We hope everyone is enjoying summer break! Whether you spend these weeks in school, traveling or just relaxing, TCTA will be working to bring you the information you need to know! We’ll be providing updates to members during the summer on an as-needed basis, so be sure to check your e-mail regularly and please be sure to let us know of any changes to your member contact information.
Bill summaries and analyses
Online bill summaries have been updated to reflect those bills that Governor Perry signed into law or vetoed by the June 17 deadline. We have broken them down into categories and given you a synopsis of each plus some detailed analysis on a couple of the more complex (end-of-course exams and high school reform). Stay up-to-date on how legislation will affect you, your students and your future. Read more...
Education Commissioner Neeley resigns
This week’s news regarding the resignation of TEA Commissioner Shirley Neeley was met with regret. We will miss the relationship built with the commissioner and wish her well in her future endeavors. There is plenty of speculation about Neeley’s replacement. So far, several school superintendents in the state,a highly placed TEA official, a former lawmaker and a national education policy advisor have all been suggested as possibilities. We will keep you updated on developments.
TEA mentoring rules include 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 successfully persuaded TEA to include language in the rules to help meet the needs of mentor teachers. Read more...
Renew your TCTA membership by August 15 and lock in the 2006-2007 membership dues rates!
As an experienced teaching professional and a member of TCTA, you know the importance of professional affiliation and the protection that comes with it. TCTA continues to offer the highest level of professional liability insurance coverage and year-round protection for classroom professionals and non-administrative staff.
Renew your membership now to avoid a rate increase. You can renew online, call us toll-free at 1-888-879-8282, or mail your payment to us at PO BOX 1489, Austin, Texas 78767.
Either way, you’ll be glad you continued your coverage.
Stay with TCTA. All You Need.
Responding to Houston television story
Because of a Houston reporter’s story on teachers’ test scores and a subsequent interview with Representative Rob Eissler, TCTA staff submitted the following response explaining our reason for initiating the amendment to SB 9, which provides confidentiality for teacher certification test scores (up to five attempts).
“It was at the request of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association that Chairman Eissler initiated an amendment to provide for the confidentiality of certification test scores, and we applaud his success. Representative Eissler is a well-respected and effective legislator, who is included in the “Honorable Mention” list in the current issue of Texas Monthly highlighting the best and worst among legislators. We make no apologies for seeking passage of this proposal, which was initiated in response to your sensationalized reporting of certification test scores that served primarily to publicly embarrass a handful of educators.
The public has a right to know the certification status of any educator, and that information is appropriately provided online. Further, current state law requires that school districts provide parental notification if an educator is not fully certified for the position he or she currently holds, a provision our organization supported when proposed.
We appreciate Representative Eissler’s recognition that the availability of public information should not serve to discourage those who would become certified as educators or seek additional areas or levels of certification, some of which are notoriously difficult to attain. Protecting the privacy of individuals while still allowing the public to access certification status was the appropriate balance to strike.”