Join TCTA Today!
Receive the 2006 - 07 rates by joining before August 15th. For only $110 you get:
- the highest level of professional liability coverage (up to $7 million)
- direct access to eight experienced staff attorneys
- top ranked lobbyists advocating for you and your profession
- civil rights coverage ($2 million)
- FREE online CPE courses
- many member benefits that save you money
New members that have never been members of TCTA can join as a "First-time Active Member" for only $90. Associate members pay only $60 until August 15th, $70 thereafter. Join the tens of thousands of Texas educators who have made TCTA the Educated Choice®. Join Today!
SBOE led by new chair takes on several contentious issues
Newly appointed State Board of Education (SBOE) chair Don McLeroy (R-Bryan) presided over an extended three-day meeting in late July with a lengthy agenda that included several contentious issues, including the proposed revision of the English Language Arts (ELA) Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS). Read more...
Comptroller Susan Combs Announces Changes in August Sales Tax Holiday
AUSTIN —Comptroller Susan Combs announced that the date for the annual sales tax holiday has changed from the first weekend of August to the third weekend of August (17 - 19). Combs also said backpacks, a standard item on many kids’ school supply lists, can now be purchased tax free during the sales tax holiday.
Since many school districts are now starting their school year later, the 80th Legislature changed the date of the sales tax holiday to move it closer to the first day of school. During the sales tax holiday, children’s and adults’ clothing and shoes priced less than $100 — and now backpacks that cost less than $100 — are exempt from state and local sales taxes. Read more...
8 more reasons to join TCTA: New online seminars debut
Need some CPE hours? We've just added 8 new seminars to the CPE classes. TCTA is an SBEC-approved provider. Choose from:
* An Alternative View of Responding to School Violence
* Working with Limited English Proficient Students
* Discipline Options
* IDEA 2004: The Final Regulations
* Performance Pay
* School Safety
* Retirement and Social Security Update
* How to Deal Effectively with Parents and Administrators
Since 1999, TCTA has offered a convenient free option for earning continuing professional education credits, and this summer we have unveiled several new online sessions. We provide a variety of free professional development courses that you can experience on your own schedule and from any Internet-connected computer. Take a class today!
College Ready Texas - Regional Meetings announced
One of the charges of the Commission for a College Ready Texas (CCRT) is to solicit input from diverse groups throughout the state about their perspectives on college readiness. To do this, the Commission will host regional meetings. Dates are scheduled in the following cities:
* July 31st – Dallas, UT at Arlington in the E.H. Hereford University Center’s Rio Grande room.
* August 24th - San Antonio, UT at San Antonio
* September 11th – Harlingen, location TBA
SAVE THE DATE: Legislative News/Leadership Training coming to you!
A series of free district-level workshops will be held around the state this summer that will review the results of the 80th session of the Texas Legislature and provide advice on succeeding in leadership roles, launching a successful membership campaign and providing outstanding service to local affiliate members. With so much great information, you will see why TCTA Is All You Need. TCTA leaders should have received their invitation in the mail and we request your RSVP by 10 days prior to the selected date of training. Read more...
Discover a New World of Teaching!
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program - The professional opportunity of a lifetime! Exchange your classroom with a teacher from another country. Spend a year in a different culture. Share new perspectives with students overseas. Give your school the opportunity to host an international teacher and experience another culture first hand! Read more...
Apply to Become a NASA Explorer School
Applications are now available for educators interested in joining NASA Explorer Schools during the 2008-2009 school year. Schools from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands may apply for the NES 2008-2009 school year. NES offers unique opportunities designed to engage and educate the future scientists who may someday advance U.S. scientific interests through space exploration.
Teams composed of full-time teachers and a school administrator develop and implement a three-year action plan to address local challenges in science, technology and mathematics education for grades 4-9. Schools that are selected are eligible to receive funding during the three-year partnership to purchase technology tools. The project also provides educators and students with content-specific activities that can be used within the curricula to excite students about science, technology, engineering, and math.
Applications are due Jan. 31, 2008. For more information, visit the website.
Gov. Perry Appoints McLeroy as Chairman of Texas State Board of Education
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry appointed Don McLeroy of Bryan as chairman of the Texas State Board of Education for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2009. The board establishes policy and provides leadership for theTexas public school system.
McLeroy, a dentist, has served on the board for the past eight years and is a past vice chairman. He has served as a trustee of Bryan Independent School District and currently serves as a board member of Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach. McLeroy volunteers with Boy Scouts of America and Gideons International.
He received a bachelors degree from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. McLeroy formerly served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Legislative Stars 2007
It is said that everyone knows who the good teachers are, but it is exceedingly difficult to design an objective system to measure teacher quality. The same difficulty applies to determining the legislators who contributed the most to the teaching profession and assisted TCTA with our legislative goals. See who we chose and why...
Capitol Climate Warming: Executive director’s message
The 80th regular session of the Texas Legislature had more than its share of drama, especially during the closing days. Though it’s traditional for the final days of a legislative session to be controlled chaos at best, this year the tension was heightened as the House Speaker fought to hold his post against challengers while many of the session’s most important bills, including the budget, went down to the wire. Read more...
Janie Baszile: 2007-08 TCTA President
No “pomp and circumstance,” just a commitment to education as TCTA President steps into the limelight
Janie Baszile fondly recalls being asked to play “Pomp and Circumstance” during her 6th grade graduation after her music teacher discovered that she took piano lessons. Rosa Lee Easter Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District was “a place where students were challenged and given the opportunity to develop academically and in character by teachers who were respected, nurturing and committed.” Read more...
"Picture" yourself in TCTA gear!
Devoted members wear their TCTA logo-branded gear all over the place. This summer when you are traipsing out and about in your TCTA gear, be sure to snap some photos and mail them to headquarters. We'll gather them and post them on the website, showing how devoted and adventurous our members are! Also check out what fellow members are doing this summer by visiting the "Share your summer" feature. Enjoy your summer!
Bills, Bills, Bills
There are many, many education bills that have been sent to the Governor from this most recent legislative session. We have broken them down into categories and given you a synopsis of each. Stay up to date on how legislation will affect you, your students, and your future. Read more...
Summary of SB 1031
Interested in how SB 1031 affects TAKS, End-of-course exams and field testing? TCTA's expert on the subject breaks down this large bill into consumable information. Read bill analysis...
TEA mentoring rules includes TCTA suggestions
During the last special session, lawmakers passed legislation establishing a $15 million statewide mentoring grant program. TEA recently issued proposed rules regarding the grant, and TCTA gave input, successfully persuading TEA to include language in the rules that required components of any mentoring program approved for a grant must be successful in:
* improving teacher retention
* providing continuous support and training tailored to the needs of mentor teachers
* scheduling release time in order for a mentor teacher to fulfill mentoring duties
The originally proposed rule only required that approved mentoring programs show success in improving teacher quality. However, TCTA pointed out that “Given the startling statistics showing that 30% of teachers leave teaching within the first three years, and 50% within the first five years, policymakers at every level agree that something needs to be done to stem this tide, and policymakers agree that one of the best ways to do so is to implement a strong teacher induction and mentoring program that helps retain teachers.” TCTA also pointed out that “Research on the successful components of mentoring/induction programs shows that two of the essential components are scheduled release time for the mentor to be able to meet with the mentee and fulfill mentoring duties, as well as training for the mentor.” TEA responded favorably and the rules including TCTA’s language were finally adopted.
New Publications Address School Emergency Preparedness
Two new publications have been released to assist schools in planning for crises such as emergency preparedness exercises and multiple student suicides. The publications, available on the web are the result of a collaboration of two U.S. Department of Education divisions, the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) and the Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ECRM) Technical Assistance (TA) Center.
"Planning and Conducting a Functional Exercise" covers emergency preparedness and was developed in response to frequent inquiries. "Coping With Multiple Suicides Among Middle School Students" uses crises situations from real incidents, delving into what worked and what didn’t. Both publications are to bring current and real-world planning strategies to assist schools in improving their response to crises management.
The offices plan to collaborate further, developing seminars this year on topics such as infectious diseases, coping with bereavement, community crises and the impact on schools, and lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
