Safety, teacher retention and funding mechanisms to get more money into schools are top priorities for both House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, according to bills lawmakers filed by deadline for this year’s legislative session.
Some priorities for Patrick, who oversees the Texas Senate, also deal with partisan issues related to parental rights, education savings accounts and library materials.
Many of the issues addressed in education-related priority bills – such as school safety or teacher retention – are worthy efforts, even if what’s passed this year likely won’t make significant difference, said Sarah Santillanes, department chairwoman for teacher preparation at Huston-Tillotson University.
“They’re Band-Aids to much more serious problems,” Santillanes said.
Brian Smith, political science professor at St. Edward’s University, said that though Democratic and Republican lawmakers agree on some of the Legislature's priorities, how to achieve them and what the final proposals will look like will require much debate.
To read the full story visit https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2023/03/15/texas-legislature-here-are-house-senate-education-priority-bills/69985417007/