Texas Education Policy Update

Texas Education CAFE™ Advocacy Network

Texas Policy Weekly Update

Each week, we are sharing the latest news about what's happening in Texas education policy and how you can make your voice heard.

Make sure you keep receiving these notices by subscribing to the Texas Education CAFE Advocacy Network!

Coming Up: Week of April 12

Hearings this week will address:

Making discipline data transparent and accessible,
Establishing an African American Studies advisory board,
Lessening high-stakes accountability for students, and
Creating a statewide plan for bilingual education.

You can watch the hearings live online. Each hearing covers multiple bills (click the links below to see the agendas). For hearings in the Texas House, you can submit comments about any of the bills being discussed during the hearing using an online portal (even if they've moved on to a different bill).

Monday

Ways & Means Committee

10:00 a.m. (See notice)

Tuesday

Public Education Committee

8:00 a.m. (See notice)

Thursday

Higher Education Committee

8:00 a.m. (See notice)

Watch hearings live

Watch past hearings

Tuesday

Senate Education Committee

9:00 a.m. (See n otice)

Wednesday

Higher Education Committee

9:00 a.m. (See notice)

Watch hearings live

Watch past hearings

Submit Your Comments this Week

IDRA holds virtual office hours to walk you through the process of submitting public comments online

Every Monday afternoon, IDRA helps students, families, educators and community members submit their own comments on education bills being debated by Texas lawmakers that week. #ShareYourStory

What happens during IDRA’s virtual office hours?

Get information on bills that will be heard by lawmakers that week.
Summarize your own story and how a proposed bill would impact schools in your community.
See how to use Texas’ online public comment portal so you can share your thoughts and ideas with lawmakers. Submit your comments!

Mondays • 4:30-5:30 pm cst

Bilingual event in English & Spanish

Note: IDRA will assist with bill information and the comment process, not on influencing a participant’s position.

Texas Bilingual Education

Family Advocacy Night Wednesday

Tell Texas policymakers why they should

support bilingual students!

Wednesday, April 14, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (cst)

Join us in a Zoom session where IDRA will help you use social media to advocate for emergent bilingual students (English learners).

This free session will be conducted in Spanish and English.

Highights from Last Week

IDRA submitted the following testimony last week.

Texas Students Need an Equitable Approach to Accelerated Programming Learning Committees – IDRA Testimony on House Bill 4545 before the Texas House Public Education Committee on April 6, 2021

HB 97 Ensures that Charter Admissions Policies Are Not Discriminatory – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 97 to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

HB 1504 Supports a Robust and Equitable Curriculum for All Students – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 1504, Presented to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

HB 2256 Improves Bilingual and Special Education Service Identification for Students – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 2256 to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

HB 2256 Creates More Ways for Teachers to Serve Bilingual and Special Education Students – IDRA Testimony for House Bill 2256 to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

HB 2554 Furthers the Inequitable Practice of Funneling Students of Color into Vocational Education – IDRA Testimony against HB 2554 to the Texas House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

Texas Needs a Statewide Approach to Internet Connectivity Across Texas School Districts – IDRA Testimony on House Bill 3261 before the Texas House Public Education Committee on April 6, 2021

The Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition submitted the following testimony last week.

Ethnic Studies Programs Promote Improvements in Student Outcomes, Especially for Students of Color – TLEEC Testimony for House Bill 1504, Submitted to House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

Potential Waiver Would Allow Districts to Support Students During a Crisis – TLEEC Testimony for House Bill 2802, Submitted to House Public Education Committee, April 6, 2021

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San Antonio, TX 78228

Phone: 210-444-1710

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