Obama Takes Control Of Texas School Content
With one line, Texas handed the decision of what Texas kids are taught over to Barack Obama.
SB6, the school finance bill, was passed and signed at the end of the last special session. Among the important changes to the financial options available to school districts were two fundamental new developments. One changes the term “textbooks” to “instructional materials” throughout the Texas Education Code. This change in part recognizes the significant role that technology plays in all aspects of our lives.
The second change effectively removed the State Board of Education’s oversight of what our kids learn.
Our new law now allows state funds through the instructional materials allotment (IMA) to be spent on Instructional materials from the SBOE list, the Commissioner’s list, and not on the SBOE list.
Did you know that the SBOE reviews textbooks but that non-textbook “instructional materials” are outside of their oversight? And even if a publisher wants to go through the rigorous review of the SBOE, they now have no reason to do it, because Texas does not now require these materials to undergo review by the SBOE?
What does Texas require regarding oversight of what our kids learn? School districts now have the ability to “self-certify” that whatever materials they like meet the standards of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do.
Now, a group of liberal teachers, supported by a liberal administrator, and a school board who does not take their oversight role seriously can adopt any materials for which they can track to the TEKS standards. This includes materials from Planned Parenthood, CAIR, or any other group with an agenda that may not reflect parents’ values.
How did this happen? Isn’t selecting the content in our classrooms just as important as getting them funded?
Tonight, Montgomery County Eagle Forum will host a candidate forum for HD-3 and HD-15 (The Woodlands). Public Education Chairman Rob Eissler is running for re-election; his opponent is small-government Conservative Steve Toth. If these questions interest you, please attend this forum.
Here are the details:
Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:00 p.m. – State Representative Races
Shenandoah City Council Chambers
29955 I-45 North
Shenandoah, TX 77381
Candidates:
State Representative, District 3:
Bob Bagley www.TexansForBob.com
Cecil Bell, Jr. www.BellForStateRep.com
State Representative, District 15:
Rob Eissler www.RobEissler.com
Steve Toth www.SteveTothForTexas.com
Article submitted by Texas Patriots PAC
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