Our 2022 Texas Needs Teachers report highlighted a deep concern among Texas educators about the lack of teacher input into state-level policies such as testing, school funding, licensure (renewal), and evaluation. Additionally, educators have expressed how their voice on campus has been diminished even though there are state laws requiring teacher input on local policies.
That’s why the right to democratic (little “d”) representation was one of 10 essential rights our members included in our Educator’s Bill of Rights for this legislative session.
Democracy on Campus
Giving educators an active voice on their campus is a no-cost, high-impact way for schools to improve student learning and teacher retention. Yet some districts fail to use campus- and district-level decision-making committees to improve school conditions and the performance of all students even though the committees are required by law.
During the 89th legislative session, Rep. Alma Allen filed House Bill 2987 , which would have created a reporting requirement for school boards to certify annually that they have established mandated campus- and district-level decision-making committees. These commonsense committees cost nothing but allow educators to make their expertise known to improve learning conditions. This lack of a campus voice is among the reasons cited by teachers who leave the profession.
Another way that educators’ expertise is weakened is with efforts like HB 100, which will centralize curriculum decision‑making authority with the State Board of Education, likely result in censorship of history in our textbooks, and only serve to alienate students who deserve to see an accurate reflection of their own history.
SB 13 is another example of how the Legislature is silencing the voice of educators by creating new barriers to access books and handing greater decision-making power to school boards and external advisory councils rather than educators and librarians who are content experts.
State Takeovers
State appointee takeovers like we’ve seen with Mike Miles in Houston ISD show how learning and working conditions deteriorate in the absence of elected oversight with local voter accountability.
Just this week, in the second special session of the 89th Legislature, the House Public Education heard House Bill 8, which, alarmingly, would make it even easier for the governor-appointed commissioner of education to take over democratically elected school boards, while also removing districts’ ability to challenge commissioner decisions like changing accountability indicators with no required notice to districts. We thank those who submitted comments to the online House portal. All Texans deserve to have an assessment and accountability system that they can have faith will objectively measure student learning and not unfairly penalize districts.
During the regular legislative session, Sens. Borris Miles, Carol Alvarado, and Molly Cook filed SB 564 to require return of district control to elected trustees when campuses achieve acceptable ratings. This commonsense measure would give educators and voters a timeline of when to expect return of their school district. Without an end date, there is no telling how long a state takeover can last.
When we fight for your right to democratic representation, we are also fighting for our public schools to have elected oversight by officials who are accountable to local voters, and not an appointee in Austin. This is why every political candidate at every level should be vetted to ensure that they are solidly on the side of our public schools, students, and employees and will support all attempts to elevate the voice of educators.
Democracy in Higher Education
Faculty senates in higher education are another example of educators having an active voice in how their campus operates, often solving problems before they arise. However, Senate Bill 37, passed during the 89th regular session, will now redefine shared governance and strip faculty senates of meaningful input.
College and university systems have had drastically different responses since the governor signed SB 37 into law. Systems only have until Sept. 1 of this year to fully implement changes to their schools’ faculty senates, otherwise all faculty governing structures within their system will be abolished. Only a small number of community college systems have taken proper measures to implement these new provisions in time for the September deadline, while university systems have either misinterpreted the law or dragged their feet to make changes. With less than a month left for system leaders to act, they have provided an alarming lack of clarity and guidance on the future of shared governance.
Amid the gross subjugation of faculty governance structures, now is not the time to back down. In fact, the start of the fall semester is the prime opportunity to make your voices even louder.
Texas AAUP-AFT has been a home for advocacy when faculty run up against the frequent limits to working within existing institutions. Our union is here to protect what is left of academic freedom at our Texas higher education institutions and to rebuild our power by raising up faculty voices and organizing together.