Legislative Updates - Hedgcoxe PTA

Legislative Update

Plano ISD will hold its annual school board election on May 9th. Candidates have filed for Places 6 and 7. Get candidate and election details here.

Place 6
Position 1 - Marilyn Hinton
Position 2 - Nathan Barbera
Position 3 - Steve Navarre
Position 4 - Rama Lavu

Place 7
Position 1 - Missy Bender
Position 2 - Robert Canright

This vote will directly impact our children’s education.
Please vote! ~ Deb Levy, Legislative Chair

PLANO ISD COUNCIL of PTAs

High School Graduation Requirements:

What is the latest?
Big education bills have been introduced in both the Texas House (HB3) and Senate (SB3). Both bills are really long and include many elements that affect public education. The section that deals with high school graduation proposes some modifications to the 4x4.
We support the modifications but they do not fix the basic problems and contain some new undesirable elements.

Good News
Students will have more choices! Students with a
passion for certain elective strands will be able to fit them into their schedules and even try some additional electives that fit their interests. Students who don't really have a passion for any one thing will have the
opportunity to find a niche. There is a second degree plan choice, the Standard Plan, that does not require 4x4 and instead requires at least 3 years of math and 2 of science. (Note: there are additional specifications to this plan.) Additional 4th year math and science classes are being added that would better fit some student's needs.

Bad News
The bill calls for the creation of the Texas Plan, which is 4x4, plus two years of foreign language + 8 electives. This flexibility in electives is nice, but cuts out mandated PE, health, technology and arts classes. Our concerns range from issues about epidemic childhood obesity, need for sex education on the high school level (Texas has the 3rd highest per capita teen pregnancy rate in the US and highest for second teen pregnancy), need for technology and arts education, which we view as
essential to career success. Sadly, instead of offering the Standard Plan as an equal option, it is considered a lower degree geared toward career and technical
pursuits and requires a parent and school official to sign off on a student's participation. If voted in, these new plans will go into affect for our 6th graders, leaving all of our 7th through 10th graders under the current 4x4.

Other Parts of the bill:

Allows districts to promote kids to the next grade even if they fail TAKS
Retains the distinguished diploma for students who take a 3rd year of foreign language and show advanced measures (like AP classes)
Will eliminate TAKS and replace it with something that is also high stakes
High school students will take end of course exams
Schools will have new ratings: accredited,accredited-warned or accredited-probation
School ratings will still be based on one test taken on the one day (TAKS or other)
Districts will have new ratings that include testing data, financial information, special education compliance
Mandates a uniform GPA by the Texas Higher Education Board

The bill authors, Senator Florence Shapiro and Rep. Rob Eissler, have encouraged input on ways to improve the bill.
We encourage you to take a minute to e-mail them and share your opinion of this bill and any ideas you may have on how it can be improved. Learn more at PlanoPTA.org.

TEXAS PTA

Effective July 1, 2009: The total annual dues amount per member sent to Texas PTA (combined dues for National and Texas PTA) will be $4 which reflects the $1 increase approved by the convention delegates. Learn more at TxPTA.org.

NATIONAL PTA

A Little Involvement Means a Lot

This spring, give three hours of your time to your child’s school and see what a difference it makes.

Participate in school beautification activities.
Read to your child’s or another child’s class.
Tutor students before, during, or after school.
Help write or publish the PTA or school newsletter.
Join the planning team for a PTA or school event.
Make calls for the school or PTA.
Create classroom or event decorations.
Ask your employer for a donation.

Three hours for your child’s education is all it takes to fulfill the PTA Three for Me commitment, but it has big returns for parent-teacher communication, family-school partnerships, and student success. PTA is committed to being the leading resource for parent involvement. Learn more at PTA.org.