TLA TEXLINE NO. 200
Posted: October 26, 2005
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK

UPDATE and Call to Action
School Instructional Costs

In this issue:

  1. SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS
  2. TASK FORCE MEMBERS
    3.

SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS

Commissioner of Education Shirley Neely has convened two task forces to advise her on the issue of instructional costs. The Educator Task Force was named in late August and includes superintendents, as reported in Texline 199.  The Citizens Task Force includes members of the state legislature and public citizens (the list is included below).  The task forces met jointly on October 19 and October 25 to discuss the Governor’s executive order, which directs the Texas Education Agency to craft an administrative rule requiring districts to spend at least 65% of available revenue toward direct classroom instruction.

The executive order directs TEA to use the National Center for Education Statistics standards as the definition for what should be considered direct instructional costs. That definition does not include library services (i.e., any of TEA Function Code 12).

 

The stated purpose of the meetings was for Commissioner Neeley to hear feedback from task force members as to what should be included in the definition of eligible instructional costs. Although no public testimony was allowed during the meeting, several task force members spoke about the need to include library programs as eligible for the 65% of funding. They also spoke about the need to include funding for continuing education, counselors, and nurses.  The functions already considered direct instruction include Function Code 11 and Function Code 37, which covers activities such as band and football. Other meeting topics included the percentage which should be the target and the use of revenue vs. expenditure totals.

The Commissioner stated that she would work with task force members to gain additional input. While no timeline was established, a draft rule can be posted within three months. The only opportunity for public comment will come once the draft rule is posted.

CALL TO ACTION

Library supporters are urged to contact Commissioner Neeley, Governor Perry, and their state legislators to ask that library programs be included in the definition of instructional costs because librarians and media/learning centers do provide direct student instruction. The comments made during the meetings about the need to include school libraries were based on an assertion that school libraries are a needed support service. No mention was made that library programs, unlike the others programs discussed, do provide fundamental and ongoing student instruction.

TALKING POINTS

  1. School library programs are part of regular student instruction. Certified school librarians are teachers. They interact with students everyday and work with them, in classes and individually, in improving skills and completing curriculum requirements.

  2. School libraries are classrooms. The Texas Administrative Code allows districts to provide learning in different environments, and libraries serve as reading and research classrooms where librarians and teachers instruct students

  3. Both state and national studies show that strong school library programs improve student achievement on reading test scores. Libraries promote learning and student success.

  4. Library resources provide needed information and tools that students must have to complete curricular assignments. Library resources are an essential component in student learning. Textbooks are only the beginning of research and reference.

Contact information

  • Commissioner Shirley Neely, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

  • To contact Governor Perry, go to: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact.

  • To find out who represents you and how to contact them, go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm

Ask your state legislators to contact TEA about the importance of including school library programs as eligible instructional costs.

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

 Educator Task Force

The members of the task force include the following:

  • Superintendent David Anthony, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
  • Executive Director John Bass, Region 16 Education Service Center, Amarillo
  • Superintendent Carol Ann Bonds, Livingston ISD
  • Superintendent Cathy Bryce, Highland Park ISD, Dallas
  • Superintendent Bonny Cain, Pearland ISD
  • Superintendent Pat Forgione, Austin ISD
  • Superintendent Annette Griffin, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
  • Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD
  • Superintendent Robert Nix, Midland ISD
  • Superintendent Patricia Pickles, Pflugerville ISD
  • Superintendent Thomas Randall, Lamar Consolidated ISD
  • Superintendent Abe Saavedra, Houston ISD
  • Superintendent Jesus Sanchez, Eagle Pass ISD
  • Superintendent Carrol Thomas, Beaumont ISD
  • Executive Director James Vasquez, Region 19 Education Service Center
     (El Paso) 

Citizens Task Force

  • George, McShan, Texas Lyceum
  • Noel Garza, Marathon Oil
  • Ernesto Neito, National Hispanic Institute
  • Peggy Venable, Americans for Prosperity
  • Michael Pierce, Texas State Technical Institute Waco
  • Brenda Rizos, Americans for Prosperity
  • George Scott, Deloitte & Touche
  • Don McAdams, University of Houston Policy
  • Joe Guerra, Princeton Review
  • Victor Alcorta, Attorney
  • Rob Eissler, Texas House of Representatives
  • Kent Grusendorf, Texas House of Representatives
  • Jeff Wentworth, Texas Senate
  • Terri Leo, State Board of Education
  • Bob Craig, State Board of Education
  • Patricia Hardy, State Board of Education
  • Bill Dodge, Banker/Corpus Christi
  • Patti Clapp, Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce
  • Jan Newton, SBC
  • Bill Jones, Texas A&M University
  • Chris Patterson, Texas Public Policy Foundation
  • Romero Galino, Texas Public Policy Foundation

TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries. To subscribe -- or to offer comments or suggestions -- contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association. Previous issues of Texline are archived on the TLA website.