April Bamburg News
Texas Homeschool Coalition introduces THSC Watchmen
The Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) has introduced three homeschool graduates who will serve as state legislative analysts and lobbyists, working with the legislature on behalf of the families whose children are homeschooled in the state of Texas.
TSTA urges TEA, Abbott to fully fund schools
In December, the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) called out the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Gov. Greg Abbott to keep school districts in the state fully funded at 2019 levels, without the requirement to keep buildings open during the COVID-19 crisis.
Texas Education Agency updates pandemic funding formula
On Oct. 1, the Texas Education Agency announced that it was extending the current minimum funding for Texas schools for six more weeks, ensuring that for most schools, means they have funding through the entire first half of the 2020-2021 academic year.
Texas teachers unions hold their ground on school-reopening debate
Parents, teachers, school boards and other groups throughout Texas all have opinions about how, when and why schools should or should not reopen for in-person learning while the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat.
'Hero pay,' COVID-19 task force on Education Austin's list of school reopening conditions
According to a recent poll from Reuters/Ipsos, 55% of Americans do not think it would be safe to reopen schools at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic.
NWEA projects increased student learning losses from COVID-19 school closures
During normal summers, researchers expect students to lose small portions of the information they learned the previous school year; but the Northwest Evaluation Association released a report in April projecting significant learning losses in some subjects when students return in the fall of 2020 – thanks to what they are calling the “COVID-19 slide.”
Texas teacher union dues often support political agendas, but now there's an alternative
Innovative Teachers of Texas offers a non-political union option for Texas teachers
TEA delays the release of health guidance for student attendance this fall
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) pulled back on health guidance for schools in the state to reopen this week, after the Texas Tribune found draft documents on the TEA website, according to a June 23 report by the El Paso Times.
Texas Education Agency considers changes to 2020-2021 academic year
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its recommendations for the 2020-2021 academic year after the disruption brought by the COVID-19 crisis, according to a June 16 report by Houston’s Community Impact newspaper.
Texas Education Agency to use federal money for revenue shortfalls instead of funding districts
Instead of sending additional CARES Act funds to state school districts, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has decided to use the money to mitigate losses suffered during the 2019-2020 academic year, according to a June 9 KVUE report.
Texas Education Agency prepares for schools reopening with massive PPE order
As school districts across the state plan to reopen in the coming school year, the Texas Education Agency is busy surveying superintendents and gathering information to ensure that districts have the critical supplies needed to keep students, staff and administration safe and healthy.
COVID-19 affecting Texas school budgets and enrollment for 2020-2021
School districts across Texas are feeling the financial effects of the COVID-19 crisis as they work on budgets for the upcoming school year. Districts must finalize their 2020-2021 budgets by July 1.
Texas Education Agency tells public school districts to follow guidance on CARES Act funds
The Texas Education Agency told school districts to follow the guidance from Betsy Devos and the U.S.
Many southeast Texas school districts opt out of end-of-year assessments
Although the Texas Education Agency announced an optional end-of-year assessment in May, many school districts in southeast Texas have decided not to participate.
Texas Education Association: Superintendent pay per enrolled student averages $241.96
The Texas Education Agency has published the salary profiles of all public-school superintendents and full-time equivalent employees with the combined total average rate of pay per student enrolled (pay/enroll) for both traditional and charter public schools at $241.96, although the total median pay per enrolled student amount is $134.34.
Remote learning during COVID-19 earns a failing grade, says WSJ
Despite the hopes and efforts of educators, remote learning in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic has earned a failing grade.
Texas Education Agency: State superintendents average nearly $150,000 in pay
Traditional public schools in Texas have the highest pay rates for superintendents and full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty, according to data released by the Texas Education Agency.
Texas Public Policy Foundation hosts talk about teaching civics in more productive ways
A panel discussion at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's January event on policy orientation featured a panel discussion with David Bobb, founder of the Bill of Rights Institute; Rep. James Talarico and Michelle Neyrey, a Secondary Social Studied Specialist in the Spring Independent School District.
Educators, parents share in Amazing Educational Resources website and Facebook
Educators, parents share in Amazing Educational Resources website and Facebook
Dallas schools battling economic disparity in the classroom
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has seen massive economic growth in several sectors since 2012 and is thriving, but even with the economic prosperity, the area is known for income inequality, which can also affect schools.