Latest news with #TexasSchools
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Texas set to require display of Ten Commandments in state schools
Texas is preparing to force schools to display The Ten Commandments, in a victory for hardline Christian activists. The 'Ten Commandments' bill easily passed the state's Republican-held House of Representatives on Friday and must return to the state Senate for final approval before send-off to Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign the legislation into law. Under the proposal, a 20-inch tall 'durable poster or framed copy' of the biblical laws would be displayed in a 'conspicuous place' in every primary and secondary school classroom across the state. The bill is likely to face fierce challenges under the US Constitution's first amendment – which expressly forbids establishment of a state religion – and has been dubbed a 'flagrant disregard for the separation of church and state' by the progressive American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Nevertheless, Dan Patrick, Texas's lieutenant governor, said passing the bill was a priority for this year's legislative session. The US state of Louisiana was the first to mandate the presence of The Ten Commandments in schools in 2024, and the US state of Arkansas enacted a similar law in April. Mr Patrick wrote at the time on X that 'Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools', referencing a previous bill that had failed. A federal judge later struck down Louisiana's law as 'unconstitutional on its face', which the state is appealing. Phil King, a Republican state senator and vocal advocate for Christian causes who introduced this iteration of Texas's bill, wrote on X: 'It's time to return the 10 Commandments to our classrooms where they were displayed for over 200 years. 'Few documents in the history of Western civilization and in American history have had a larger impact on our moral and legal code, and our culture, than the 10 Commandments.' It's time to return the 10 Commandments to our classrooms where they were displayed for over 200 years. Few documents in the history of Western civilization and in American history have had a larger impact on our moral and legal code, and our culture, than the 10 Commandments. — Phil King (@PhilKingTX) March 20, 2025 Placing The Ten Commandments in schools has long been a goal of hardline Christian groups, who have argued the institutions have become hotbeds of secularism and immorality. They have been backed for years by the more fringe factions of the Republican Party, but the idea has recently become more mainstream. Donald Trump has previously thrown his support behind displaying The Ten Commandments, writing on Truth Social in 2024: 'I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ IT – HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? 'THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA2024.' However, it is unclear how the legislation will be enforced, and a committee analysis of the state Senate's version of the bill says it 'does not expressly create a criminal offence'. The Texas and Louisiana bills are nearly identical to a 1978 law in the US state of Kentucky which mandated the display of The Ten Commandments and was two years later ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in the case of Stone v Graham. Texas also passed a separate piece of legislation last week allowing for a period of prayer or religious study during the school day. However, supporters of increased religion in schools were dealt a setback on Thursday after the US Supreme Court deadlocked on the US state of Oklahoma's first-ever taxpayer-funded religious charter school, which meant a lower court ruling which declared it unconstitutional was affirmed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Senate unanimously passes $8.5 billion school funding bill
AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas public schools are one step closer to receiving new state money after the Senate on Friday unanimously approved an $8.5 billion funding package, a deal born out of lengthy negotiations with the House. House Bill 2 provides districts a $55 per-student increase to their base funding while setting aside a new pot of money for schools' insurance, transportation, utilities and other costs. The legislation also includes billions for teacher pay and special education, as well as money for educator preparation, early childhood learning and staff salaries. After Friday's 31-0 vote in the Senate, HB 2 now goes back to the House, where lawmakers are expected to sign off on the changes before sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk for final approval. Lawmakers from both chambers formally announced an agreement on how to fund the state's schools earlier this week, as the 2025 legislative session approaches the finish line. Sen. Brandon Creighton, who chairs the Senate's education committee, called it the most 'transformative education plan that Texas has ever seen.' 'Two years ago, this chamber passed historic education reforms and funding, and took historic steps forward. But as we all know, the bill did not make it across the finish line,' the Conroe Republican said as he revealed the rewritten legislation on the Senate floor late Thursday. 'In hindsight, maybe the wait was worth it, because this legislation, House Bill 2, delivers what Texas students and Texas educators truly need and have been asking for.' The agreement on public school funding comes weeks after both chambers agreed to spend $1 billion over two years to create a school voucher program, which will allow families to use public taxpayer dollars to fund their children's private school or pay for a wide range of school-related expenses. Senate Republicans and Democrats alike celebrated HB 2, the funding bill, which marks a dramatic shift from the flexible spending system that district leaders and public education advocates wanted. The bill gives the Legislature broader input on how schools must spend the state money they receive. Despite some lingering concerns, many public education advocacy organizations on Friday applauded HB 2's passage in the Senate. 'Since 2019, we've seen what happens when the state makes a major investment in schools but does not return each session thereafter to build on that foundation,' Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement. 'Targeted, directed allotments are a novel approach, and we hope the Legislature continues to fund them in future sessions. This must be the start of a longer conversation about what our students, educators, and schools truly need to thrive.' In addition to the $55 per-student base funding increase, HB 2 would allocate $500 million that districts can use to increase the salaries of school counselors, librarians, nurses and other support staff. The bill also grants schools $106 per student to pay costs associated with transportation, insurance, utilities and hiring retired educators, which has become more common as schools struggle to fill their teacher vacancies. HB 2 would raise educator pay, which represents more than $4 billion of the proposal's overall funding. To do so, the bill dictates: Teachers with three to four years of experience in school districts with 5,000 or fewer students would receive a $4,000 raise, while those with five or more years of teaching on their resume would earn $8,000. Teachers with three to four years of experience in school districts with more than 5,000 students would earn a $2,500 raise, while those with five or more years of experience would receive $5,000. The bill also would overhaul Texas' special education funding system to account for the individual needs of each student; establish a compensation system for educator preparation and mentorship programs; set aside money for schools to better identify learning difficulties among the state's youngest students; and raise the amount of money districts receive for safety upgrades. 'We've all been patient to see this day come and been patient for the last couple of days,' said Sen. Borris L. Miles, D-Houston. 'This is something that we can all go home, I think, and tell our colleagues that we have changed the face of educational finance in the state of Texas.' School administrators and public education advocates have spent much of the legislative session pleading for more money, pointing to budget shortfalls and rising operational costs. That has come as districts all over Texas have had to shutter critical programming, shorten school weeks and close campuses in no small part due to stagnant funding. School leaders have advocated for raising the basic allotment, which districts rely on to pay the salaries of full-time district employees. The allotment also gives schools the flexibility to pay for a range of other needs on their respective campuses, including insurance, maintenance and instructional materials. A previous House proposal had sought to boost the basic allotment from $6,160 to $6,555 per student. Senators, however, wanted a more modest allotment increase, instead focusing their attention on teacher raises tied to years of experience, location and performance. Direct state investment in educators, senators argued, would free up districts to use more of their base funding elsewhere, including salaries for support staff and campus maintenance. But that argument did not go over well with school leaders, who felt they would still struggle to provide similar raises to employees other than teachers who are critical to school operations and positive student outcomes. Districts also worried they would be left dealing with inflationary pressures that have only intensified since the state last raised the basic allotment in 2019. The Legislature decided two years ago not to provide schools with a significant boost in funding after the failed 2021 attempt to create a school voucher program. This year, with a bill creating vouchers already signed into law, lawmakers say they have settled on the Senate's modest $55 basic allotment increase while sending schools money to address some of the basic costs districts said they struggled with. Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, said on Friday: 'We're not going to let perfect get in the way of good.' This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans – and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Record spending increase for public schools passes in the Texas Senate, heads to the House
The Texas Senate unanimously passed House Bill 2 on Friday, allocating billions more for the state's public schools. Lawmakers in the upper chamber voted 31-0 just before 7 p.m., with Republicans and Democrats united in approving the $8.5 billion increase over the next two years — $500 million more than initially agreed upon last week. Texas Capitol at sunset on a cloudy day Getty Images/iStockphoto The measure includes $4.2 billion for pay raises for teachers with more than three years of experience and for non-administrative staff. There is also additional funding for special education, full-day pre-K, and school safety. Republicans say this new funding is four times the usual increase in school spending. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said on the chamber floor: "I believe this will be the most transformative education package in Texas history. It surpasses every major school finance effort before it and reflects months of collaboration, tough conversations, and a shared commitment to our students and teachers. I want to be clear: this is historic funding, but it's not a blank check." Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, said: "I believe we can be proud of a lot of things in this budget. I want to thank you for the commitments you've made—first and foremost, the investment that's going to make a difference in our communities and our schools." While there was widespread bipartisan support in the Texas Senate on Friday evening, some Democrats in the Texas House, including Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, have been critical of school spending, arguing this new funding is still not enough. Talarico told CBS News Texas on Thursday that he is not impressed by the $8.5 billion increase. "People see a big number and think it sounds pretty good, and it is better than nothing. But Texas is a big state, so the numbers are going to sound big." The legislation now returns to the Texas House, where it is expected to pass. In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott said the bill will put "Texas on the pathway to be the best state in the nation for education." The legislative session wraps up on June 2. Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 a.m. Sunday on CBS News Texas, on-air and streaming. Follow Jack on X: @cbs11jack
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Does your child identify as a cat? There's a man in Texas who can help
M ove over, Wagatha Christie: Furlock Holmes is investigating 'non-human behaviour' in Texas schools. A Republican state representative called Stan Gerdes recently filed a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Educational Spaces (FURRIES) Act, which would ban schoolkids from acting like animals. No hissing during history, no meowing during maths, and absolutely no relieving yourself in a litter box during lunch break, according to the FURRIES Act. Are animal impersonations a serious issue in Texas's schools? Gerdes insists so, noting in a press release that he had heard reports of a 'furry-related incident' in at least one school. When pressed on the issue, however, he was unable to provide any actual evidence of schools providing litter boxes for students who identify as felines. This, of course, is because there aren't any examples. Nevertheless, the myth that schools are hotbeds of cat-litter-based activity has been circulating for years, amplified by numerous Republicans and conservative influencers. I should note that, having investigated the matter back in 2022, NBC News was able to find one example of a school that had cat litter in its classrooms. But you know why that was? It was part of an emergency supply kit in case kids were locked in a classroom for an extended amount of time during a school shooting. There were 56 school shootings in the US last year, by the way. Furries weren't responsible for any of them. I am sure there are people out there so indoctrinated by Fox News and internet brain-rot that they sincerely believe teachers are trying to turn innocent schoolchildren into cats. But I highly doubt Gerdes is one of them. Rather, this all seems to be a cynical attempt to attack public (state) schools and justify defunding them. Tellingly, Texas governor Greg Abbott referenced the FURRIES Act during a recent speech in which he was trying to promote a bill (which has now passed) that would allow for taxpayer money to be used to help certain students pay for private school tuition. Distracting your gullible voters with culture war nonsense so you can pass legislation that will make the rich richer and hurt the most vulnerable? It's a Republican tail as old as time. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
