Spend an hour calling state legislators with fellow supporters of Texas public education on Friday morning!
Let's stand up for more school funding, a fair wage for all, a STAAR moratorium, a time out for charter expansion and to support local control (no state takeover.)
Here is a call script and phone numbers for priority bills. Together, we will send a message that the people of Texas expect major progress from this legislative session.
You make the calls, then add a post to this FB Event with who you called and what they said.
House Public Ed Committee Script and Phone Numbers
Hi, my name is _________. I’m a (student/teacher/parent/citizen/advocate) and a member of Community Voices for Public Education, and I wanted to discuss three issues facing our public schools.
First is funding. We support provisions of HB 3 that fund full day pre-K, increase the basic allotment, and increase the state share for funding public education. However, we hope that more revenue is devoted to the bill, and we oppose merit pay as it fosters uncooperative and inequitable school environments.
[pause to discuss other funding issues as you please]
Second is standardized test reform. We support HB3237, placing a 2-year moratorium on using the STAAR test to rate schools. Studies show that the STAAR is written at a reading level two grade levels above where it should be, setting children up for failure.
Third is charter school accountability. We support HB 43 to eliminate charter schools’ ability to exclude students based on disciplinary records. We also support HB 127, which will fund charters at the same level as schools in the districts in which they are located. Charter schools should play by the same rules as district schools and we support a two year time out on charter school expansion.
[pause to discuss other charter issues as you please]
Fourth is local control. We oppose any effort to remove democratic control from local districts like HISD based solely on the results of test scores, which are highly correlated to socioeconomic status. Please support HB 3287.
Can you share with us your position on these issues and bills?
[record answers]
Thank you for your time. We hope to have your support for public schools this session!
Dan Huberty, Chair [R] (512) 463-0520
Diego Bernal, Vice Chair [D] (512) 463-0532
Alma Allen [D] (512) 463-0744
Harold Dutton, Jr. [D} (512) 463-0510
Mary Gonzalez [D} (512) 463-0613
James Talarico [D] (512) 463-0670
Steve Allison [R] (512) 463-0686
Ken King [R] (512) 463-0736
Gary Van Deaver [R] (512) 463-0692
Morgan Meyer [R] (512) 463-0367
Scott Sanford [R] (512) 463-0356
Trent Ashby [R] (512) 463-0508
Keith Bell [R] (512) 463-0458
Speaker Dennis Bonnen (512) 463-1000
Your State Rep
Senate Public Ed Committee Script and Phone Numbers
Hi, my name is _________. I’m a (student/teacher/parent/citizen/advocate) and a member of Community Voices for Public Education, and I wanted to discuss three issues facing our public schools.
First is funding. We oppose any funding plan that provides raises to only one class of school employee. Our bus drivers, custodians and food service workers need a fair wage too. We hope that the Senate will create a package that funds full day pre-K, increases the basic allotment and devotes more revenue to the bill. We also oppose merit pay, as it fosters uncooperative and inequitable school environments.
[pause to discuss other funding issues as you please]
Second is standardized test reform. We support SB 2401, placing a 2-year moratorium on using the STAAR test to rate schools. Studies show that the STAAR is written at a reading level two grade levels above where it should be, setting children up for failure.
[pause to discuss other standardized testing issues as you please]
Third is local control. We oppose any effort to remove democratic control from local districts like HISD based solely on the results of test scores, which are highly correlated to socioeconomic status. Please support SB 1020.
Can you share with us your position on these issues and bills?
[record answers]
Thank you for your time. We hope to have your support for public schools this session!
Larry Taylor, Chair [R] (512) 463-0111
Eddie Lucio, Jr., Vice Chair [D] (512) 463-0127
Paul Bettencourt [R] (512) 463-0107
Donna Campbell [R] (512) 463-0125
Pat Fallon [R] (512) 463-0130
Bob Hall [R] (512) 463-0102
Bryan Hughes [R] (512) 463-0101
Angela Paxton [R] (512) 463-0108
Beverly Powell [R] (512) 463-0110
Kirk Watson [D] (512) 463-0114
Royce West [D] (512) 463-0123
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (512) 463-0001
Your State Senator
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