Texas education

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Senate has approved a proposal allowing a majority of parents in a school district to petition for closing struggling public schools in three years — rather than the current five.

Since my two children were young, I’ve always been involved with their schools. I know that a good education is one of the most important things I can give my kids if I want them to have a brighter future.

AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas Senate has approved a proposal allowing a majority of parents in a school district to petition for closing struggling public schools in three years — rather than the current five.

AUSTIN — Parents would be able to force overhaul or closure of a failing public school after three years, under legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate.

In February, Texans for Education Reform welcomed former New York City Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein as our keynote speaker at a legislative luncheon focused on the challenges and opportunities facing Texas public schools.

There are currently 297 public school campuses in Texas that have been failing for at least two consecutive school years. And there are 147,769 children trapped in those schools. You and I don't know the names of these children but they are depending on us, nonetheless, to do something that will change their future. Their future, in most cases, is determined by their access to a quality education. If their future is dimmed, that will be largely the fault of those of us in a position to make a difference - elected officials, parents, community and education leaders.

Regarding "Same tired ideas cloaked as education reform earn lawmakers 'F' (Page B1, April 1), Lisa Falkenberg's column attacks Sen. Larry Taylor's, R-Friendswood, bill to rate public school campuses A-F by inaccurately stating that the ratings will only reflect high-stakes test scores. In fact, Taylor's bill will not go into effect until 2017-18, after the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessment and Accountability has recommended the kinds of cutting edge assessments and metrics we need to employ.

AUSTIN -- Prospective teachers would have a more rigorous path to the classroom and stronger continuing education under a pair off bills passed by the Senate Tuesday. Forty percent of Texas public school teachers are certified under the alternative certification program, where people who have college degrees but didn't study education can learn how to become classroom teachers.

With each issue, Trib+Edu brings you an interview with experts on issues related to public education. Here is this week's subject:

John Fitzpatrick is the executive director of Educate Texas. He previously served as executive director of the Capital Area Training Foundation, now Skillpoint Alliance, building relationships between the business sector, educational interest groups and community partners for the benefit of Central Texans. Concurrently, he held the position of vice president for education and workforce development at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and sat on the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. He received a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and a master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas.

AUSTIN — Individual public schools would be graded on their performance — from an A to an F, much like students — under legislation tentatively approved by the Texas Senate on Monday.