Latest news with #PublicEducation
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas' $338 billion budget passes Senate, heads to Gov. Abbott's desk
The Brief The Texas Legislature has passed a $338 billion state budget for the next two years, which now heads to Governor Greg Abbott for approval. Key spending areas include $51 billion for property tax relief, $8.5 billion for public education, and investments in the electrical grid and water infrastructure. Governor Abbott has 10 days to sign or veto the budget and related bills, or they will automatically become law. AUSTIN - The Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 1 on Saturday, marking the final passage of the state budget before it's signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Here are some of the notable ways your tax dollars will be spent over the next two years. According to a Saturday release by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the highlights of the budget are property tax relief, public education, and electrical grid and water infrastructure expansion. See breakdowns of the legislature's plans for these further down. In all, the legislature has passed a $338 billion budget to fund the state's operations for the next two years. Patrick's release notes that this is a 1.2% increase from the last biennium. The All State Funds budget for Texas is $237.1 billion, an increase of 4.8% from the last biennium. The House passed SB 1 on April 11. What they're saying Patrick's office released the following statement on his X account on Saturday: As noted by Patrick, $51 billion of the new budget is allocated towards property tax relief. What this means for the Texas homeowner is that more money will now be sent by the state to school districts, reducing the amount of property tax dollars those districts will collect from residents, in combination with a raising of the state's homestead exemption. The latter, a joint effort of Senate Bill 4 and Senate Joint Resolution 2, both passed in February, would raise the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, or $150,000 for seniors. This is the value of your home that cannot be taxed to pay for public schools; the remainder of the home's value is still eligible to be taxed. According to the Texas Tribune, this is a continuation of existing cuts that were passed in 2019. To read the Texas Tribune's full breakdown of property tax relief covered by SB 1, click here. Last week, the House and Senate were able to come to an agreement on Senate Bill 2, the sweeping school funding bill with a final price tag of $8.5 billion. The funding includes a $4.2 billion allotment towards pay raises for teachers and staff, as well as expanded incentive pay and teacher training programs. Some Texas school districts have already announced how they'll be using this funding. Other highlights include $1.3 billion for expenses like insurance, utilities and contributions to the state teacher retirement system. The increase in funding also feeds into special education funding, the funding of full-day pre-K for children of teachers, early learning interventions and career and technical education. Those changes add up to $2 billion. Also included is another $430 million for school safety improvements. Senate Bill 6, the proposal to increase Texas' electric grid reliability, and House Joint Resolution 7, which creates a state water fund, both await the governor's approval. SB 6 gives Texas oversight over energy transactions between power generators and the state's largest consumers of electricity. The Texas Tribune covered this legislation in depth in a report you can read here. HJR 7 allocates $1 billion towards the state's sales and use tax to create a water fund. The legislature plans to use this fund for projects to bolster the state's water supply. What's next SB 1 and the related legislation it would fund have either been approved or are awaiting the approval of the governor. Abbott has 10 days to either sign or veto the bills. After 10 days of no action, they would become law by default. The Source Information in this article comes from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas Legislature Online, the Texas Tribune and previous FOX reporting.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spanish instructions cut from Royal Oak Elementary Schools, draws backlash from parents
The Brief Royal Oak schools decided to cut Spanish instruction for grades K-5, and some parents are not happy with it. The district says it's about realigning resources and focusing on language learning later in a child's education. Some parents argue that's missing the point. ROYAL OAK, Mich. (FOX 2) - It was a decision to cut Spanish instruction from Royal Oak Elementary Schools, and now it has drawn backlash from parents. What they're saying The district says it's about realigning resources and focusing on language learning later in a child's education, but some families say it's a step in the wrong direction. "There are people who go to public school because they can't afford to send their kid to private school. come on, that is a privilege that lots of people do not have and of course Im going to stand up for that. Public education is part of our country," said parent Jessica Spencer. One Royal Oak parent is grappling with the question of where resources should be funneled into public schools as they're trimming Spanish as part of the curriculum for Royal Oak's youngest students. Instead, the district plans to offer a blend of literacy, STEM, and other instruction. But for many parents, the change feels like a loss. The district insists the shift will strengthen Spanish instruction by focusing on it in middle and high school, where they say students are more developmentally ready to grasp grammar and fluency. But some parents, like Spencer, argue that's missing the point. "This damages the robustness of the education and narrows the scope of what our children are being taught," she said. Dig deeper The district says it's expanding STEM programs, something Royal Oak has invested heavily in. Officials say certified teachers will lead weekly lessons in science, tech, engineering, and math. But some parents say they're still in the dark. "The lack of transparency is my top concern because there's no plan," Spencer said. Big picture view According to the Department of Education, research shows that children who start learning a second language at an early age are more likely to achieve native-like fluency. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages also notes that early language learners show stronger problem-solving skills and higher academic achievement overall. But for Eric Coletto, who plans to enroll his child in Royal Oak public schools, STEM is still a bigger priority. "I think this is a step in the right direction for Royal Oak schools to really bolster the STEM curriculum because it's going to pay dividends as schooling progresses and really open up a lot of opportunities for lucrative careers in a variety of fields," he said. The other side FOX 2 reached out to the district in a statement and the superintendent said: "We look forward to fully developing a new literacy experience for all elementary students for 2025-26, working with our reading, elementary curriculum and technology integration specialists."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Registration opens for summer reading program
Registration is open now for New Mexico's state-sponsored 2025 summer reading program. The free initiative — a joint effort by the New Mexico Public Education, Early Childhood Education and Care and Higher Education departments — will serve 15,000 students from incoming kindergartners to incoming ninth graders, sharpening their reading skills through small-group instruction in June and July. 'The state's Summer Reading Program is essential for equipping students with vital literacy skills over the summer, ensuring they continue to advance their knowledge,' Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said in a statement. She added, 'We invite New Mexican families to take advantage of this program to develop literacy and comprehension skills that will enhance their children's academic success and future.' This is the second year New Mexico will provide free summer literacy programming to students. In 2024, the state served nearly 10,000 students through a similar program as part of a statewide push to bolster students' reading progress using structured literacy, a teaching model based in explicit and systemic instruction of elements essential to reading. Plus, keeping kids' noses in books during the summer will combat summertime learning loss, said Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla. 'When students lose reading skills over the summer, it can make the start of the school year more challenging," Padilla said. "The 2025 Summer Reading Program helps students return to school confident and prepared to succeed in the classroom."
