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Two years ago, we asked our members to submit legislative ideas and were overwhelmed by the response. A logjam in the House Public Education Committee prevented consideration of many bills (though TCTA passed more bills than the other teacher groups combined!), but we have high hopes for improved results this session and will continue to pursue some of the ideas we were given.

Now we are seeking input from our experts – YOU – on an issue about which we are very passionate: working conditions for teacher aides. TCTA has already drafted a bill to address salary issues for instructional aides, but we need help identifying other ways to improve the lot of our valuable teacher aides.

We’ll take the best ideas to some of our friends in the Legislature and work to get bills filed and moving through the process. Here’s how you can help:

  1. Send an e-mail to legislation@tcta.org with your idea on how to improve working conditions for instructional aides. Don’t worry about submitting official bill language; just an idea, or even identification of a problem that needs to be solved, is all we need.
  2. Please send your idea in as soon as possible – bill filing began back in November and the deadline is March 9; realistically, any bill that isn’t “in the works” by mid-February is unlikely to pass, and in general, the earlier it’s filed, the better. It takes time to draft language, find a bill sponsor, and send it through the legal drafting process in the House/Senate.
  3. Remember, we’re already working on a pay raise for instructional aides, so please focus on other issues.
  4. We’ll take bill ideas you might have on any other education issues as well!
  5. Be sure to check our website and e-mailed updates regularly for information on the legislative session and the bills we’re supporting and opposing.

 

The Classroom Teacher, Winter 2006

Archive of other TCTA Publications

THE CLASSROOM TEACHER (ISSN-0279-2494) is the official publication of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), providing news and opinions in the interest of education excellence. All contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the publisher’s permission. The views and opinions contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright © 2006. Publication schedule is quarterly. Annual membership dues for TCTA are $110, $5 of which is allocated to a one-year subscription to THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. Subscriptions for nonmembers are available for $10 per year.