By Jarrad Toussant, Senior Vice President, Education & Workforce
The DRC and the business community are acutely affected by our public school system. North Texas public schools educate more than 1.3 million students annually, from pre-K through high school. It is critical that during their time in our schools, Texas students are prepared for postsecondary education or the workforce.
Last week, I participated in a Public Education Roundtable with partners from the Greater Houston Partnership, Texas 2036, the Texas Association of Businesses, and the San Antonio Chamber in support of public school finance and accountability proposals being considered in the 89th Texas Legislative Session.
Increasing public school funding
House Bill (HB) 2 passed the House Wednesday, April 16. This bill, among other provisions, increases per-student funding, teacher pay, and special needs funding by injecting $7.7 billion into Texas public schools. HB 2 invests significant resources into evidence-based programs including pre-K and college, career, and military readiness.
Today, just 47% of Texas students are meeting grade level standards and only 27% are considered college-ready upon graduation. This lack of preparedness among our young adults places significant limitations on our business community and wage growth. Last year, our region had over 200,000 unfilled jobs just in our in-demand industries alone.
As passed by the House, HB 2 represents a strategic investment in Texas students and, by extension, our future workforce.
Maintaining rigorous accountability
Senate Bill (SB) 1962 passed the Senate Wednesday, April 16. This bill is two-fold:
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- It ensures consistent administration of A-F campus and district ratings
- It reforms standardized tests through shortened assessments and optional interim benchmarks to monitor progress
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We know that assessments and accountability ratings work in North Texas. Both assessments and accountability ratings provide district leaders with critically important data that helps them target resources and identify strategies that improve student outcomes. The evidence speaks for itself: students attending A and B campuses are 2.7 times more likely to be college-ready upon high school graduation than students who are in D or F-rated campuses.
Additionally, accountability scores help compare campuses and districts on an apples-to-apples basis. With over 100 school districts in our region alone, parents and employers need these ratings to fully understand their educational options.
Despite the importance of public school accountability ratings, Texas’ A-F grades have only been administered in full once since the system was introduced in 2018 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and legal challenges from school districts. As passed by the Senate, SB 1962 would prevent future, similar disruptions to the A-F Accountability System.
What comes next?
HB 2 and SB 1962 are only halfway through the legislative process. They have both passed their respective chambers and will now switch places as they seek approval from the other.
HB 2 is headed to the Senate, and SB 1962 is headed to the House. Each bill will go through the same stages it went through in its chamber of origin, including public committee hearings before consideration by the full House or Senate. Once approved by the legislature, Governor Greg Abbott will either sign or veto the bill.
On Tuesday, April 29, HB 4, the House’s companion bill to SB 1962, received a hearing in the House Public Education Committee. If the House chooses to advance HB 4, it will need to clear the Senate before heading to the Governor’s desk.
As business leaders, staying informed throughout this process is crucial. The DRC’s Public Policy and Education & Workforce teams will continue to provide timely updates.
As the DRC Education and Workforce team continues to follow these bills through the legislative process, I welcome your input and support. Share your thoughts with me on how these education reforms will impact your business.