AUSTIN, Texas – With the House and Senate conference committee meeting for the first time today to consider the two bodies differing approaches to the education reforms found in House Bill 2, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s director of research, Chris Patterson, offered the following statement:
“If conference committee members stand firm on key provisions of the House and Senate bills, the landscape for public schools will improve. We strongly support the requirement that districts spend at least 65 percent of their money in the classroom; schools must do a better job of accounting for how they spend our money. In the House version of HB2, there is finally a minimum academic standard established for accreditation – this is long overdue. It is imperative that instruction efforts focus on getting students ready for jobs and college, instead of the latest tests. A key reform would see effective teachers financially rewarded.
“Unfortunately, the most important and lasting reform is not included: school choice. Until parents have greater choice, comprehensive reform will remain beyond our grasp.
“The Foundation urges the conference committee to stand firm and offer all children the opportunity to secure the education they need to be successful.”