Thread: HB 2 in Texas

Next Tuesday the house will be voting on HB 2. Please read the following excerpt I recieved from an email I got from ATPE. I have already voiced my opinion.

The Texas House to consider a bill that could damage public education
House Bill (HB) 2 is House Public Education Committee Chairman Kent Grusendorf’s plan for revamping Texas’ schools. ATPE opposes HB 2 because:

• HB 2 creates a pay-for-performance incentive program that ties educator pay increases to student test scores. This program will put a greater emphasis on testing and limit teachers’ time and ability to teach students all the skills that will make them successful citizens.

• HB 2 increases testing and accountability requirements and creates several unnecessary new programs without studying the effectiveness of the current system.

• HB 2 does not restore the massive cuts in education funding made during the last legislative session.

• HB 2 eliminates the $1,000 health care supplement for all public school employees and uses that money to provide a one-time $500 pay raise for only classroom teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors.

• HB 2 exempts highly rated school districts from state regulations such as class-size limits, certification requirements, teacher contract rights as well as teacher benefits including duty-free lunch and planning time.


What you should do
HB 2 will be considered on the House floor Tuesday, March 8. ATPE encourages all educators to call their state representatives immediately and tell them to vote “no” on HB 2. Then spread the word to your colleagues, and ask them to call as well. If you do not know who your representative is, simply click on the following link and enter your address: [url="http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm"]http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm[/url] When you click on “submit,” the names and contact information of your legislators will appear.



What you should say
When you call, identify yourself as an educator, a constituent and an ATPE member. Politely tell your representative that you want him to vote “no” on HB 2 because it is harmful to students and falls short of meeting Texas’ needs. Tell him that the Legislature should work to create a system that provides every Texas student with an exemplary education.


Please, we need all the help we can get.