Tag Archives: schools

Big education bills pass

Posted on May 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, the SBOE may be doing its best to destroy public education in Texas, but the Lege took a step forward to make it better by passing omnibus school reform bills in each chamber. Crafted by the education leaders in … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Big education bills pass

Get ready for the next school funding lawsuit

Posted on April 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The handwriting is on the wall. Property tax cuts and a stingy state budget have left many Texas school districts saying they are short-changing children and warning of another lawsuit attempt to force reforms. Texas lawmakers plan to increase school … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Get ready for the next school funding lawsuit

The “strengths and weaknesses” showdown

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in January, the State Board of Education somewhat surprisingly voted to remove anti-science “strengths and weaknesses” language from the curriculum. That was only a preliminary vote, however, and today is the day that the hearings begin for the final … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The “strengths and weaknesses” showdown

More on the end of the sixty-five percent rule

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an updated story on the end of the sixty-five percent rule. Gov. Rick Perry’s 4-year-old mandate that schools spend at least 65 percent of their money on classroom instruction is under fire from key lawmakers in Perry’s own party. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the end of the sixty-five percent rule

“Strengths and weaknesses” rears its head again

Posted on March 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I know we thought that the current round of anti-evolutionism was in remission once the effort to change the science textbooks by the State Board of Education fell short. Sadly, these things never truly go away, and where the SBOE … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Strengths and weaknesses” rears its head again

Is the TAKS test at the end of the line?

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

If so, there’s a lot of people who won’t be sorry to see it go. “We have counted on testing and testing only. And it’s caused a lot of angst in the schools,” Senate Public Education Chair Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The sad state of sex education in Texas

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We do a really lousy job of it. In sex education classes, 94 percent of Texas school districts teach that abstaining from sex is the only healthy option for unmarried couples, and, in many cases, students are given misleading and … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sixty-five percent of nothing

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So back in 2005, after the regular legislative session and two ensuing special sessions on school finance, Governor Perry issued an executive order that would require schools to spend at least 65 percent of their tax money in the classroom. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sixty-five percent of nothing

Steroid madness

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Can we please declare victory in the war on steroids in Texas high schools and move on to something more productive? Only 11 Texas high school students proved positive for steroid use among nearly 29,000 students tested in the last … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Steroid madness

Our Hispanic future

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s happening now. In a new report on population trends in public schools, the Texas Education Agency reports that Texas now enrolls 130,000 fewer white children than 10 years ago. For the first time, Hispanic children dominate first-grade classes, adding … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Our Hispanic future

Stimulus for the schools

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Texas’ public schools are set to get some much needed stimulus money. Texas school districts can expect a jolt of more than $3 billion over two years under the $787 billion package ushered in by President Barack Obama’s administration. Under … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Stimulus for the schools

TSTA poll on public education

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas State Teachers Association released the results of its annual poll on attitudes towards public education in Texas last week. From the poll memo (PDF): Despite a declining national and state economy, a majority of Texas voters still maintain … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TSTA poll on public education

Saavedra to step down

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In 2010. Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra plans to step down from his post by spring of 2010, he announced this morning. “I have recently informed the school board of my intention to retire within the next year. I want … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Saavedra to step down