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(All of the following bills passed, unless otherwise noted. Gov. Rick Perry has until June 17th to sign or veto bills; any not signed or vetoed will become law without his signature.)

Employee salaries

The state budget includes additional funding to districts for the purpose of increasing educator salaries. The amount works out to around $450 per teacher, or $425 for employees subject to the state minimum salary schedule (teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians). However, there is no requirement that the increase be an across-the-board raise, no specification regarding which categories of employees are eligible, and no prohibition on districts using the funding to subsidize an already-planned raise.

A bill that would have allowed some districts to avoid even state-funded pass-through salary increases passed the Senate but did not make it through the House.

TCTA-initiated language that would have increased compensation for instructional aides by requiring that districts pay aides at least one-half the amount paid to a classroom teacher with the same years of experience was never scheduled for a hearing. It is possible that the funding provided to districts for increased educator salaries could be used to benefit instructional aides, and TCTA will be seeking more information on this issue.

TRS contribution/13th check

The last-minute compromise on the TRS bill (SB 1846 by Sen. Robert Duncan) has created confusion and at the time of this update was still subject to interpretation by TRS. The bill was designed to provide a 13th check benefit increase for retirees, and authorized an increase in the active member TRS contribution rate to 6.58% (from the current 6.4%). It includes an increase in the state contribution rate to 6.58%. Due to confusing language, there are two scenarios:

  • TRS could use current figures, which would require an increase in the active member contribution to 6.58% and ensure a 13th check payable to retirees in September 2007.
  • TRS could wait for the Aug. 31, 2007, valuation of the fund and use the new figures to determine whether an increase in the active member contribution is necessary. If affordable under the new figures (with or without an increased active member contribution), retirees could expect their 13th check in December or January.

TRS is still working to interpret the bill and we will update our website when that information is available.

SB 1846 also includes a provision that will eliminate the surcharge that districts must pay for return-to-work retirees who retired on or before Aug. 31, 2005.

Student testing/end-of-course (EOC) exams

SB 1031 replaces high school TAKS tests with 12 end-of-course exams in core curriculum courses, beginning with 9th grade students in the 2011-12 school year. Within each broad subject area (language arts, math, science, social studies), students must achieve a cumulative score equaling 70 points on each test in order to graduate. Students must score at least 60 on a specific test to count toward the cumulative score. Scores will count as 15% of the overall grade in the course. The state will pay for students to take a college readiness diagnostic assessment in 8th and 10th grades (both mandatory) and a college entrance exam in 11th grade (optional). While TCTA lobbied to limit field testing to no more than once every four years on a particular campus, the final version of the bill provides that field testing will be limited to once every other year.

HB 2237, a “catch-all” bill that was amended heavily in the final days of the session, also includes testing provisions. It requires that end-of-course exams be developed for college preparatory courses in math, science, social studies and English/language arts; students in danger of not acquiring the necessary cumulative score can take the appropriate college prep course and EOC test to earn additional points.

HB 2237 also requires development of a 7th grade reading assessment that will be administered at the beginning of that grade.

Criminal history checks

SB 9 strengthens the laws requiring criminal background checks of school employees. All school employees will be required to submit fingerprints for a national criminal history background check. Anyone who has been convicted of a felony or an offense involving a child that requires registration as a sex offender may not be employed at a public school. An exemption is provided for offenses occurring more than 30 years ago, if the terms of the court order were satisfied. A teacher’s virtual certificate will be “flagged” if the state receives a report of misconduct that presents a risk to students.

At TCTA’s request, a provision was included in SB 9 to ensure that certification exams are confidential; additional Senate language limits confidentiality to the first five attempts of a given exam.

Fitness initiative

SB 530 will require 30 minutes of daily physical activity for students in grades K-5. Middle schoolers must have at least four semesters of physical activity. A TCTA-supported provision that allows structured recess activities to count toward the requirement was included. Schools must annually assess the physical fitness of students in grades 3-12 and report aggregated data to TEA (students’ and teachers’ names will not be included). The results of the assessment will be confidential, though parents may receive the results upon request.

Dropout prevention

HB 2237 includes several provisions relating to dropout prevention and best practices in secondary schools, including:

  • Teacher reading academies for reading, math, science and social studies teachers in grades 6-8
  • Teacher preparatory academies in math, science and technology
  • Creation of a high school completion and success initiative council
  • Grant programs for middle and high school math teacher training, professional development, local collaborative dropout reduction programs, summer bridge programs, technology-based supplemental instruction for rural schools and more.

Religion in schools

Several bills passed that relate to religious issues in the public schools. HB 1287 adds religious literature (specifically including the Old and New Testaments) to the enrichment curriculum and provides guidelines for instruction in those elective courses. HB 3678 requires districts to allow religious expression in the same manner that secular or other viewpoints would be allowed, including religious expression in class assignments. HB 1034 adds the phrase “one state under God” to the pledge to the Texas flag.

Web posted: 06/01/07