(Austin) In preparation for this weeks State Board of Education (SBOE) Meeting Geraldine Tincy" Miller SBOE Member for District 12 is calling for members to maintain transparency in the Boards adoption process for instructional materials and consider with caution a recommendation to allow the Permanent School Fund to invest in facilities for charter schools. Changes to the States adoption and distribution of instructional materials were made by lawmakers during the 81st Legislative Session. It is now up to the Board to authorize those modifications.
While the law goes into affect in 2010 Miller suggests holding off until the issue has been vetted further.
Regarding the States adoption of proposed materials I dont think anyone realized the ultimate effect of this law. Under it a book can be placed on the Commissioners list with no public or elected officials oversight. We need to ensure that our adoption process is transparent that it matches the curriculum and that it is error-free" said Miller.
Miller who has been on the Board
for more than 25 years was instrumental in designing its textbook adoption process which has been a model that other states have followed. Additionally she has actively shielded the
Permanent School Fund (PSF) from a number of attempts to use it for purposes outside its original intent.
Earlier this month an idea was put forward to invest in charter schools. Private investors contend that this is not a wise move Miller agrees.
Said Miller The Boards primary responsibility is to be good stewards of the Fund. While I support charter schools this proposal could put the Fund at risk because the schools dont have a good track record for being financially stable. While overseeing the Fund it is most important that we invest wisely so we can continue paying for the childrens textbooks in
perpetuity."
The
Permanent School Fund was created in 1854 to ensure that every Texas student has the most basic classroom resources. The fund generates revenue from oil and gas income on state owned land so that funding for textbooks is not dependent on varying tax bases from district to district.
The Texas constitution stipulated the
State Board of Education must ensure that the fund remains profitable by making sound investments and by defending it from attempted raids for purposes other than textbook funding. Board members have considered seeking an Attorney Generals Opinion to determine if it has the ability to make investments in charter schools.
In addition to debate about instructional materials and Permanent School Fund investments the SBOE will also discuss the code of ethics for the Permanent School Fund various aspects of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading and curriculum and graduation requirements.
The meeting of the full board starts Wednesday at 9 a.m.
(Austin) In preparation for this weeks State Board of Education (SBOE) Meeting Geraldine Tincy" Miller SBOE Member for District 12 is calling for members to maintain transparency in the Boards adoption process for instructional materials and consider with caution a recommendation to allow the Permanent School Fund to invest in facilities for charter schools. Changes to the States adoption and distribution of instructional materials were made by lawmakers during the 81st Legislative Session. It is now up to the Board to authorize those modifications.
While the law goes into affect in 2010 Miller suggests holding off until the issue has been vetted further.
Regarding the States adoption of proposed materials I dont think anyone realized the ultimate effect of this law. Under it a book can be placed on the Commissioners list with no public or elected officials oversight. We need to ensure that our adoption process is transparent that it matches the curriculum and that it is error-free" said Miller.
Miller who has been on the Board for more than 25 years was instrumental in designing its textbook adoption process which has been a model that other states have followed. Additionally she has actively shielded the Permanent School Fund (PSF) from a number of attempts to use it for purposes outside its original intent.
Earlier this month an idea was put forward to invest in charter schools. Private investors contend that this is not a wise move Miller agrees.
Said Miller The Boards primary responsibility is to be good stewards of the Fund. While I support charter schools this proposal could put the Fund at risk because the schools dont have a good track record for being financially stable. While overseeing the Fund it is most important that we invest wisely so we can continue paying for the childrens textbooks in 
