SPECIAL EDUCATION OVERHAUL

From The Texas Tribune - Texas should be doing even more to improve special education, federal officials said Friday — adding that they plan to visit early next year to check on the progress. A quick refresher: Earlier this year, an investigation found that Texas had violated federal special education law by failing to provide students with disabilities a proper education. The Texas Education Agency has responded in a number of ways, as the Tribune's Aliyya Swaby reports, such as changing the structure of its departments managing special education and hiring roughly 40 people to staff them — including a new special education director. Officials from the U.S. Department of Education OK’d some parts of Texas’ improvement plan in a letter Friday — but they also said the state should do more to make sure school districts understand how to comply with federal special education law. Officials also told the TEA to ensure parents have necessary information in their native languages, unless it’s “clearly not feasible to do so.” 

Early voting for November 2018 starts today

“Study the long November 6, 2018 Election ballot to ensure you make the right choices when voting,”  said Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, encouraging voters to visit www.HarrisVotes.com  and select “Find your Poll and Ballot” to review their personal sample ballot before heading to the nearest early voting location to vote. The Early Voting Period for the 2018 midterm election in Texas begins Oct. 22 and runs until Nov. 2. view article  

Early voting starts today in Bexar County. Here’s everything you need to know

Early voting for the November midterms begins Monday, and Bexar County elections officials are encouraging voters to take advantage of the shorter lines during the two-week period. Texans will cast their ballots in a number of important races this fall, including statewide races for governor and U.S. senator, as well as a number of contests for congressional representatives and local judges. view article  

Getting to Know Billy Lee Brammer

In the early eighties, when I was an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin, politics consumed my life. I spent most of my time thinking about politics, covering state politics, or writing editorials about national politics for the Daily Texan, where I served as editor in chief. I was reading about politics too, in newspapers, magazines, and textbooks. And I plowed through countless political novels, most of them variations on the classic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington view article  

Obituary:  Larry Hausenfluke

Larry Van Hausenfluke was a short time resident of Hondo Texas and a longtime resident of Williamson County. He was born to I.M. and Este Lee Hausenfluke on November 27, 1939 and was called to eternal rest on October 14, 2018. Larry was known as Coach, Brother Larry, Uncle Larry, Grandpa, Daddy and Hon; he was a man of many words. He preached and practiced the word of God with the hope of eternal rest with our Lord and Savior.In 2000, Larry retired after 35 years of Texas public education. The last fourteen of those years he was the Superintendent of Schools for Jarrell ISD. Obituary view article  

Prepare for Educator Voting Day (TASA)

Monday, October 22, is the first day of early voting, and it's Educator Voting Day! Please encourage educators in your districts to get out and vote on Monday and to wear their "I Voted" stickers on campus to model civic engagement. Learn more. view article  

Preventive Law: Dogs and Horses and . . . Peacocks?  Service, Therapy, and Comfort Animals in the Classroom – What Does the Law Require?

It has become common place to hear and read about requests for therapy dogs and horses in the classroom, emotional support peacocks and other animals on airplanes, and comfort critters in restaurants. This can lead to confusion concerning what type of accommodations a school district must make for students with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), or what types of animals must be allowed on campus to support a student pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). The information below is intended as a general guideline to help answer some of the most common questions concerning animals on campus and help district personnel prevent setting a precedent by approving overly broad requests while also avoiding liability for denying requests that may be appropriate under the state and federal law. Districts should however contact their general or special education counsel with questions concerning specific scenarios or making exceptions for unique individual circumstances.

New From TEA

• Attendance Projections for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 School Years
• Financial Hardship Transition Program and Adjustment for Rapid Decline in Taxable Value of Property 10/4
• Implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 30, Community Safety Education Act
• Bilingual Education Exceptions and Waivers for English as a Second Language 9/28
• School Health and Related Services (SHARS) Reporting Requirement  9/28
• House Bill 1638: Statewide Dual Credit Goals 9/24
• Request for Applications for Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation Pilot 9/20
• United States Presidential Scholars Program and United States Senate Youth Program Student Scholarship Opportunities 9/19
• 2018-2019 Significant Expansion of Enrollment - Open-Enrollment Charter Schools Only 9/14
• Validations of Fiscal Data Reported by LEAs for Federal Grants 2018-2019
• Unallowable double funding for unaccompanied children held in custody by or for the federal government being served by Texas public schools 9/5
• Industry Certifications HB 2729 9/5

November 2018 Bond List

Bond Election Data collected by TexasISD.com for public school bonds in the upcoming November 2018 election cycle.

What Local Taxpayers Should Know About the State’s $20 Billion Privatization Experiment - Diverting Local School District Taxes to Privately-Operated Charter Schools

In 1995, the Texas Legislature created our current “dual education” system by authorizing privately-operated charter schools (“charters”) to simultaneously operate schools in the boundaries of school districts. A charter is a private organization that is solely approved by the State to run separately managed schools with taxpayer funds. As such, taxpayers are funding 2 separate school systems: their locally-governed school district and State-approved, privately-operated charter schools. - William Gumbert  view article  

I fully support Alvin ISD bond, TRE

I am writing to share my insight on the upcoming Alvin ISD Bond and Tax Ratification Election to be voted on Nov 6. I fully support these initiatives because education is paramount to our nation’s values and Brazoria County is experiencing tremendous growth.  Our education system continues to be diluted by our state leaders – In 2008, the state covered roughly 48.5 percent of the cost of public education, according to the Legislative Budget Board. By 2019, it will support closer to 38 percent.  view article  

Pleasant Grove:  PGISD board taps Hailey as interim superintendent

Pleasant Grove Independent School District's Board of Trustees appointed Roger Hailey as interim superintendent during a special meeting Friday. He will begin the week of Dec. 17 and continue full time in January.  PG Superintendent Dr. Jason Smith was recently named lone finalist for the president's position at Texarkana College and will begin there Jan. 1. He has been with the district for three years and will replace TC President James Henry Russell, who announced his resignation in September to serve as executive vice president and chief financial officer for BWI. Russell's last day at the college will be Dec. 31. view article  

Need for Male Role Models Leaves Void in San Antonio Classrooms

In Paul Perea's 21st year of teaching, he needs both hands to count the number of schools where he's been on staff. The Arnold Elementary School music teacher has worked in San Antonio Independent School District elementary schools throughout his career, often being one of the only male teachers on campus."It has been myself and a coach and that's basically been it, and that's what I'm used to," Perea said. "When I started, I think I broke the mold." view article  

Voters To Weigh in on $17M Southside ISD Bond for New Facilities

Southside Independent School District is asking voters to approve a $17 million bond, the district's second bond proposition in two years. The bond would be dedicated to expanding and renovating facilities for extracurricular activities.  Southside is seeking approval for a small amount compared to other districts' bond propositions. In the spring, Northside ISD, a district with 100,000 more students than the 5,800 in Southside, passed a $849 million bond with funding for two new elementary schools, one new middle school, and a new high school. view article  

Upcoming vote could impact Frisco ISD revenue

Early voting for the Nov. 6 election begins Monday, and residents in Frisco will get a chance to vote on two propositions that could impact Frisco ISD. Proposition A would increase the maintenance and operations (M&O) portion of the tax rate by 13 cents. Officials said to make up for the increase the district would decrease the debt service, or interest and sinking (I&S) portion of the tax rate by 15 cents, thus leading to a total tax rate reduction of 2 cents, or $1.44 per $100 valuation. view article  

All Eanes ISD campuses on boil water notice, four Lake Travis ISD campuses and parts of Lakeway also affected

Schools throughout the Lake Travis-Westlake area are implementing safety protocols following Austin’s citywide boil notice Monday morning. All Eanes ISD campuses are identified as affected by the boil water notice, Director of Communication & Community Engagement Claudia McWhorter said, adding EISD custodians have blocked use of drinking fountains and bottled water is being delivered to all schools. view article  

Ex-Dallas bus agency official pleads guilty to tax evasion

The former board president of a shuttered school bus agency in Dallas pleaded guilty on Monday to tax evasion. Larry Duncan resigned last year from Dallas County Schools, the former bussing agency beset by deep financial troubles and questionable business dealings. Court documents say Duncan received $245,000 in campaign contributions over several years from the president of Force Multiplier Solutions, a technology company that puts cameras on school buses. view article  

Help brand the Permanent School Fund

Young artists have the opportunity to create a logo for the internationally-known Permanent School Fund and win a cash prize. The State Board of Education is sponsoring the “Brand the Fund” art contest to create a unique brand identity for the PSF, which was founded in the 19th century.  Throughout its history, the fund has used the state seal or the Texas Education Agency logo in its materials. Now with a fair market value of $34 billion, the SBOE believes it is time for the fund to have its own distinct identify.

City Council Approves Historic Alamo Plaza Redevelopment Plan

City Council voted 9-2 Thursday to approve a historic overhaul of the Alamo Plaza that includes a plan to create a single entry point to a portion of the public plaza and relocate the Alamo Cenotaph, two of the most contentious elements of the multimillion-dollar plan. Councilmen John Courage (D9) and Clayton Perry (D10) voted against the plan after more than three hours of passionate citizen testimony – 57 people signed up to speak before Council – and two hours of Council members' comments.  "When the 2.1 million visitors [per year] come to the grounds of the Alamo," Land Commissioner George P. Bush told City Council before its vote, “they are underwhelmed. "Instead of coming onto a historic battlefield of valor, they are welcomed by nothing but distraction."  view article  

Six Texas teachers named finalists for 2018 presidential awards in math and science

Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced today the six Texas teachers that have been named finalists for the 2018 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The 2018 awards recognize kindergarten through sixth grade mathematics and science teachers whose innovative methods bring teaching to life in the classroom. view article  

Katy ISD students earn higher ACT scores than state, national averages

ACT released its latest report on the scores for students who took the test during the 2017-18 school year. Allison Matney, Katy ISD director of research, assessment and accountability, said that students that took the test across the district performed well. “We are super excited to have our results,” Matney said. “We actually saw increases over the class of 2017 to the class of 2018 in all four subject area tests as well as the composite [score]. Our averages for each of those areas – the four subjects in a composite – are significantly over the state results.” view article  

Krum ISD residents dissatisfied with Lightfoot departure

A group of about 60 people gathered in Krum on Sunday to discuss the recent removal of Bernard Lightfoot as high school vice principal. The Krum school board voted unanimously Thursday night to accept a voluntary separation agreement with Lightfoot. The agreement came after allegations of unethical grade manipulation by school officials, and controversy over the ousting of Lightfoot is in no short supply. An online petition titled “Save Lightfoot” circulated via social media in the lead-up to Thursday’s announcement. view article  

Q&A: State superintendent says metal detectors not answer, cites flaws in grading schools

Eric Mackey was hired as state school superintendent April 20 by the Alabama State Board of Education. He is leader of K-12 public education in the state. Mackey attended the A+ College Ready 10-year celebration at Decatur High on Wednesday and sat down with The Decatur Daily for an interview. view article  

Houston ISD’s misdiagnosis and the cure [Opinion]

There is nothing worse than misdiagnosing a disease. A stomach pain gets treated with an antacid and pain reliever when ulcer surgery is actually required. The patient wastes precious resources and time, making treatment more difficult. I fear the Houston Independent School District’s board of trustees has misdiagnosed its core problems. In recent years, the HISD board has argued over what problem to fix. Some believe the problem is aging schools, or too few neighborhood schools, or too few magnets, or too many magnets, or schools  view article  

What We Can Learn From A School Shooting That Almost Happened

A school shooting can be dreaded news for a parent. But while the list of recent school shootings in the U.S. is horrifying – Sandy Hook, Parkland, Santa Fe – it’s even more disturbing to consider how long the list would be if it included school shootings that almost happened. view article  

Despite tough odds in bout against Dan Patrick, Democrat Mike Collier is still swinging to win Texas’ No. 2 job

If the race for lieutenant governor were a boxing match, Mike Collier would be the intrepid underdog — suited up, limbered up and waiting in the ring. view article  

Eagle Ford shale in South Texas sees drilling comeback

Three years ago, Allen Startz found himself in an unwanted kinship with thousands of other oilfield workers in South Texas’ Eagle Ford shale – laid off with few prospects nearby. The Houston Chronicle reports he left his home in Bryan to work in the Permian Basin in West Texas, making plenty of money, but growing exhausted from the grueling 450-mile trip he made every couple of weeks to visit his family, whom he missed dearly. Today, however, he wakes up in his own bed each morning and heads to a job operating oilfield services trucks in the northeastern Eagle Ford, just 30 miles away. view article  

Texas Should Restore Billions In School Funding, Says Former Asst. Education Secretary

It’s time to restore the billons that were cut from the state’s education budget more than half a decade ago because the state depends on it, Tom Luce said Thursday at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Luce, the former assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education, targeted his message to his audience: North Texas business leaders. view article  

La Joya ISD installs e-books on buses

It might look like an average school bus, but it's far from it. Every time a La Joya Independent School District student boards a bus, they'll have a library on wheels. The school district has installed thousands of QR codes for e-books inside buses carrying middle and high school students for instant access. "We have all these kids who stay after school and we want to make sure they have the opportunity to read and download on their phone the reading assignments so they can read, test—all those books are testable," said Alma D. Salinas, Library Services Director for La Joya I.S.D. view article  

West Oso district officials scrambling to shut down fake Facebook page

It might have started as an online prank. But it was no laughing matter to West Oso Independent School District officials. Someone created a copy of the West Oso High School Facebook page, posting obscene messages on the site. Some of these posts on the bogus page included foul language about the school’s lunch. view article  

Crosses part of memorial for Texas school shooting victims

SANTA FE, Texas (AP) — Crosses and flowers are part of a memorial for 10 people slain this spring in a shooting at a Texas school.  The Galveston County Daily News reports that dedication ceremonies were held Saturday at Maranatha Christian Center in Santa Fe, 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Houston. view article  

TOP LYS TWEETS – OCTOBER 22, 2018

The root causes of our property tax and school funding crisis are three consequential decisions that blew huge holes in state and school funding. First, in 1991, we froze the motor fuel tax at $0.20 per gallon. The resulting annual structural deficit is $4 billion today… (By @CollierForTexas) view article  

Lufkin: Enriching our students’ experiences

What does $5.9 million look like over seven years of educational opportunities beginning in middle school? It looks like increased academic performance, high expectations for all students, more enrollment in advanced placement courses, higher graduation rates, college and career readiness and matriculation to prepare all students for success in post-secondary education.  In a nutshell, it helps secure the future of thousands of students. view article  

Smaller classrooms, relationship with students play role in Lackland ISD’s success

When it comes to school, 17-year-old Madison Sligh said starting over is nothing new.  “My mom has been in the military before I was born. She is a chief in the Air Force,” Sligh said.  view article