which are overseen by the State Board of Education and the Texas Education Agency. It would also allow an allotment for state ...
Comments (36)
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Then we should be strengthening the public schools the kids are desperate to leave, not weakening them by redirecting funds. And, did he just watch "Waiting for Superman" or has he actually seen one of these instances?
Julia Gregory Poirier via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I can tell you that the second year she didn't get picked my daughter cried. We live in Bastrop and it sucks bad there. Mostly because of corrupt and inept leadership of the ISD, we finally had to put her in a private non-profit school that will hopefully get a charter. Parents and children can't wait - the lege can fix the system. They're the ones that broke it with their phoney baloney accounting schemes.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Martha, the problem with strengthening the system is that you have all the ISD's which are independent of the State. When the state trys to hold accountable those ISD, they balk at having tests or other performance measures. Look at the saga with North Forest ISD. With Charter schools, you have schools that are public school but are not tied down by school districts.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Charter schools are NOT the answer. Fund our public schools. Matthew that is NOT true. They can close down a school if the test scores are acceptable. Charter schools cherry pick. The GOP in Texas want to end public education and teach religion in public schools. NO.
Derick Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The State can't and won't even effectively manage charter schools that have consistently performed worse than other public schools. The North Forest ISD situation had State oversight that did not work. Unfortunately you have a Tea Party bigot like Patrick trying to suggest he knows how to reform education when he and others have only taken money and effective resources away from education for years in an effort to sabotage public education. What teachers want to do is teach what makes kids successful productive citizens. You'll here more about reasonable solutions at the event this Saturday at the Capital and through this website: http://savetxschools.org/
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Attend the Save Texas Schools Rally this weekend/Sat. https://www.facebook.com/SaveTexasSchools
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
One teacher I know says they spend all their time teaching to the test and testing. Not things kids need to know sadly.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Go check out how much Texas pays the group that provides the test. Yikes.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Free Public Eduction is in the Texas Constitution.
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I will never understand how people who are not educators have the audacity to tell those of us who are that we're doing it wrong.
Susie Martinez-Dominguez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hostage? Really? Seems kinda harsh.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
http://educatefortexas.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/pta-mom-looks-at-charter-school-reform-a-fiscally-irresponsible-plan/
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
http://www.texasobserver.org/dan-patrick-charter-school-bill/
David Williams via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Can someone follow the money and see why Senator Patrick is pushing for his changes. Somebody is going to make a lot of money over this.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yep, follow the money. Everyone needs to watch this. http://video.pbs.org/video/2325563509
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Read. http://educatefortexas.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/texas-school-voucher-scheme-yet-another-blow-against-public-education/
Shawn AndMichelle Wehmeyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew, it is the parents, students and teachers along with sensible ISD leaders who are fed up with the ineffective and harmful so called accountability measures! The majority of the current problems with public schools in Texas began with "corporate reform" or can be traced back to what has sadly become a Texas tradition of under-funding public education! It is a concern to most who follow education that the trend indicates many charter schools are privately owned, for-profit institutions. You are correct that it has become common place for these charter schools to accept public funds with little to no oversight from education or state agencies. There are also questions over curriculum requirements and teacher certification requirements in many instances....not the best formula for school success. Those of us who oppose charter schools in Texas as well as current voucher proposals are actually opposed to the privatization of our children's futures. We are also overwhelmingly opposed to the ineffective high stakes testing that has narrowed our school curricula, undermined teacher autonomy in their own classrooms and basically hi-jacked the education of an entire generation of Texas school children. This fight is not about skirting accountability, it is about fighting to rid our schools of the corporate greed that has infested our schools over the past several decades! It is about fighting to restore student centered, developmentally appropriate curricula and practices, teacher autonomy, along with equitable and ample funding.
I am curious to know which ISD's are independent of the state?
Julia- What is the name of charter school in Bastrop? As a teacher and parent, I am genuinely interested in searching out the rare public charter schools that were conceived and continue to practice in the intended spirit of innovation and collaboration for the betterment of all schools. I applaud the initial concept of charter schools, where public $$$ would fund high quality learning environments where burdensome regulations could be relaxed with the intent of allowing a handful of the best and brightest educators the freedom needed to experiment and pioneer new methods and model effective practices that would be implemented across public schools. Unfortunately, the concept was exploited by greed as big business saw an opportunity to insert itself into our public schools in search of profits. The simple fact is parents and educators are standing up, across the state and in record numbers, to big business with the message that our children's education is not for sale! It is time they got the message that education is a process and not a product!! It is time to return our schools to those who value that process more than profits, the educators!!
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Patrick is doubling down. He wants the $$$$ for his cronies. This is not about kids. If it were they would work harder at fixing public education not defunding it.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am curious. Who is hired to provide the testing program in Texas and how much do they get paid? Anybody know?
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Pearson does the test at a cost of.....$468,392,617.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
P.S. They also want to teach their version of science to future voters. The version which benefits coal companies.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why doesn't the Texas State Board of Educate get the input from the individuals that actually teach in Texas? Ya know? TEACHERS?
Susie Martinez-Dominguez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Because they don't like conflict.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bambi, Are you kidding? $468,392,617. This is ridiculous. One teacher I know said they were testing kids 40 times. Have you heard this?
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
She also said that those tests didn't provide children with what they needed to be prepared for college. Yikes.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The number paid to Pearson was close to 500 million. So no I am not kidding. Remember Rep Rob Eisler drafted the bill and helped push it through. Now he is a lobbyist for Pearson. You surprised?
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Revisionaries is very scary. I do NOT wan teachers preaching/indoctrinating my children. I want teachers to educate; academics that will prepare my children to attend college or be prepared to enter the workforce. What is wrong with the SBOE?
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bambi, nope not at all. The dumbing down of Texas public schools. Very sad.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
*want*
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It is my understanding that charter school teachers are not required to be certified in their field. Is that factual? I am also told that they are paid poorly and there is a high turn over. Factual?
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry and the Tea Party need to go before they completely destroy Texas.
Linda Sprowl
It is unconstitutional to use public funds for private enterprise. It is morally reprehensible to de-fund public schools period. It is or should be, unlawful to use taxpayer money for private usage. The idea of shutting down public schools is not only anti-American and anti-Democratic and anti-Christian it is unthinkable! I am astonished that publically-elected officials would consider manipulating the public's money is such a corrupt manner. Under the disguise of 'No Child Left Behind' Bush has led this State to the bottom of the education ranking of the 50 States. All taxpayer funds MUST be REINSTATED to the public school fund from which it came. Current testing using again, private enterprise, is not conducive to better education and must be revamped. If public funds were returned to the public schools and enhanced educational methodologies incorporated, Texas schools would be near the top of the US rankings, not at the bottom. Stop this corrupt ruination of our education system now! No more charter schools! NO MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS. Private schools are to be funded through PRIVATE FUNDS not public funds. STOP the CORRUPTION of our SCHOOLS.
Wilkins Micawber
Goeb.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am curious why the Texas legislature is passing laws that will probably be litigated? http://cenlamar.com/2013/02/15/unfunded-unaccountable-and-unconstitutional-john-whites-scheme-to-push-louisianas-voucher-program/
Bonnie Campbell Sheeren via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sen. Patrick should check out the kids who sit in public school and cry because they were pushed out of the charter schools.....they feel "stupid" and worthless...because KIPP and YES can pick and choose and they are brutal when the kids have problems...they cut them loose immediately....
Texas Parents Union via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas Senators ask "How we can make schools accountable to voters?" Meanwhile, we ask "How can we make schools accountable to parents/students?"