Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP’s Post

Join us in downtown Austin or online Tuesday, April 16, for “How new laws are affecting public education.” Much of the debate around education in the Texas Legislature last year centered on legislation that would allow families to use public dollars to send their children to private schools. But state lawmakers also debated other public education issues, and key legislation was passed to address some of the gaps in academic achievement in the wake of disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event, we’ll take a look at what has helped Texas children catch up with their studies and the lingering challenges they face. We’ll also discuss the impact of new laws — like investments in high-quality instructional materials, targeted tutoring for struggling students and accelerating advancement in math — and what else the state can do to help Texas students. RSVP today: https://trib.it/HNr

Join us in downtown Austin or online on Tuesday, April 16, for “How new laws are affecting public education.” Much of the debate around education in the Texas Legislature last year centered on legislation that would allow families to use public dollars to send their children to private schools. But state lawmakers also debated other public education issues, and key legislation was passed to address some of the gaps in academic achievement in the wake of disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the event, we’ll take a look at what has helped Texas children catch up with their studies and the lingering challenges they face. We’ll also discuss the impact of new laws — like investments in high-quality instructional materials, targeted tutoring for struggling students and accelerating advancement in math — and what else the state can do to help Texas students. RSVP today: https://trib.it/HNr

‼ VOTE NO TO AMENDMENT 2 ‼ As Kentucky approaches a crucial vote on Constitutional Amendment 2, educators, parents, and community leaders must understand what is at stake. The amendment, which proposes allowing state funding to be allocated to non-public educational institutions, could have severe consequences for the public school system, especially in large districts like Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville. JCPS, the state’s largest school district, serves over 96,000 students, many from economically disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds. Diverting state funds from public schools to private institutions, as Amendment 2 would allow, jeopardizes the financial stability of schools like JCPS. With inflation-adjusted funding per student in Kentucky public schools having already decreased by 16% since 2008, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, further reductions in funding would be catastrophic. This would lead to larger class sizes, fewer teacher resources, and limited support for students who rely on public education as their only pathway to success. Opposing Amendment 2 is not about maintaining the status quo but ensuring that Kentucky's public education remains a priority. Public schools are accountable to taxpayers and must meet state standards, ensuring quality and equity for all students. Voting “No” will keep public funds in public schools, which can be used to support teacher salaries, classroom resources, and, most importantly, support critical services students need to thrive. As educators, we must stand united in protecting Kentucky's future of public education. We urge all of you to make your voices heard and vote against Amendment 2. Our students and the future of our public schools depend on it.

Local autonomy or state authority in education? Let's talk about New Mexico, which could really be a study of the issues facing the #Education system today. Torn by politics, public good, and accountability, the state is facing a myriad of problems that require a steady, yet delicate, hand. The problem: New Mexico is the lowest-achieving state for both Math and ELA scores, with 25% and 34% of students proficient, respectively. Additionally, 60% of students attend school regularly, hurting graduation rates and creating a bleak future for communities and the state as a whole. The solution: The NM Public Education Department (PED) will start enforcing NM House Bill 130 (adopted March 2023), which extends instructional time from 990 to 1,140 hours per year. This will result in mandatory 5-day school weeks. The rationale: The legislation, governor, and education secretary want to ensure that the "record levels of funding for schools" have been invested and are returning positive results. The opposition: Many, including the NEA, are concerned that this one-size-fits-all approach could destroy currently successful programs and restrict local autonomy. Additionally, republican politicians feel that this shift could be detrimental during an election year and are also pushing to have the enforcement mandate rejected. The result: Limbo. The PED, caught in the crossfire of local school districts, national organizations, and politicians, has yet to make an official decision, though a public hearing was held in Santa Fe in December of last year. My conundrum: I lean toward including more decision-makers when things of this magnitude are at stake. I also lean toward local control of education because, in my experience, the more removed lawmakers are from the daily going-ons of a system, the less likely they are to make informed and positive decisions. So I wonder: 🤔 To what degree are schools and districts beholden to state and federal organizations after receiving funding? 🤔 What kind of checks and balances might exist for the resolution of this issue while still providing the majority of authority to local school districts and the community? 🤔 How can we ensure "high standards" and "positive results" as a larger unit (nation, state, etc.) when those terms aren't even agreed upon in the first place (and likely never will be)?

In a classic example of how Democrats piss in your ear and tell its raining, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul just signed a bill repealing school reforms in New York designed to hold teachers accountable for the quality of instruction calling it a victory for education. The bill is being hailed by New York State United Teachers Union President, Melinda Person as "restoring the daily joy of teaching and learning." Yes, I am sure removing the pressure on teachers to be rewarded or punished for the quality of their instruction is a mighty burden lifted off of them. But, exactly how will repealing using student performance as one measure of teacher effectiveness help learning? Under the previous law signed by Andrew Cuomo that was written by Republicans who then controlled the State Senate, districts were required to consider student performance in teacher evaluations. And two consecutive "ineffective" ratings of a teacher could lead to expedited removal. Under the law Hochul signed, districts no longer have to consider student performance in teacher ratings. This means more bad teachers will be protected by their union. Once again Democrats bow to teacher union demands and put union interests above that of students in failing public schools. All the while both sides celebrating it as a "victory" for learning. The WSJ editorial on this tawdry event concludes the obvious "The unions want no accountability, and their political friends agree in return for money and endorsements." And in New York as in other blue cities and states "the band plays on" as the voters appear helpless to help themselves.

📢 Exciting news for Texas educators and parents! House Bill 1605, recently passed by the Texas Legislature in May 2023, is set to revolutionize education. This bill aims to provide teachers with grade-level, department-vetted resources and instructional materials aligned with state standards. One of the key features of the bill is the establishment of a new approval process for the state's Open Education Resources (OER), ensuring greater oversight and quality control. Additionally, the bill introduces parent portals into the curricular materials to create transparency for families and guardians. To learn more about House Bill 1605 and its impact on Texas education, check out this short article: https://hubs.li/Q029Ncnb0 #TexasEducation

ITS BACK TO SCHOOL TIME: Why are Later School Times Being Proposed and How does this Affect our Students? As the new school year approaches, it's time to consider your family's sleep schedule with consistent wake and bed-times. Many school districts and state legislators in the US are beginning to take notice of this imperative discussion of later start times of our schools throughout the nation. Currently California and Florida are the only states with laws on the books, with California beginning in 2022, and Florida requirements being enacted by July 2026. In fact, lawmakers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Texas all had bills up this year, according to Start School Later, an advocacy group that tracks the bills. There has been legislation proposed in 25 states, including Idaho where legislators are beginning to review the benefits of later school times. What are the pros and cons of later school start times? https://lnkd.in/dEc2yQQ3

PSA: Last week, I had the opportunity to advocate for increased funding to bring about equity in education across school programs on Capitol Hill. I wanted to take a moment to address some misconceptions about charter schools. Did you know that charter schools have to pay rent? The payment could be anywhere from $9,000-$30,000 per month. That type of money could be put towards bonuses for educators, hiring quality educators, curriculum work and student resources! It's also important to note that traditional public schools have torn down their inoperable school buildings to prevent charters from buying them. If they had not and we were working together, charters could essentially exist without using public dollars in this way. I understand that districts may feel threatened by competition, but there are methods that could be done to support each other overall. The education system is broken and the impoverished are the most affected. Education reform is a must and the charter movement can start serious discussions to begin change for all students. ALL kids deserve a great education no matter where they attend school! Let’s normalize education reform by removing charter stigmas and support all schools by working together for the greater good! If you have ANY questions about charters, please do not hesitate to ask!

🌟 Big shoutout to Attorney General Todd Rokita for launching the Eyes on Education Portal! 📚✨ In response to concerns raised by students, parents, and teachers about certain curricula, policies, or programs, the AG office created a space dedicated to ensuring education remains focused on essential learning, free from political biases of any kind. Eyes on Education serves as a vital platform where students, parents, and educators can share and explore real classroom examples from across our state. It's about safeguarding our children's education and keeping it centered on foundational knowledge. 🔍 The Office of the Attorney General is committed to thoroughly reviewing submissions that might conflict with Indiana law. They will use all available investigative tools, including public records requests, to examine the materials and share our findings directly on the portal. 📲 To participate, simply choose your school corporation, name the school, and upload your documents through the portal. Our team may reach out for further details or clarification to ensure a comprehensive review. Submissions are regularly reviewed and published, keeping the community informed and engaged. Let's work together to maintain an educational environment that prioritizes learning and development for all our kids. 👉 Check out the portal to view submissions or make your own contribution. Let's keep our Eyes on Education, for a brighter, more informed future for our children. #EyesOnEducation #EducationalIntegrity https://lnkd.in/g27Rb3wX

Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday came out in support of a proposal to limit book bans in schools—the direct result of his own stupid policies. In a press conference, DeSantis tried to claim that accusations that he has enabled book bans in the state of Florida are “a fraud” and “a big hoax.” He blamed “activists” on both the left and right for “hijacking” the process of banning books, accusing them of submitting book challenges solely to create a media narrative. And finally, he directed the Department of Education “to take appropriate action to deal with some of the bad actors who are intentionally depriving students of rightful education by politicizing this process.” Even as DeSantis basically admitted he made a huge mistake, he used a press release to link to a strange video he posted on Rumble, with the warning “***EXPLICIT CONTENT NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN***.” The video showcases so-called “non-age-appropriate books” that have “rightly” been banned by libraries, while defending “classic” books like The Diary of Anne Frank. (At least one Florida school has removed an Anne Frank novel, thanks to DeSantis.) It’s clear that DeSantis is trying to walk back these sweeping book bans—and creating a distinction between justified and unjustified bans. Essentially, DeSantis is now trying to point fingers at anyone besides himself and his allies, calling the book bans “theater” and “performative.” In reality, these ridiculous book bans are a direct cause of DeSantis signing House Bill 1069 into law in May 2023. Other legislation in Florida, including the Parental Rights in Education Bill and the Stop WOKE Act, have led to further restrictions.