texas public education

In the 86th legislative session, Texas lawmakers committed to increase funding for public schools by passing House Bill 3. That unity led to teachers getting raises, school districts getting funds to offer or expand full-day pre-K programs to eligible 4-year-olds, and taxpayers getting property tax relief.

This year, the pandemic presents major budget challenges for public schools. In the 87th legislative session, vouchers could put public schools at risk of losing those funds from the previous session.

In our latest Intersect Ed podcast episode, part of our legislative agenda series, our host Alejandro Izaguirre debunks the myth that school choice does not exist in Texas public schools. Listen from education policy professors who will also highlight the negative impacts voucher programs have on students and families. You’ll also hear from experts at Raise Your Hand Texas and school leaders across the state on how public schools are stepping up to offer more school choice options for their students.

This Intersect Ed episode examines the misconceptions around students who are “missing” from their public school. Critics often place blame on educators saying they are not doing enough to find their students. What we know is the exact opposite: educators are going above and beyond to stay connected to their students.

As conversations around the state budget begin to happen at the Capitol, our public schools need more funding so they can continue to lead the charge of our state’s recovery. Educators are working tirelessly to support their students every day. This work is often tedious and time consuming, but it is also often the most impactful.

In our ninth episode of Intersect Ed, hosted by Raise Your Hand’s Tessa Benavides, we hear directly from superintendents and educators who are working daily to ensure every student across Texas is connected to their school. Throughout the episode, listeners will learn about the lengths school districts are going to find students and what barriers they are helping students and families to navigate throughout the pandemic.

We’ve said since the beginning that the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation Poll is for everyone. It is for educators, researchers, lawmakers, and communities. It represents the voices of all Texans about an issue that impacts all Texans. It is Texas’ poll.

The eighth Intersect Ed podcast episode features education experts from a variety of fields reflecting on the Foundation Poll data and how it impacts their work. This was always the goal — that Texas across fields would use the research to inform decisions and stimulate action to improve public education for all students and families.

The experts we spoke with are: Heather Sheffield the board president of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessments and a school board trustee in Eanes ISD; Chandra Kring Villanueva, the economic opportunity program director at Every Texan, formally the Center for Public Policy Priorities; Dr. Charles Martinez, the dean of the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin; and Kevin Malonson the Texas executive director for Teach Plus.

Anette visits with Chandra Kring Villanueva on school finance in Texas, focusing on the recently released paper on HB3. As complicated as it is, Chandra knows her school finance, and helps explain it here.

As Program Director of the Economic Opportunity Team, Chandra oversees the Center for Public Policy and Priorities' work on education, workforce development and job quality. She joined CPPP in 2010 and focused on school finance and education policy ranging from early education to higher education access and success. Prior to joining the Center, Chandra was the manager of Advocacy and Public Policy with the Women’s Prison Association (WPA) in New York City. At WPA, she educated formerly incarcerated women on the legislative process and researched options for pregnant women in the criminal justice system. Chandra has also served as a Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center with placements in Tucson, Arizona and Washington, DC. Chandra earned a Master of Public Administration from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and a Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

Special Edition for COVID-19: Hear from Dr. Kevin Brown, executive director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), about how school districts and educators across Texas are stepping up to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic. How do over 1000 districts pivot to continue providing education to the 5.4 millions students in Texas public schools in just a week or two? By loving the work and the students they serve, according to Kevin.

The mission of TASA is to promote, provide, and develop leaders who create and sustain student-centered schools and develop future-ready students.

Brown, who holds a doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in education administration from Texas State University, and a bachelor’s degree in government with honors from The University of Texas at Austin, has a wealth of experience in public education.

Prior to joining the TASA staff in 2018, he led Alamo Heights ISD as superintendent for 10 years after serving as a teacher, assistant principal and principal, and in district-level positions in human resources and communications in Southwest, Round Rock, New Braunfels and Alamo Heights ISDs. Dr. Brown has also taught graduate courses at Texas State University and guest lectured at Trinity University.

During his career, he has held top leadership roles in TASA, the Texas School Coalition, the Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools, and the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators.

Dr. Brown is a passionate advocate for public education and believes that quality teachers and a supportive community are critical components to the success of children and to the continued success of our democratic way of life.