Stop House bill 2-Contact your senate and house reps

[adarling]

Both the Senate and the House versions of House Bill 2 contain a provision requiring districts to spend at least 50%, phased up to 65%, of revenue on direct instructional activities. Direct instructional activities are defined as being limited to courses inside the foundation curriculum as described by Sec. 28.002(a)(1) and subject to assessment under Subchapter B, Chapter 39.

The state currently divides the curriculum into three categories: the foundation curriculum, the enrichment curriculum, and other locally developed courses. Both the foundation and enrichment curriculum are state defined and state required. Courses in the enrichment curriculum include foreign languages, health, physical education, fine arts, economics, career and technology education and technology applications. Expenditures related to these courses would not be considered as relating to direct instructional activities under provisions of the bill. In layman’s terms, direct instructional activities would include only the four areas that are tested by the TAKS test – English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. This section would probably also be interpreted to exclude expenditures that are related to classroom instruction including teaching support, curriculum and staff development and guidance counseling services.



This provision would result in:

• Funds currently used for programs such as choir, band, orchestra, physical education, health education, foreign language, CATE (vocational courses), computer science, journalism and athletics will be re-directed to math, English, science and social studies.

• A reduction in the number of courses offered that meet the requirements of the Recommended High School program.

• A reduction or elimination of advanced elective courses.

• Funds currently used for library services, curriculum and instructional support, guidance and counseling, health services, transportation, co-curricular/extra-curricular, security, grounds and custodial services will have to be reduced and re-directed to the core subjects.

We have to stop this guys, contact me if you want more info, the McKinney Independant School district is fighting this measure.

[acmejack]

1. I swear this lege is the worst I have seen!

And as a 52 year old, that is saying a lot. The fact we are in Texas says a helluva lot more!

These people are versatilely incompetent, screwing up whatever it is they touch. Remember the time spent keeping us safe from the licentiousness of cheerleaders?

[adarling]

2. i know

its sick and i am a product of the arts in Texas, they have some of the best programs in the country. I don't want to see it disappear, i am 22 years old and an opera student at Indiana University. Wouldn't be here without a good start off in the texas choral programs.

[tammywammy]

3. When you think there's nothing more they can screw up

They prove you wrong.

As someone who took orchestra, French, editor-in-chief of the yearbook, this is disgusting.

Arrgh, I just want to strangle them. Don't they realize how having a well-rounded education is better.

Eliminate the advanced classes? Cut the library sevices? Cut security?

What's wrong with those down in Austin???