Topic: Curriculum

Defective Mexican-American Studies Text Denounced at State Board Hearing

Publish Date: September 15, 2016

Upwards of a hundred witnesses citing chapter and verse came to the State Board of Education September 13 to urge rejection of a proposed Mexican-American studies text rife with outright errors and redolent of bias. Among the witnesses were state legislators, Mexican-American history specialists, parents, and veteran K-12 educators including Texas AFT secretary-treasurer Ray McMurrey. “Students and teachers alike should...

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Three-Day Reading and Math Academies Offer $350 Stipends for Teachers

Publish Date: April 7, 2016

In the 2015 session of the Texas Legislature, Texas AFT backed bills to revive and expand a good program of professional development that died out for lack of funding a decade or so ago—the reading academies that helped teachers update their skills during the summer while receiving a stipend. Those bills were passed, necessary funds were provided, and now the...

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At Issue: Graduation Standards, Teacher Shortages

Publish Date: March 29, 2016

The Texas Senate’s committees on education and higher education met jointly March 29 to look at the effects of recent changes in state graduation requirements and options for addressing teacher shortages in fields such as bilingual and special education. At the urging of parents, educators, and a concerned public at large, the Texas legislature has scaled back the number of...

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Education Issues Headed for Legislative Hearings

Publish Date: February 5, 2016

The legislature is not in session, but interim committees are getting busy. Four hearings coming up next week will bear watching. They are: House Public Education Committee, Tuesday, February 9: The committee will review current state education policies and initiatives regarding middle grades. The hearing will include an examination of school-based strategies and best practices that encourage at-risk youth to...

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State Board of Education Seeks GED Alternatives as Participation Declines

Publish Date: July 22, 2015

The State Board of Education voted unanimously last week to explore alternatives to the new version of the GED (General Educational Development) implemented in Texas by the for-profit Pearson conglomerate. Issues raised by educators and test-takers alike in SBOE testimony included high cost, exam questions demanding more than basic proficiency, and computer-only access to the test. Problems with the new...

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