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.

In this issue

Coming Up: Week of May 24
Time to press for HB 3979 conference
IDRA Report Links Lack of Broadband Access to Student Disengagement
Coalition Holds Events to Protect Free Speech in the Classroom
IDRA Submits Testimony on Key Education Bills
Video Advocacy Campaign: Digitally Divided, Community United
Tools & Resources

Coming Up: Week of May 24

This is the last week of the 2021 regular session. The time period for public hearings has ended. You can watch floor action and possibly committee work at the links below.

Watch House floor proceedings

Watch Senate floor proceedings

Opportunities for Action

Time to press for HB 3979 conference

HB 3979 was passed out by the Senate this weekend. Before it goes to the governor's desk, it must go back to the House since there are differences between the two. We are requesting the House to send the bill to a conference committee, where the House and Senate can meet to discuss concerns and major changes made in the Senate. This is crucial to be sure our voices are heard on HB 3979.

You can help! Send an email to Speaker Dade Phelan asking him to send HB 3979 to a conference committee.

Highlights from Last Week

IDRA Report Links Lack of Broadband Access to Student Disengagement

Since the transition to remote learning during the pandemic, schools struggle to reconnect with hundreds of thousands of students. IDRA released a new study last week that found that the problem is bigger than any school strategy. IDRA’s report, Plugged in, Tuned Out – A First Examination of Student Engagement Patterns in Texas Public Schools During COVID-19, makes clear that, in many parts of Texas, student disengagement during the pandemic was a direct result of limited broadband access.

Authored by Christina Muñoz, an IDRA Education Policy Fellow, the report includes data on how student engagement patterns differed across school district sizes showing that broadband Internet access was a significant predictor of full student engagement for larger, more urban school districts.

Coalition Holds Events to Protect Free Speech in the Classroom

Virtual Town Hall

Leading up to the Senate floor debate on Friday, community members spoke out against HB 3979. Many constituents did not get to testify when the Senate State Affairs committee suspended the rules and passed the bill without hearing the lines of people ready to present public testimony about why practical, real-life civics education is important. So, we held our own hearing.

Watch the town hall with two-minute testimony by teachers, students, educators and community members.

Press Conference

The coalition against HB 3979 also held a virtual press conference featuring students, teachers, educators and superintendents.

Speakers were:

Jahziel Leduna, student
Dr. Jeannie Stone, Richardson ISD Superintendent
Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD Superintendent
Charlene Stark, senior advisor, strategic & legislative initiatives at North Texas Commission
Candace Hunter, former social studies teacher
Araceli García, IDRA Education Policy Fellow, moderator

Watch the press conference.