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Special Session Underway – Key Issues Impacting Public Schools
Texas lawmakers have returned to Austin for a special legislative session that began Monday, July 21. Called by Governor Abbott, this session is limited to 30 days and focused on 18 specific topics outlined in the proclamation. Several of these issues directly impact public education—and the decisions made in the coming weeks could shape the future of our schools, students, and staff.
We want to keep you informed and engaged on three key issues that could impact our schools, our students, and our community.
Protecting the Voice of Texas Public Schools
One proposal would prohibit school districts from using their funds to hire associations—like the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) or the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)—to accurately brief lawmakers on issues affecting public schools and the consequences of potential laws. Because this type of conversation is considered lobbying, these associations register as lobbyists, even if they are simply informing lawmakers of important issues. Such a bill would prevent the voices of school districts, towns and cities in the State Capitol and would instead lead lawmakers to hear more from special interest lobbyists hired by major corporations. This would silence school voices, limit access to real-time legislative updates, and force districts to be in Austin to monitor the legislative process independently. One such bill, SB 12, was rushed through committee on Tuesday. Ironically, we only learned of its passage through an association that would be banned under this very legislation. Read more in this TASB document on community censorship.
Preserving Local Control to Build, Repair, and Renovate Schools
The Governor’s call to cut property taxes may revive HB 19 that died during the regular session. The proposal limits districts’ ability to fund future school construction. Without the tools to plan responsibly, we would not be able to build new schools or add additions and would see overcrowded classrooms and major attendance zone changes. We previously shared concerns about such a limit on bond debt, and we remain committed to protecting the future of our schools. If Northwest ISD is unable to fund new school construction, the district will be forced to consider emergency rezoning where students could attend different schools each year based on enrollment and capacity.
Supporting Meaningful STAAR Reform
We are thankful to see the elimination of STAAR on the Governor’s call. We hope lawmakers consider a proposal like HB 4 from the regular session, which would have replaced STAAR with more meaningful, norm-referenced assessments that would provide immediate feedback and help monitor students’ progress throughout the year. We are also concerned that special interest lobbyists are advocating to create a super-charged version of the STAAR test. Revisit this NISD message to learn more.
Engage Your Voice
As legislators prioritize which issues to discuss during the special session, now is the time to speak up for public education. Please consider reaching out to our lawmakers who represent Northwest ISD and encourage them to:
- Vote "No" on SB 12. Associations play a critical role in allowing educators and school leaders to participate in the legislative process.
- Protect school districts’ ability to fund and build schools and to not impose state barriers.
- Support better, student-focused testing. Our students, teachers, and families deserve meaningful assessments that help monitor a students’ progress throughout the school year.
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