The Lone Star Report did a great job pointig out how the poll which appeared in the Houston Chronicle recently was nothing short of rigged. The "findings" claimed that most Texans don't want the elected State Board of Education to set the curriculum.
(It fell short of simply saying parents wanted to slow down in front of the school and let their kids jump out - leaving the teachin' and raisin' to the educrats.)
You will want to read LSR's Andy Hogue's analysis:
http://www.lonestarreport.org/Management/BlogManagement/tabid/62/EntryId/689/Questionable-poll-claims-strong-support-for-circumventing-SBOE.aspx
Showing posts with label SBOE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SBOE. Show all posts
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Texas Social Studies Curriculum: check it out for yourself
Today, June 25, 2010, the Texas Education Agency posted the newly adopted Texas Social Studies TEKS (standards for Grades K-12) that were adopted for Second Reading and Final Adoption (with technical edits) by the Texas State Board of Education on May 21, 2010.
Now everyone can see for themselves what was adopted, and the public will no longer have to rely upon the liberal-left media and other such groups who have deliberately misrepresented the work of the Texas State Board of Education members. (And I am referring to the Texas anti-Freedom Network and the American Atheists, Inc.)
Here is the Texas Education Agency link:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=3643
See commentary on this at: www.texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com
See set the record straight at www.juststatethefacts.com
Now everyone can see for themselves what was adopted, and the public will no longer have to rely upon the liberal-left media and other such groups who have deliberately misrepresented the work of the Texas State Board of Education members. (And I am referring to the Texas anti-Freedom Network and the American Atheists, Inc.)
Here is the Texas Education Agency link:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=3643
See commentary on this at: www.texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com
See set the record straight at www.juststatethefacts.com
Liberty Institute sets the record straight
TEA should release the text version of the final social studies standards today.
See the Liberty Institute (formerly Free Market Foundation) commentary on this at: www.texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com
See them set the record straight at www.juststatethefacts.com
See the Liberty Institute (formerly Free Market Foundation) commentary on this at: www.texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com
See them set the record straight at www.juststatethefacts.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Texas named #1 in Closing the Expectations Gap
Texas was recently praised in Education Week magazine for its adoption of college- and career-ready standards, and for holding schools accountable for ensuring students are college-ready.
Each year, on the anniversary of the 2005 National Education Summit on High Schools, Achieve (www.Achieve.org) releases a 50-state progress report on the alignment of high school policies with the demands of college and careers. Closing the Expectations Gap, 2010 is the fifth annual report in this series. The report details state progress implementing the American Diploma Project policy agenda. Download the PDF. (March 2010
Only Texas met all of the American Diploma Project standards: http://www.achieve.org/files/KeyResults2010.pdf
Each year, on the anniversary of the 2005 National Education Summit on High Schools, Achieve (www.Achieve.org) releases a 50-state progress report on the alignment of high school policies with the demands of college and careers. Closing the Expectations Gap, 2010 is the fifth annual report in this series. The report details state progress implementing the American Diploma Project policy agenda. Download the PDF. (March 2010
Only Texas met all of the American Diploma Project standards: http://www.achieve.org/files/KeyResults2010.pdf
Friday, May 21, 2010
Texas State Board of Education deserves a round of applause
You will likely be reading misrepresentations regarding what the Texas elected State Board of Education has done in approving the social studies curriculum.
If you hear they have taken Thomas Jefferson out of the curriculum, don't believe it. If you hear that they have replaced the concept of slavery with references to the "Atlantic Triangular Trade", don't believe it.
The Texas (anti-)Freedom Network, working with the American Atheists, Inc., have been busy distorting the truth about the work the SBOE has done.
After hours and hours of public testimony, and numerous educators and citizens reviewing the proposed curriculum, and after the LEFT proposing that the standards vote be delayed, the SBOE did their work and did it well.
Watch the Liberty Institute call out and expose Texas Freedom Network (TFN) on live national television. Watch Campbell Brown apologize and blame TFN for the mistake.
http://texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com/
Yes, the price of freedom IS eternal vigilance. Thanks, SBOE, for a job well done!
-- Peggy Venable
Read more: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/052110-texas-state-board-education-deserves-round-applause#ixzz0obfBnA8y
If you hear they have taken Thomas Jefferson out of the curriculum, don't believe it. If you hear that they have replaced the concept of slavery with references to the "Atlantic Triangular Trade", don't believe it.
The Texas (anti-)Freedom Network, working with the American Atheists, Inc., have been busy distorting the truth about the work the SBOE has done.
After hours and hours of public testimony, and numerous educators and citizens reviewing the proposed curriculum, and after the LEFT proposing that the standards vote be delayed, the SBOE did their work and did it well.
Watch the Liberty Institute call out and expose Texas Freedom Network (TFN) on live national television. Watch Campbell Brown apologize and blame TFN for the mistake.
http://texaslegislativeupdate.wordpress.com/
Yes, the price of freedom IS eternal vigilance. Thanks, SBOE, for a job well done!
-- Peggy Venable
Read more: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/052110-texas-state-board-education-deserves-round-applause#ixzz0obfBnA8y
Friday, March 26, 2010
Daily Texan - 1; Texas Tribune - 0 in the TX Textbook Reporting War
The left-leaning Texas Tribune has gotten it wrong again. In a recent post, the author suggests that Texas isn't so important after all, after
referring to the State Board of Education:
"...15 politicians in Texas (or at least the rightest-leaning half of them)"
And they fail to mention that Texas' curriculum standards are more stringent than national standards, and 13 states are moving to or have adopted the Texas standards when they wrote:
"...Texas remains one of only two states that has shunned the national standards movement being pushed out of Washington, which, if it progresses as expected, would no doubt dwarf the market influence of even giant states."
Then they make the admission:
"...Most history textbooks are not written by historians, self-respecting or otherwise. "
If the SBOE is at least half right-leaning, are the others "left-leaning" and why not point out what earns these elected the "right-leaning" label. They want to teach American Exceptionalism? Hardly right-leaning.
It's clear the Daily Texan has done a better job than these high-powered reporters gathered to funnel left-leaning material to policymakers in Austin. Is the Texas Tribune the online-voice for the Texas (anti-)Freedom Network?
referring to the State Board of Education:
"...15 politicians in Texas (or at least the rightest-leaning half of them)"
And they fail to mention that Texas' curriculum standards are more stringent than national standards, and 13 states are moving to or have adopted the Texas standards when they wrote:
"...Texas remains one of only two states that has shunned the national standards movement being pushed out of Washington, which, if it progresses as expected, would no doubt dwarf the market influence of even giant states."
Then they make the admission:
"...Most history textbooks are not written by historians, self-respecting or otherwise. "
If the SBOE is at least half right-leaning, are the others "left-leaning" and why not point out what earns these elected the "right-leaning" label. They want to teach American Exceptionalism? Hardly right-leaning.
It's clear the Daily Texan has done a better job than these high-powered reporters gathered to funnel left-leaning material to policymakers in Austin. Is the Texas Tribune the online-voice for the Texas (anti-)Freedom Network?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Daily Texan reporter nails it: Jefferson remains in curriculum
Looks like the Daily Texan has done some good reporting here. It exposed the group “Save Our History” as a front group for the University Democrats, MEChA, and the Texas [Anti-]Freedom Network. Remember, MEChA is an organization of wackos that does not want UT celebrating Texas Independence Day on campus and would like to send the Southwest back to Mexico.
The report went to the sources, and reported without bias...refreshing!
Here’s the article: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/groups-address-highly-contested-curriculum
The report went to the sources, and reported without bias...refreshing!
Here’s the article: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/groups-address-highly-contested-curriculum
Thomas Jefferson remains in Texas curriculum
Bill White, former Houston mayor and Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate: PANTS ON FIRE. He has claimed the SBOE has taken Thomas Jefferson out of our curriculum. Shame on you, Bill White!!!
Here are the facts, straight from the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE):
March 19, 2010: Thomas Jefferson remains in social studies curriculum
After hours of public testimony and more than 100 amendments offered to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for social studies, the State Board of Education last week gave preliminary approval to the curriculum standards that will be used in Texas public schools.
One amendment in particular has garnered a lot of attention, after some media outlets erroneously reported the State Board of Education was dropping Thomas Jefferson from the curriculum framework.
“The only individual mentioned more times in the curriculum standards than Thomas Jefferson is George Washington,” said Gail Lowe, chairwoman of the 15-member board. “We expect students at the elementary level, in middle school and in high school to study the Founding Fathers and to be well versed in their contributions to our country. That includes Thomas Jefferson and his legacy,” she said.
In fifth grade, designed as an introductory survey course of the United States from 1565 to the present, students are expected to “identify the Founding Fathers and Patriot heroes, including John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Nathan Hale, Thomas Jefferson, the Sons of Liberty, and George Washington, and their motivations and contributions during the revolutionary period.”
In the eighth grade, in which the history of the United States from the early colonial period through Reconstruction is presented, the TEKS framework requires students to “explain the roles played by significant individuals during the American Revolution, including Abigail Adams, John Adams, Wentworth Cheswell, Samuel Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, James Armistead, Benjamin Franklin, Bernardo de Galvez, Crispus Attucks, King George III, Haym Salomon, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine and George Washington.”
The U.S. Government course required for high school graduation states that students will “identify the contributions of the political philosophies of the Founding Fathers, including John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, James Madison, George Mason, Roger Sherman and James Wilson on the development of the U.S. government.”
In addition, students must “identify significant individuals in the field of government and politics, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.”
Although Jefferson had been listed in a World History standard, the board removed his name from a list of European Enlightenment philosophers that included John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu and Jean Jacques Rousseau.
“This was inappropriate placement of Jefferson’s name,” said Lowe of the World History proposal. “Jefferson was not himself an Enlightenment philosopher, although he was heavily influenced by the writings of these individuals. But to say the State Board of Education has removed him from the TEKS is inaccurate and irresponsible,” said Lowe.
Lowe continued, “Jefferson not only penned the words of the Declaration of Independence, served as the third president of the United States and was father of the University of Virginia, but his promotion of the ideals of a limited federal government and states’ rights also permeated our nation for generations. No study of American history would be complete without his inclusion,” she said.
The social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills will be finalized in May when the board holds its last public hearing and final adoption of the standards
Here are the facts, straight from the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE):
March 19, 2010: Thomas Jefferson remains in social studies curriculum
After hours of public testimony and more than 100 amendments offered to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for social studies, the State Board of Education last week gave preliminary approval to the curriculum standards that will be used in Texas public schools.
One amendment in particular has garnered a lot of attention, after some media outlets erroneously reported the State Board of Education was dropping Thomas Jefferson from the curriculum framework.
“The only individual mentioned more times in the curriculum standards than Thomas Jefferson is George Washington,” said Gail Lowe, chairwoman of the 15-member board. “We expect students at the elementary level, in middle school and in high school to study the Founding Fathers and to be well versed in their contributions to our country. That includes Thomas Jefferson and his legacy,” she said.
In fifth grade, designed as an introductory survey course of the United States from 1565 to the present, students are expected to “identify the Founding Fathers and Patriot heroes, including John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Nathan Hale, Thomas Jefferson, the Sons of Liberty, and George Washington, and their motivations and contributions during the revolutionary period.”
In the eighth grade, in which the history of the United States from the early colonial period through Reconstruction is presented, the TEKS framework requires students to “explain the roles played by significant individuals during the American Revolution, including Abigail Adams, John Adams, Wentworth Cheswell, Samuel Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, James Armistead, Benjamin Franklin, Bernardo de Galvez, Crispus Attucks, King George III, Haym Salomon, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Thomas Paine and George Washington.”
The U.S. Government course required for high school graduation states that students will “identify the contributions of the political philosophies of the Founding Fathers, including John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, James Madison, George Mason, Roger Sherman and James Wilson on the development of the U.S. government.”
In addition, students must “identify significant individuals in the field of government and politics, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.”
Although Jefferson had been listed in a World History standard, the board removed his name from a list of European Enlightenment philosophers that included John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu and Jean Jacques Rousseau.
“This was inappropriate placement of Jefferson’s name,” said Lowe of the World History proposal. “Jefferson was not himself an Enlightenment philosopher, although he was heavily influenced by the writings of these individuals. But to say the State Board of Education has removed him from the TEKS is inaccurate and irresponsible,” said Lowe.
Lowe continued, “Jefferson not only penned the words of the Declaration of Independence, served as the third president of the United States and was father of the University of Virginia, but his promotion of the ideals of a limited federal government and states’ rights also permeated our nation for generations. No study of American history would be complete without his inclusion,” she said.
The social studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills will be finalized in May when the board holds its last public hearing and final adoption of the standards
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Texas’ curriculum program earns an “A”
Here we go - bragging again. Well, with so much going wrong with government, it's time we focus on some positive news. And the Lone Star State is tops for positive news.
Education Week released its Quality Counts annual report mid-January putting Texas on top. That's right - Texas earned an "A".
The report confirms that Texas does a superior job in crafting its own curriculum standards, which were created by the State Board of Education with input from thousands of Texans.
You might recall that Texas, along with Alaska, has refused to join the so-called "Race to the Top" effort this year to create national standards. We applaud Gov. Perry's standing firm not to fall into that black hole. If we wanted Texas kids educated like those in Washington, D.C., we'd be on that race (to the bottom).
Education Week released its annual Quality Counts report Jan 15, 2010, which this year focuses on the national standards debate and examines the quality of work states have done independently preparing their own standards.
Texas earned a grade of ‘A’ on standards, assessment and accountability, and ranked sixth in the country. The state earned a grade of 100 for both its standards and school accountability systems, and received a score of 86.7 for its student tests.
The report noted that 11 states said they had used the Texas standards when crafting their own standards.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=7784
Full Quality Counts information is available at: http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2010/01/14/index.html .
Education Week released its Quality Counts annual report mid-January putting Texas on top. That's right - Texas earned an "A".
The report confirms that Texas does a superior job in crafting its own curriculum standards, which were created by the State Board of Education with input from thousands of Texans.
You might recall that Texas, along with Alaska, has refused to join the so-called "Race to the Top" effort this year to create national standards. We applaud Gov. Perry's standing firm not to fall into that black hole. If we wanted Texas kids educated like those in Washington, D.C., we'd be on that race (to the bottom).
Education Week released its annual Quality Counts report Jan 15, 2010, which this year focuses on the national standards debate and examines the quality of work states have done independently preparing their own standards.
Texas earned a grade of ‘A’ on standards, assessment and accountability, and ranked sixth in the country. The state earned a grade of 100 for both its standards and school accountability systems, and received a score of 86.7 for its student tests.
The report noted that 11 states said they had used the Texas standards when crafting their own standards.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=7784
Full Quality Counts information is available at: http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2010/01/14/index.html .
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Students should be taught American Exceptionalism
The Texas elected State Board of Education (SBOE) are responsible for creating the essential knowledge & skills public school students K-12 in Texas with input from educators, citizens, parents, business leaders and industry representatives.
The SBOE is currently reviewing new social studies textbook standards as part of the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) curriculum update and is scheduled to hear more public comments today prior to adopting the final standards in March 2010.
Around 150 citizens have signed up to testify today on social study standards. While many will advocate teaching the truth, some on the Left are lining up to suggest the term American Exceptionalism is a myth or a theory.
Last year, while attending the UK summit of the Group of 20 major economic countries, the president was asked if he believed in American Exceptionalism and he reportedly said, "I believe in American Exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British Exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism."
Perhaps he was speaking to an international audience, or he was again dissing the US abroad, but those views are in stark contrast to most Americans.
American Exceptionalism is grounded in the founding of the United States upon an idea, a concept that America would be a nation of laws, built on the concept of individual liberty and equal justice before the law, with freedoms ranging from speech to worship, and rights from gun ownership to assembly.
The Founding Fathers institutionalized these freedoms so we would be safe from a too-powerful government. Our government works for us, not the other way around.
America was founded as the land of opportunity.
Liberty provides that opportunity, which is why in just over 200 years; America is the greatest democracy in the world, the most productive engine of economic growth, the most influential culture and the most far-reaching inventions and innovations.
Even in extremely difficult times, American Exceptionalism has survived. Faced with the civil and foreign wars; recessions and economic depression; lackluster leadership at home or aggressive, hostile leadership abroad; the American people have benefited from the uniqueness of our democratic experiment. America’s Exceptionalism.
The following guidelines should be employed when reviewing the curriculum standards:
• The United States occupies an exceptional position in world history as a representative democracy. Students should learn how our government was designed to operate by our Founding Fathers to maximize individual liberties, religious freedom and economic prosperity.
• The United States was founded on the principles of freedom, both religious & economic. Texas students should learn factual, balanced and unbiased accounts of the events and individuals that represent these traditional American values.
• Our education system should provide students a positive view of their heritage as Americans that includes accounts of leadership and innovation in science, medicine, literature, economics, arts, religion, agriculture and technology.
• Additionally, our free market economy, outstanding leadership, and unique freedoms have all contributed to making the United States the most prosperous nation in the world.
Students deserve to know how exceptional America is.
Benjamin Franklin, when asked what type of Government they had established responded, "We have given you a Republic madam - if you can keep it."
We are here today fighting to keep it.
___________________________________________________________
Peggy Venable spoke at a press conference at the Texas Education Agency building at a State Board of Eduation meeting and public hearing on social studies curriculum standards.
The SBOE is currently reviewing new social studies textbook standards as part of the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) curriculum update and is scheduled to hear more public comments today prior to adopting the final standards in March 2010.
Around 150 citizens have signed up to testify today on social study standards. While many will advocate teaching the truth, some on the Left are lining up to suggest the term American Exceptionalism is a myth or a theory.
Last year, while attending the UK summit of the Group of 20 major economic countries, the president was asked if he believed in American Exceptionalism and he reportedly said, "I believe in American Exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British Exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism."
Perhaps he was speaking to an international audience, or he was again dissing the US abroad, but those views are in stark contrast to most Americans.
American Exceptionalism is grounded in the founding of the United States upon an idea, a concept that America would be a nation of laws, built on the concept of individual liberty and equal justice before the law, with freedoms ranging from speech to worship, and rights from gun ownership to assembly.
The Founding Fathers institutionalized these freedoms so we would be safe from a too-powerful government. Our government works for us, not the other way around.
America was founded as the land of opportunity.
Liberty provides that opportunity, which is why in just over 200 years; America is the greatest democracy in the world, the most productive engine of economic growth, the most influential culture and the most far-reaching inventions and innovations.
Even in extremely difficult times, American Exceptionalism has survived. Faced with the civil and foreign wars; recessions and economic depression; lackluster leadership at home or aggressive, hostile leadership abroad; the American people have benefited from the uniqueness of our democratic experiment. America’s Exceptionalism.
The following guidelines should be employed when reviewing the curriculum standards:
• The United States occupies an exceptional position in world history as a representative democracy. Students should learn how our government was designed to operate by our Founding Fathers to maximize individual liberties, religious freedom and economic prosperity.
• The United States was founded on the principles of freedom, both religious & economic. Texas students should learn factual, balanced and unbiased accounts of the events and individuals that represent these traditional American values.
• Our education system should provide students a positive view of their heritage as Americans that includes accounts of leadership and innovation in science, medicine, literature, economics, arts, religion, agriculture and technology.
• Additionally, our free market economy, outstanding leadership, and unique freedoms have all contributed to making the United States the most prosperous nation in the world.
Students deserve to know how exceptional America is.
Benjamin Franklin, when asked what type of Government they had established responded, "We have given you a Republic madam - if you can keep it."
We are here today fighting to keep it.
___________________________________________________________
Peggy Venable spoke at a press conference at the Texas Education Agency building at a State Board of Eduation meeting and public hearing on social studies curriculum standards.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Legislators attack of SBOE, SREC defends SBOE
For Immediate Release: 5-13-09
Members of the SREC shocked at legislature’s attempt to dismantle SBOE
The undersigned members of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) are shocked and dismayed that our elected officials would stealthily attempt to undermine our elected State Board of Education (SBOE) through Budget conference committee amendments and defunding mechanisms which covertly dismantles the authority of the SBOE. As statewide Republican leaders elected by the grassroots of the party, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and defending our state party platform and its ideals. In addition the Texas Constitution establishes the SBOE for specific purposes, such as the administration and oversight of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) which we believe also deserve to be protected and defended by all Texans.
Grassroots Republicans across this state have made it clear that they believe it is in the best interest of education in Texas to hash out matters of education in a separate elected body such as the SBOE. Whether everyone agrees 100% of the time with the decisions of this board is of little importance. The important component is that education issues and textbook adoption, etc. is achieved in an open and thoughtful process by elected officials from districts all across Texas. Legislators want us to believe that that the PSF, textbook adoption and education issues in general will be less politicized if decided by the Legislature every two years. The SBOE meets quarterly every year and provides a process for citizen input as well as expert testimony on a variety of subjects.
We ask our Republican legislators to heed the words of our state Constitution and our platform which states: "We oppose the replacement of textbooks by laptops," and "The SBOE must have sole authority over textbook content and state adoption, and this process must include public hearings. We urge the Legislature to give the State Board of Education authority to establish textbook adoption standards."
We also ask that members of the Budget Conference Committee to vote down any amendments which surreptitiously defund or impede the ability of the SBOE to perform its currently prescribed duties. We specifically ask that the final budget not contain riders that direct cancellation of Proclamations 2011 & 2012 as this is a back door attack on the SBOE’s authority to adopt & review textbooks. Further we respectfully ask that legislators vote against any bills whether in committee or on the floor that seeks the same ends.
Respectfully,
Jason Moore SD 31
Ashlea Quinonez SD 30
Angie King SD 23
Brian Russell SD 14
John Cook SD 2
Russ Duerstine SD 28
Bonnie Lugo SD 13
Peggy Thompson SD 22
Bernice Lewis SD 5
Cathie Adams National Committeewoman RPT
Phyllis Worsham SD 18
Gayla Miller SD 19
Davida Stike, SD 14
Dennis Paul SD 11
Matt Hayes SD 10
Tom Quinones SD 12
Rosemary Roe, SD 4
Jean McIver SD 12
Rex Teter SD 06
Luann Caudle SD 20
Jim Wiggins SD 3
(names available at time of media release)
Members of the SREC shocked at legislature’s attempt to dismantle SBOE
The undersigned members of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) are shocked and dismayed that our elected officials would stealthily attempt to undermine our elected State Board of Education (SBOE) through Budget conference committee amendments and defunding mechanisms which covertly dismantles the authority of the SBOE. As statewide Republican leaders elected by the grassroots of the party, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and defending our state party platform and its ideals. In addition the Texas Constitution establishes the SBOE for specific purposes, such as the administration and oversight of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) which we believe also deserve to be protected and defended by all Texans.
Grassroots Republicans across this state have made it clear that they believe it is in the best interest of education in Texas to hash out matters of education in a separate elected body such as the SBOE. Whether everyone agrees 100% of the time with the decisions of this board is of little importance. The important component is that education issues and textbook adoption, etc. is achieved in an open and thoughtful process by elected officials from districts all across Texas. Legislators want us to believe that that the PSF, textbook adoption and education issues in general will be less politicized if decided by the Legislature every two years. The SBOE meets quarterly every year and provides a process for citizen input as well as expert testimony on a variety of subjects.
We ask our Republican legislators to heed the words of our state Constitution and our platform which states: "We oppose the replacement of textbooks by laptops," and "The SBOE must have sole authority over textbook content and state adoption, and this process must include public hearings. We urge the Legislature to give the State Board of Education authority to establish textbook adoption standards."
We also ask that members of the Budget Conference Committee to vote down any amendments which surreptitiously defund or impede the ability of the SBOE to perform its currently prescribed duties. We specifically ask that the final budget not contain riders that direct cancellation of Proclamations 2011 & 2012 as this is a back door attack on the SBOE’s authority to adopt & review textbooks. Further we respectfully ask that legislators vote against any bills whether in committee or on the floor that seeks the same ends.
Respectfully,
Jason Moore SD 31
Ashlea Quinonez SD 30
Angie King SD 23
Brian Russell SD 14
John Cook SD 2
Russ Duerstine SD 28
Bonnie Lugo SD 13
Peggy Thompson SD 22
Bernice Lewis SD 5
Cathie Adams National Committeewoman RPT
Phyllis Worsham SD 18
Gayla Miller SD 19
Davida Stike, SD 14
Dennis Paul SD 11
Matt Hayes SD 10
Tom Quinones SD 12
Rosemary Roe, SD 4
Jean McIver SD 12
Rex Teter SD 06
Luann Caudle SD 20
Jim Wiggins SD 3
(names available at time of media release)
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