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Texas Special Legislative Session Update

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

The 88th Texas Legislature has been called back to Austin for its third special session, focusing on border security, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and school choice, according to the agenda that is set forth by Governor Greg Abbott.

Funding and School Choice Initiatives

Previously, in the 88th Regular Session that ended in June, approximately $4 billion in extra funding that had been budgeted and intended for public education enhancements and teacher pay raises was left unapproved due to a lack of agreement on the debate around school choice. Now, new public education funding and school choice initiatives are being reconsidered jointly in the third special session by members of the legislature.

HB 1 Proposes School Funding Increase

Texas House Education Chairman Brad Buckley (R-Salado) has proposed HB 1, a comprehensive bill aiming to increase school funding. This bill includes the basic allotment, provides teacher pay raises, and tackles school choice. Collaborating closely with TCEA, the bill incorporates two significant educational initiatives and legislative priorities that TCEA has long advocated for.

  1. The establishment of a Digital Teaching Micro Credential which would recognize educators’ expertise in virtual and blended education.
  2. The implementation of recommendations from the Texas Virtual School Commission; including professional development grants for professional development in virtual instruction.

TCEA’s Role and Legislative Priorities

TCEA will continue to play a robust role, actively working to ensure that these transformative educational initiatives are passed into law. TCEA has advocated for good public policy regarding the use of technology in our classrooms and districts for many years. We have been successful in helping to shape the policies regarding the availability and use of digital tools and resources, but there are still barriers that must be addressed.

TCEA thanks members like Chairman Brad Buckley, Representative Keith Bell, Senator Paul Bettencourt, Representative Steve Allison, and Chairman Brandon Creighton for their support of TCEA legislative priorities.

Learn More about TCEA’s Legislative Priorities
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Advocacy

An Urgent Appeal for Virtual and Digital Education in Texas

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

In the 88th Regular Session, transformative legislative proposals such as HB 681 by Rep. Keith Bell, SB 1861 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, and HB 4358 by Rep. Steve Allison would have had the potential to redefine public education in Texas, positioning the state as leaders in digital and virtual education. 

Headshots of Rep. Keith Bell, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, and Rep. Steve Allison

Virtual and Hybrid Education Options

The proposed legislation, although unsuccessful in securing final passage in the final weeks of the legislative session, offered an innovative framework for districts and charter schools to extend high-quality hybrid and virtual education options in Texas. By enabling parents to work with schools in selecting the most suitable learning modality for their child, this legislation broadened the educational opportunities available to students, without undermining the role of traditional learning environments.

Flexible Learning Models and Advances Courses

The legislation was also designed to empower students with flexible learning models that foster work-based learning and apprenticeships, augmenting the impact of early college, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and PTECH models. Importantly, it ensured equal access to advanced courses across the state, resolving current access and hiring challenges, particularly in rural areas.

Commitment to Quality and Accountability

The legislation carried a commitment to quality and accountability, promising high-quality options for all students, stringent safeguards for students with special needs, and strong accountability measures for student outcomes.

Consideration for Educators

It also respected the needs of our teachers, prohibiting pandemic-style simultaneous instruction and guaranteeing optional participation in virtual teaching.

TCEA also believes in the importance of a Digital Teaching Micro-Credential for educators, which would recognize their expertise in virtual and blended education and student success within the existing continuing education framework.

The Urgency of Prioritizing Virtual and Digital Education Legislation

Quote "We strongly encourage Governor Greg Abbott to consider adding legislation including virtual and digital education to any upcoming special session."

To develop an education system responsive to the future of teaching and learning, similar legislation to HB 681, HB 4358 and SB 1861 are vital, especially since there is a sunset date currently in the virtual education code that ends this school year. Without the aforementioned legislation, tens of thousands of students who have been choosing a virtual or hybrid option would immediately lose it. 

Therefore, on behalf of TCEA’s 80,000 member educators, we strongly encourage Governor Greg Abbott to consider adding legislation including virtual and digital education to any upcoming special session.

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Photo of the Texas Capitol Building with title: May 2023 Advocacy Update: Recap of the 88th Texas Legislative Session
Advocacy

Recap of the 88th Texas Legislative Session

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) has long been an advocate for the incorporation of technology in education, expanding access to broadband, digital and virtual learning, and increased cybersecurity and technology infrastructure. While we wait for a pending special session(s) on additional school funding, the 88th Texas Legislative Session concluded on Monday, May 29. Let’s take a look at where things ended as it relates to TCEA’s advocacy efforts.

Broadband Access

A notable achievement in access to broadband was the passage of HB 9 by Rep. Trent Ashby, which establishes the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund with $230,200,000 to ensure widespread access to reliable high-speed broadband. Equally instrumental is SB 1238 by Sen. Robert Nichols, which permits the State Broadband Development Office to provide financial incentives for expanding broadband service access, including those critical to remote learning and in equipment education.

Technology and Instructional Needs

As part of the State Budget (HB 1), the following funding was passed:

  • Just over $1 billion for the Technology and Instructional Materials Allotment (TIMA)
  • $56 million for school district cybersecurity
  • $49.4 million for virtual education
  • $10 million for computer science professional development
  • $12 million for interactive online learning models
  • $500,000 for a digital teaching micro-credential program

Digital and Virtual Learning

Our work in digital and virtual learning saw mixed results. HB 681/SB 1861 by Rep. Keith Bell and Sen. Paul Bettencourt would have:

  • Enabled public school districts and charter schools to offer virtual and hybrid options to respond effectively to family and student demand for approaches that fit learners’ unique needs.
  • Created adequate and equitable funding mechanisms and an authorization process to open new virtual and hybrid campuses.
  • Ensured access to advanced coursework in the face of longstanding challenges like local course availability and teacher shortages through continued access to individual virtual courses.
  • Incorporated the many unanimous recommendations from the Texas Virtual School Commission.

Unfortunately, political forces stalled the bill in the last week of the regular session. TCEA is hopeful for its inclusion in a future special session.

Micro-Credentials for Educators

Additionally, HB 4358 by Rep. Steve Allison would have established a digital teaching micro-credential for educators, recognizing their expertise in virtual and blended education. It received significant support in the House and Senate and was even added to major bills such as SB 9 and HB 100. However, the language was never adopted due to politics in the last week of the regular session; thus, necessitating further action in a future special session.

Digital Devices, Materials, and Textbooks

HB 18 passed by Rep. Shelby Slawson proposed standards for permissible electronic devices and software applications in schools that TEA will implement. TCEA remained neutral given its political complexity. Similarly, HB 1605 by Rep. Brad Buckley proposed a new unified process for instructional materials reviews, including a supplemental funding formula and an additional printing fund. TEA will be required to ensure free open-source digital textbooks are available to districts.

K-8 Technology

In any legislative session, there are also bills that would negatively impact technology integration in classrooms that TCEA opposed. For instance, HB 5104 sought to ban electronic devices and digital instruction for K-8 grades, and SB 2141 intended to eliminate the technology applications curriculum for K-5 grades. Neither of these two measures was ultimately passed.

Special Session(s)

The 88th Texas Legislative Session saw important strides and setbacks, and TCEA remains dedicated to ensuring technology’s constructive role in education. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to additional progress in the impending special session(s). Stay tuned for more advocacy updates!

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Advocacy

TCEA’s Legislative Priorities for the 88th Texas Legislature

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

The 88th Texas Legislature convened on Tuesday, January 10, when all 150 House Members and 31 Senators took their oaths of office. The Governor and Lt. Governor take their oaths today, on Wednesday, January 11. The legislative session will continue for 180 days, and TCEA will be taking an active role in advocating for the investment in and use of technology in education. We have been successful in helping to shape policies regarding the availability and use of digital tools and resources in the past, but there are still issues that must be addressed. The following four focus areas are the legislative priorities approved by the TCEA Board of Directors for the 88th Texas Legislature.

TCEA’s Legislative Priorities

Broadband 

  • Increase the funding for the installation of vital broadband infrastructure for school districts.
  • Permit cities of a specified size to provide broadband services to their citizens after an exhaustive study to determine if that is the best solution for their citizens. 
  • Include broadband infrastructure projects in the list of eligible projects for public-private partnership funding.
  • Remove barriers for families to receive federal subsidies for at-home access.
  • Direct TEA to continue to offer bulk pricing for student device procurement, as well as broadband equipment.

Digital Learning 

  • Provide dedicated funding for teacher professional development for technology-related courses:
    • Prepare K-8 teachers for the revised Technology Applications standards
    • Increase the number of computer science certified teachers
    • Continue to provide professional development for K-12 technology teachers

Virtual Learning

  • Replace the outdated, time-based system (Carnegie unit) of awarding credits and funding with one based on a student’s competency. 
  • Continue to allow districts to offer full-time virtual learning for their students.
  • Determine a method to ensure that full-time, statewide virtual schools provide quality education for students. This will necessitate the state to establish a new method of determining which districts can deliver a quality education that is not dependent on the date by which they started their statewide program. 

Cybersecurity and Technology Infrastructure

  • Require cybersecurity training for school district employees who use a computer for at least 25% of their work time.
  • Increase funding for cybersecurity and other technology-related equipment and infrastructure.
  • Provide funding to help train technology staff on ways to prevent cybersecurity attacks.

TCEA is actively monitoring developments as the legislature continues to organize and members are assigned specific chairmanships and committee assignments. Once members have been assigned committees, TCEA will be requesting members to file and sponsor legislation on our behalf.

If you are TCEA member who is interested in participating in grassroots advocacy during the legislative session, please reach out to me at mrussell@tcea.org!

Further Reading:

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