A Focus on Instruction and Flexible Graduation Plans
By State Rep. Jason Isaac
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas — As we’ve all headed back to school, I want to update you on legislation that passed during the 2013 Session earlier this year that impacts on our Texas public schools and the 5+ million school children across the state.
Increase in Funding:
We appropriated an additional $3 billion in General Revenue for Public and Higher Education, a 7.1% increase over the previous biennium. Public and Higher Education now represent 54% of General Revenue spending.
Focus on Instruction:
Since first taking office in 2011, one of my top priorities has been to reduce unfunded mandates on schools to help them reduce costs. I have authored and co-authored legislation to reduce burdensome standardized testing. Students, teachers, and parents alike have expressed their frustration about spending too much time preparing to take a test, when we should be preparing students for the future.
House Bill 5, which I co-authored, reduces the number of mandated end-of-course tests in high school from 15 to 5. This will significantly reduce the number of school days spent on standardized testing (along with the stress and pressure that comes with these tests) while still providing a means to measure students’ abilities on a statewide scale.
We also eliminated the over-testing of students in grades 3-8 by decreasing the number of tests from 17 to 8. House Bill 866 eliminates some of the STAAR testing requirements for students who meet certain performance thresholds. The bill also gives school districts and open-enrollment charter schools more discretion to appropriately test students to determine whether they are performing at a sufficient level. However, because of federal mandates, the state must seek and be granted a waiver from the federal government in order for these changes to take place.
Flexible Graduation Plans:
House Bill 5 also made significant changes to our current graduation plans, allowing students more flexibility to pursue the best path for them. Students will have the ability to explore their individual interests as they prepare for higher education and the workforce by providing multiple pathways to graduation.
We will now have a Core Foundation, which every student will complete. This plan includes the basic courses that every student is required to take in order to graduate. However, by reducing the number of these mandatory classes, students will be free to pursue additional graduation paths of their choice.
Students will choose from five additional endorsements: STEM, Business and Industry, Public Services, Arts and Humanities and Multidisciplinary Studies. These endorsements allow students to take classes that are of the most 
interest to them and that will best prepare them for their future.
Increased Accountability:
The Legislature also enacted new provisions to make our public schools more accountable. Schools will now be evaluated on more measures than state standardized assessment by requiring at least three additional indicators of academic performance including, but not limited to, the percentage of students graduating with endorsements or distinguished level of performance, the number of students earning college credit, and the number of students earning workforce certificates.
Additionally, the bill establishes a three category rating system that evaluates schools on academic performance, financial performance, and community and student engagement.
Providing Texas students with a quality education is crucial to a thriving economy, and I believe these changes will have a positive impact on our state.
I hope this information was helpful, and have a great school year!
As always, thank you for the honor of representing you.
State Rep. Jason Isaac serves House District 45, covering Hays & Blanco counties south & west of Austin, Texas. Isaac and his wife, Carrie, have two boys, who attend Dripping Springs public schools. Visit ISAACforTexas.com for more information.
