specified grades. specified mandates

in Science and 3-8 grades in Math and state for pay to legislation potential to

Reading/ELA assessments: academic state ESAs and vouchers oppose and funding costs identify and #FixTXSchoolFunding •

streamline and #FixTXAccountability • school fix and #SupportTXPublicED •

education, not to reduce state support state reduce to not education,

readiness standards readiness requirements entrance public for support increase to growth tax

the TEKS and align with college college with align and TEKS the and standards accountability same the to property use and #FixTXSchoolFunding •

reduce to #FixTXAccountability • held are dollars tax receiving students

all sure make and #SupportTXPublicED • formula funding finance school outdated

TEA A-F Accountability Ratings. Accountability A-F TEA the simplify and #FixTXSchoolFunding •

the repeal and #FixTXAccountabiity • requirements.

and standards uniform without schools private best. our deserve children

standards. to go they if dollars tax these for accountability Our . system finance school outdated

reduce the TEKS to align with college readiness readiness college with align to TEKS the reduce no is there and transparent not It’s dollars. tax the simplify and update to legislators ask

to repeal the A-F Accountability Ratings and to to and Ratings Accountability A-F the repeal to public divert would which Accounts Savings and out speak to time It’s system. finance

options that are sensitive to diverse learners, learners, diverse to sensitive are that options Education and vouchers traditional oppose school broken the repair to legislators aged

to develop reasonable assessment assessment reasonable develop to : We . systems school funded state all for - encour and better deserve children school

accountability and assessment system in in system assessment and accountability requirements entrance and standards our said Court Supreme Texas the System,

overhaul the current current the overhaul to legislators Ask uniform support to legislators for time It’s Finance School current the to reference In

Legislative Priority: Legislative Priority: Legislative Priority: Legislative

and your family. Here are some examples to use to tell your story. your tell to use to examples some are Here family. your and

let your legislators share your personal perspectives on these priorities and how potential legislation impacts you you impacts legislation potential how and priorities these on perspectives personal your share legislators your let

priorities that impact all students in Texas Public Schools. Tell your legislators what you think. During the session, session, the During think. you what legislators your Tell Schools. Public Texas in students all impact that priorities

As the 85th Legislative Session convenes on January 10, 2017, make sure you are informed about three legislative legislative three about informed are you sure make 2017, 10, January on convenes Session Legislative 85th the As

Your voice Your can make a difference ... difference a make can

Legislative Priorities with Practical Solutions One Voice For the 85th Session FOR TEXAS PUBLIC ED of the

WE SUPPORT: WE SUPPORT: WE SUPPORT:

Making School Making Uniform Making Finance a Standards and Accountability Legislative Requirements for and Assessment Priority All State Funded a Legislative School Systems a Priority One Voice asks legislators to support an updated and adequately Legislative Priority The purpose of the current state funded formula-based school finance In simple terms, the traditional accountability system is not clearly system, which takes into account voucher plan, tax credits or education defined. The purpose should be student and district characteristics savings accounts (ESAs) would divert to provide meaningful assessments when determining appropriate public tax dollars to private entities, with actionable information to improve levels of funding to meet state and homeschool students or parents with all students’ postsecondary readiness, local standards. little or no financial accountability to close gaps in readiness, and sustain the state, taxpayers or local commu- continuous system improvement. nities and exemption from state and federal accountability requirements.

#FixTXSchoolFunding #SupportTXPublicED #FixTXAccountability You can be a part of the solution on legislation concerning state and national issues. Contact your congressional and state legislators to voice your opinions. To view the constituency websites for your elected representatives in Washington, D. C. and Austin, visit the following websites:

www.senate.gov www.senate.state.tx.us www.house.gov www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome

STATE SENATORS STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 28 OTHER KEY For a complete list with REPRESENTATIVES The Honorable CONTACTS addresses, visit our SENATE DISTRICT 13 website at: The Honorable HOUSE DISTRICT 26 john.zerwas@house. Governor Greg Abbott Borris Miles The Honorable texas.gov Toll free: 1-800-843-5789 borris.miles@senate. Rick Miller @RepJohnZerwas https://gov.texas.gov/ texas.gov rick.miller@house. contact @BorrisLMiles texas.gov HOUSE DISTRICT 85 @GovAbbot @Vote4Rick SENATE DISTRICT 17 The Honorable Lt. Governor Dan Patrick The Honorable HOUSE DISTRICT 27 Phil Stephenson CommentLine: Joan Huffman The Honorable phil.stephenson@house. (512) 463-5342 joan.huffman@senate. Ron Reynolds texas.gov LTGConstituent.Affairs@ texas.gov ron.reynolds@house. ltgov.texas.gov @JoanHuffman texas.gov HOUSE DISTRICT131 @DanPatrick

@ronreynolds The Honorable SENATE DISTRICT 18 Alma Allen House Speaker The Honorable alma.allen@house. Joe Straus Lois Kolkhorst texas.gov joe.strausse@speaker. lois.kolkhorsts@senate. @AlmaAllen131 house.texas.gov texas.gov @SpeakerStraus @LoisKolkhorst

One Voice FOR TEXAS PUBLIC ED

WE SUPPORT: WE SUPPORT: WE SUPPORT: Making School Making Uniform Standards and Making Accountability Finance a Requirements for All State Funded and Assessment a Legislative Priority School Systems a Legislative Priority Legislative Priority

SOLUTION: SOLUTION: SOLUTION:

• Simplify outdated funding formula • Oppose traditional vouchers, tax credit • Repeal the TEA A-F Accountability Ratings (move to single-tier system) scholarships, ESAs and other programs • Streamline state academic assessments: that divert funding away from 90 Reading/ELA and Math in grades 3-8; and • Use growth in property tax base of percent of students in Texas public Science in specified grades school districts to increase support schools for public education, not to reduce • Ensure adequate resources to support full state support • All schools and districts receiving tax implementation of House Bill 5 dollars should be held to the same • Adequately fund the Instructional accountability standards and entrance • Develop reasonable assessment options that Materials Allotment (IMA) requirements are sensitive to diversity, special education, accelerated learners, English Language • Evaluate costs and related benefits of #SupportTXPublicED Learners (ELL) potential legislation that identifies the cost burden to local taxpayers and • Reduce the TEKS and align with college provides state funding to pay for any readiness standards. legislative mandates. #FixTXAccountability #FixTXSchoolFunding