To build upon the success of the Texas business climate, our state must be prepared to meet the challenges of the future. The greatest obstacle Texas faces is preparing students to graduate with a degree that prepares them for postsecondary education or to enter the workforce. With more education necessary to keep pace with the demands of employers, Texas must have a rich supply of workers on hand to fill jobs. The Texas Association of Business believes that the following legislative initiatives can help keep our state at the forefront of our global economy:
Academic excellence. Support excellence initiatives aimed at moving students from minimum expectations to maximum achievement. Support rewarding districts for students who achieve “commended performance” on TAKS and who complete the “distinguished achievement program” of more rigorous high school courses.
Accountability. Oppose any measures that weaken the current education accountability system. Oppose any additional monies into education without reform.
Alternative certification. Support additional alternative certification programs that provide school districts flexibility in hiring qualified people holding bachelors’ degrees or higher who pass certification exams and any additional teacher training to be determined by a school district.
Career and technology. Support career and technology education in conjunction with community colleges where appropriate to meet the needs of Texas employers.
Career and technology funding. Support legislation that tightens controls on career and technology money allocation. Support requiring districts that receive funding for career and technology to offer courses that prepare students with on-site or virtual on-site training rather than traditional classroom settings. Encourage increased funding for on-line curriculum and on-line testing.
Classroom size mandate. Support legislation that creates flexibility for school districts in the requirement that grades K through 4 is comprised of no more than 23 students to one teacher, allowing school districts to use the 23:1 mandate as a district average.
Communities in school. Support the Communities in Schools Program in Texas, a dropout prevention organization that focuses on helping young people to successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life.
Community colleges. Support education at the community college level as an important contributor to training students for jobs in the workforce.
Dropout prevention. Support measures that financially reward campuses for retaining students beyond the ninth grade.
Effectiveness. Support efforts that would specifically include effectiveness as part of the criteria in the evaluation of teachers.
Funding Higher Education. Support legislation that would provide that the funding of Higher Education be based on the completion of courses, not based upon classroom attendance on the 12th day.
GO Centers. Support the continuation of funding for GO Centers that serve as primary points of coordination between the College for Texans campaign (to increase college enrollment) and local communities.
Higher Education System. Support reasonable regulatory and legislative oversight of the higher education system, coupled with clear statements of goals, expectations and accountability of results. Support collaborative approaches among Texas’ higher education institutions in research and development funding strategies, technology deployment and distance education in order to avoid duplication and waste.
Incentives for math and science teachers. Support teacher advancement initiatives like differentiated pay to help alleviate the shortage of math and science teachers in our public schools.
Local control. Support measures that give school districts the flexibility to meet the needs of their students.
Parental involvement. Support measures encouraging parents to become active partners with their children’s teachers and administrators.
Pay for performance. Support legislation that allows school districts to financially reward campuses that achieve exemplary student performance.
School choice pilot program. Support implementation and evaluation of a well-designed school choice pilot program, allowing students in low-performing or unsafe public schools to attend public or qualified private schools of their choice. The pilot program must be of sufficient magnitude to assess the impact a choice program would have on the students and the public school system.
School spending. Support legislation requiring more financial transparency in school spending so taxpayers will see how their investment is being managed
Skills Development Program. Support increased funding for the Skills Development Program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. Maintain Skills Development Fund grants at the Texas Workforce Commission to improve workforce training.
Student testing. Support legislation that raises standards for students taking the TAKS test. Current standards only require students to earn 45 percent to pass the science section, 50 percent to pass mathematics, 65 percent to pass the writing and social studies, and 70 percent to pass reading. Support setting an immediate across-the-board standard of 60% and then increasing it annually.
Tax incentives. Support legislative tax incentives to encourage business participation in education initiatives
Texas Grants. Support legislation that would establish merit as being part of the consideration in awarding Texas Grant Scholarships.
Texas School Ready!TM Support high quality pre-k initiatives and legislation that put children on a pathway toward academic achievement. Programs such as the Texas School Ready!TM project deliver on promises of excellence by demonstrating strong accountability; leading to lasting results. TAB believes that these results ensure that children achieve their highest potential and become a successful part of Texas’ workforce in the future.
Technology Workforce Development Grant Program. Support the continuation of funding for the Texas Technology Workforce Development Grant program, which is awarded for computer science and electrical engineering instruction at various institutions of higher education in Texas.