Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
Ways to find and retain teachers
A Blog about Education
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically Education as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of Education
This subtopic will be used to discuss bills dealing with the Texas education system. They may include legislation that has been signed into law or bills that are currently being considered in the Texas legislature. Many currently being brought are more focused on parental rights with regard to their children.
Blog Summary
They are finding new ways to encourage teachers to stay, and even means of bringing some retired teachers back. And a new way of gaining new teachers, including permitting funding through donations and gifts. And while there are more funds being given to districts, one of them requires the funds to be paid to the retained teachers. So at least some of the additional funding will find it's way to increase teacher salary.
Ways to find and retain teachers
Published: 2023-05-22
For employees of a district, the district must provide a duty calendar for professional staff and it should explain the amount of a reduction in salary of a classroom teacher, full-time counselor, or full-time librarian for unpaid leave, employee's rate of pay.
They have expanded continuing education to include digital teaching.
Permits a teacher to leave, without sanctions, if there is a serious illness or health condition of the teacher or close family member; there is a relocation of the teacher's spouse or partner with whom they reside; significant change in needs of the teacher's family to require relocation or forgoing employment; or the teacher thought they had permission to resign.
A way to award grant program funds to reimburse schools for increased contributions to the Teacher Retirement System is being added, if the school hires a teacher that retired before 9/1/22. And they want to provide guidance to help teacher retention and encouraging students to train for teaching.
A study to determine how the noninstructional duties for classroom teachers, professional requirements for educators, and the staff and student schedules are affect the amount of time classroom teachers work each week; and how to modify schedules to ensure teachers have sufficient time during normal work hours to fulfill all job duties, including addressing the needs of the students.
Schools are gaining the ability to join with teacher training groups to provide a "teacher in training" program that permits the individual to work with a qualified teacher and gain experience in teaching while gaining at least one year of clinical teaching in residency position. Gifts, grants, and donation from public and private entities may be used for this program.
Expands the times a teacher is permitted to remove a child from the classroom to include a students behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or abusive toward the teacher, an adult or another student; or engages in bullying as that is defined (Section 37.0832). Parents shall be notified of the removal. A plan must be set out and the teacher must agree that the student can return to their classroom. The student may be placed in another classroom. The student has the right to appeal the removal.
Funds to schools is increased based upon the teacher qualifications. Needs factors are increased by $1,000 for each type of teacher. The overall valuations for master teacher top end is increased by $4,000; for exemplary teacher the bottom is increased by $3,000 and the top of $7,000; for recognized teacher the bottom is increased by $2,000 and the top by $6,000; for acknowledged and nationally board certified teachers the bottom is set at $3,000 and the top at $9,000 (these were not previously included here). And there are funds made available for the partnership allotments system that is being created. Furthermore districts will be reimbursed costs of special education or bilingual education certifications, and this will be reimbursed to the teachers that did that certification.
Furthermore to assist with teacher retention, a district with 20,000 or more students will received $2,000 per classroom teachers; and a smaller district will receive $6,000 per classroom teacher. These funds must be used to increase teacher salary. This is instituted for the 2022-2023 school year.
I'm glad to see them coming up with some unique ways to encourage teacher retention and grow the available teachers. And I love that one of the funding measures requires the funds to be paid to the actual teachers, rather than the district receiving it and the teachers getting perhaps some small portion thereof. We are forever talking about how teachers deserve more pay, and using that as the basis for why we are taxed so much for ISD taxes. It is a forever, but we need to pay them more scenario so don't complain about the amount of school taxes you must pay. But the amount of increased teacher pay is minimal compared to the amount they get.
Only Luxembourg outspends the US on a per student basis. In 2017, the US spent $700 billion on public education. Yet the US ranks 38th in math and 24th in science when compared to 71 other countries. Two decades ago the US education system ranked 6th internationally. So it seems money per student is not the best factor. Perhaps if more of the funding were spent on paying classroom teachers the outcome might be better. But it's difficult to say because I hate an overarching government that tells entities precisely how to spend the money they are given. But perhaps less government regulation the system and more parental involvement would help to resolve some of the issue. I honestly don't think the districts need more funding, I think they just need to work out a better system of how they are spending it. It's the forever ending let me reach into someone else's pocket because I need more rather than let me review how the funds are being spent to make it better. And I am 100% for school choice! I say the money should follow the student. That way the parents are gaining more control and the district literally must compete for their funds.
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