Texas’ 89th legislative session is now in its seventh week, and a lot of bills regarding public education have already been submitted.
Over the last two week, we shared Arlington ISD’s legislative priorities for school funding and safety. This week, we’re posting the priority on academic growth.
The Arlington ISD Board of Trustees adopted these three priorities for the 89th Texas Legislative Session because the legislation that gets passed this year will have a big impact on public education.
The Texas legislature is responsible for public education in Texas and allocates money for public schools, crafts legislation regarding curriculum, instruction and assessment, and establishes mandates for districts to follow.
Here is Arlington ISD’s legislative priority on academic growth:
ACADEMIC GROWTH
Our Position: Students and staff in Texas deserve an educational experience that promotes academic growth and inspires students to learn both content and skills that prepare them for a bright future. Arlington ISD students receive exceptional experiences through daily classroom instruction and expansive program offerings. We welcome the opportunity to showcase our strengths and identify areas for growth through accountability. We believe that a comprehensive system, beyond standardized testing, will enhance transparency in school performance and provide a more accurate picture of the valuable services schools offer. We ask our legislators to focus on proven academic supports and a viable accountability system.
- Utilize a fair, transparent accountability system for all schools in Texas that receive public funds.
- Reduce the over-reliance on STAAR as a measure for student and school success in the accountability system.
- Accelerate access to research-based early childhood learning through enrollment-based funding for full-day pre-K for all 4-year-old students.
- Continue to allow local school districts the autonomy to adopt TEKS-aligned instructional resources that best reflect our student population.
Read the entire legislative agenda with all three priorities here.