TASB Talks

TASB Governmental Relations is tracking 1,000 bills. Meanwhile, time is running out to get legislation heard. 

This week, Dax and Q discuss the $11.2 billion in federal relief funds that will be allocated to Texas public schools. How will they be distributed? What's the timeline?

Our hosts also chat about SB 28 and charter school accountability.

Sign up to receive TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The House is working on the state budget. Some important amendments were made to SB 1 that affect education, including guidance on the $18 billion in federal relief funds.

SB 28 would limit the power of the State Board of Education and give more power to the education commissioner when it comes to charter applications. 

Contact your lawmakers about SB 28: https://bit.ly/3tSr6vT 

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Things are moving quickly in the #txlege. Listen to Dax and Q discuss:

• The state budget and what it means for public education
• SB 28, a bill that would weaken oversight of charters
• $18 billion in federal funds meant for schools that have not been distributed. 

Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
Trustees, take part in our legislative advocacy game: https://bit.ly/2QAuWuT 

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

On this week's Lege Update, Dax and Q talk about:

• The budget bill that passed the Texas Senate.
• An update on federal stimulus money for schools.
• What happened with STAAR testing?

Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TASB Governmental Relations is tracking more than 1,000 bills in the Texas Legislature. Dax and Amanda discuss just a few of them, including:

• SB 1, the Senate's budget bill
• SB 28, charter school expansion
• SB 481, pandemic operations
• HB 299, individual graduation committees
• HB 1525, the House Bill 3 (2019) cleanup bill

Contact your lawmakers on education issues: https://bit.ly/3cxTKME

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Learn more about the education bills that were heard last week:

• HB 749, community censorship, would severely limit school board members' abilities to advocate at the Capitol.
• HB 3687 would increase transparency in lobbying.
• SB 1365, directed at Houston ISD, would expand the powers of the TEA Commissioner. 
• SB 28, related to charter schools, would remove the authority of the State Board of Education to veto the commissioner's approval of new charters. 

Subscribe to TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
Trustees, sign up for the School Board Advocacy Network: https://bit.ly/2O2ZnZz
Contact your lawmakers on education issues: https://bit.ly/3cxTKME 

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

It's the first of our weekly Lege Updates! Dax and Amanda talk about:

• The $12.4 billion in COVID relief funding earmarked for Texas public schools. How will it be used?
• The Texas Supreme Court ruling on Houston ISD's school board
• HB 1438 and charter school accountability
• Charter school funding and spending
• HB 5: Access to broadband services
• Bills that were voted out of the House Public Education Committee and will now go to the floor, including HB 690, which adds continuing education requirements for trustees

The Lege Update will be published weekly through the rest of the 2021 legislative session. Subscribe to TASB Talks wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode.

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We chat with Dax Gonzalez, TASB’s director of Governmental Relations, about the projected revenues for the state’s upcoming budget cycle, education committee assignments, and what to expect at the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference taking place on February 23. 

Register for the free Legislative Conference: https://events.tasb.org/?eventId=5744 

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Students are the primary stakeholders in education. How can district leaders engage students to co-create, work through problems together, and seek a variety of perspectives to improve student experiences? Merrit Jones, senior advisor for Student Voice, shares her experiences working with districts across the country. 

TASB's Governance Camp is powered by Student Voice. Don't miss this year's virtual event March 3-6. Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/33d2nqD 

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Texas legislative session begins January 12, and the pandemic is sure to have a major impact on the proceedings. We talk with Dax Gonzalez, TASB’s division director of Governmental Relations, about what to expect when it comes to education funding, state budget woes, charter school expansion, and more.

Sign up for alerts by texting SCHOOLS to 313131. School board members can sign up for the School Board Advocacy Network: https://bit.ly/3hQEDid 

©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.