Without exaggeration, this election is the most crucial for Texas’ public schools and educators in many years. Hundreds of school districts around the state are financially strapped, thanks to an inadequately funded school finance system. And, with the Legislature facing a revenue shortfall as high as $21 billion when it convenes in January, the situation will become much worse, unless we elect new leadership in Austin.
At the behest of Gov. Rick Perry, the Texas Education Agency already has proposed $261 million in cuts from the next public education budget, including $48 million for new textbook purchases, $35 million for science labs, $12.9 million for teacher mentoring, more than $16 million for dropout prevention programs, $11 million for middle school physical education and $42 million for the Student Success Initiative, a program designed to give special help to struggling students.
What’s more, a move already is underway to lift the 22-1 class-size limit on grades K-4, a key, longstanding reform that has helped promote quality teaching in the primary grades.
Think we sound alarmist? Ask one of the hundreds of Texas educators who already have lost their jobs. Hundreds more – including maybe you or someone you know – will follow them, if this slash-and-burn attack on the public schools isn’t stopped.
The halt can start on Election Day — but not without the help of educators.
Check out TSTA’s list of endorsed, pro-education candidates in the “Members Only” section of our website, www.tsta.org. Registration is required. There, you will find our choices in the governor’s race as well as state legislative, congressional and State Board of Education races. Our endorsements also are listed on page 8 in the new issue of the Advocate.
It is essential that educators who value their jobs, who care about their students’ futures, make phone calls and knock on doors for pro-education candidates…and then get out and vote! They also need to bring friends and family members with them to the polls. There is simply no excuse not to because too much is at stake.
Early voting will run from Oct. 18-29. Election Day is Nov. 2.
It also takes money:
Political campaigns are expensive, and TSTA’s candidates are competing against candidates heavily funded by voucher advocates, private school boosters and other interests who would undermine public education. Please consider contributing to TSTA-PAC, so we can help our candidates stay competitive.
Many school districts have discontinued the practice of deducting PAC contributions from employee paychecks since Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a legally questionable opinion earlier this year banning the practice. TSTA is developing an online way to make PAC contributions using your credit card. Please check www.tsta.org for updates. Click on the “Legislative” section.
April 6, 2012 | Posted by admin 
Categories: Committees, Events, Local News, Meetings, TSTA | 
Tags: elections | 
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