As the school year begins, so do opportunities to speak at Houston ISD board meetings. There are two important items that CVPE will be speaking on at tomorrow’s board meeting (August 12, 2021): an HISD mask mandate and proposed additional funding for Tasers and other items for HISD Police. Can you speak on these items? Read more

In late June, Governor Abbott signed into law HB 3979 that "restricts how current events and America’s history of racism can be taught in Texas schools." The governor has prioritized both a further expansion of undemocratic censorship and voter suppression during the Special Session that began last Thursday.  Read more

Governor Abbott has called a special legislative session starting today, and he's making voter suppression his top priority along with critical race theory.   Can you join Labor in Austin on Tuesday, July 13th for the Lobby Day to Defend Voting Rights this Tuesday, July 13th! Read more

The legislative session is over on May 31 and it's go time! First the bad news.   Last night the Texas House voted for HB1365, a “compromise” school takeover bill. This version keeps HISD and school districts all over the state in the TEA’s crosshairs and ensures that STAAR scores remain the be-all end-all for any struggling school.  Read more

SB1365 has been postponed until Sunday. This takeover bill is so bad for kids and schools that NO amendments will make it better.  Read more

On Thursday, the Texas House will vote on Senate Bill 1365, a bill that would make it easier for the unelected TEA commissioner of education to take over our local school districts. It makes STAAR even more high stakes and is an affront to democracy and local control.  Read more

This legislative session is so horrible for public education that the conclusion we may need to make is this:  Texas government is a threat to public schools and schoolchildren. Read more

There is a $10 Billion corporate tax break bill in the Legislature that is so bad that both the progressive Every Texan and the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation are vigorously opposing it. Read more below. Read more

It is Teacher Appreciation Day. Can you think of a worse present for a teachers or their students than to use STAAR to punish even more students, teachers and their schools? HB 3731, being heard today in the House, would expand TEA's state takeover authority based on STAAR scores. Read more

A pair of bills approaching a vote in the Texas House will significantly expand state power over local school districts. The bills, authored by Senator Bettencourt and Representative Dutton, are aimed at Houston ISD but will impact all public school districts in the state. The two legislators are impatient for the Texas Education Agency to take over HISD. The district is the first to fight the TEA in court, delaying the change in control for the past year. Read more