Heres What Legislators Are Saying:
Under the Texas Constitution the state must use the Available School Funds to ─and I quote: provide free text books for children. We care about our children and it is our responsibility as elected officials to make sure that the textbooks and other instructional materials students must have for a quality education do not fall victim to the whims of the stock market."
Hon. Sylvester Turner State Representative District 139 Houston
The public outcry for the state to secure funding for new textbooks and instructional materials is heard loud and clear. We cannot leave it up to our classroom teachers to bear the responsibility of educating our children with old and outdated materials. We cannot take short-sighted measures and risk allowing the economic conditions to widen our childrens achievement gap."
Hon. Garnet Coleman State Representative District 147 Houston
Using some portion of the federal stimulus education funding to pay for instructional materials such as textbooks and other learning technologies will help ensure that the stimulus funds are not used to permanently grow government or create ongoing obligations for TEA or Texas school districts."
Hon. Wayne Christian State Representative District 9 Center President of Texas Conservative Coalition
Texas is at a watershed considering the states first new purchase of reading textbooks in 10 years. We believe this contingency funding or any other type of contingency funding is unacceptable - particularly since funding is available from the Available School Fund the federal stimulus package and the states rainy day fund."
Hon. Frank Corte State Representative District 122 San Antonio
Reading materials are a fundamental purchase. With the states first new reading materials in 10 years Texas is facing its most important textbook purchase. For only 11 cents per day Texas can fulfill its current obligations and supply new reading instructional materials to tens of millions of Texas students and teachers over the next decade."
Hon. Diane Patrick State Representative District 94 Arlington February 17 2009 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
It is undeniable that todays students are geared toward a technology-centered approach to learning and allocating more resources for the purchase of hardware and software is the best way to match the delivery of content to our childrens learning preferences. However improved delivery is not a substitute for robust and relevant curriculum. If you fund technology but not content you have nothing."
Hon. Donna Howard State Representative District 48 Austin December 17 2008 Austin American-Statesman
Heres What Educators Are Saying:
While we understand the price of the adoption (around $900 M); we also realize that there are over 5 million students in Texas Public Schools and in Texas every child gets a textbook hardcover or electronic. At risk are the students who will not get their new books by the start of school next year if the Legislature does not act this session.
These new English as a Second Language (ESL) instructional materials replace textbooks that have been in classrooms over 14 years and will have TAKS and TEKS in them for the very first time. These quality instructional materials will help English Language Learners as they are the tools they need to get a much better education."
Dr. Jose Ruiz-Escalante President Texas Association for Bilingual Education
As a leadership state in this country we are speaking about new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills to meet targeted needs in the Texas workforce college readiness standards for preparation for post secondary school success and integrating 21st century skills to guarantee our childrens future in our global society. The Texas legislature must continue the current state requirement of full funding of these resources and not cause any delay in the education of our Texas students."
Dr. Yolanda M. Rey Executive Director Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Textbooks are critically important to the academic success of Texas students. Students across Texas have made strong academic progress in recent years. But without new instructional materials aligned to the new standards of learning for college readiness set by the state we face the very real danger that our academic gains will stop and our children will start losing ground.
Reading is the foundation for all other learning. We cannot take shortsighted measures and risk allowing the stock market conditions to widen our childrens achievement gap.
Dr. Roberto Durn Superintendent San Antonio Independent School District March 6 2009 San Antonio Express-News
This survey shows the public strongly feels the Legislature should guarantee funding for textbooks and instructional materials. I urge lawmakers to make this funding a top priority."
Dr. Michael Hinojosa Superintendent Dallas Independent School District
Parents and the public strongly believe that textbooks and instructional materials need to be funded and we hope the Legislature will take appropriate action."
Dr. Abelardo Saavedra Superintendent Houston Independent School District
Ive heard the concerns from parents and educators alike regarding the funding of textbooks and instructional materials. Students cannot be expected to continue to excel in the classroom without the proper learning tools. Studies show that a large majority of parents as well as the public support guaranteed funding of textbooks and classroom materials. I share that public concern over this issue and urge all Legislators to guarantee funding for those sorely needed classroom materials."
Dr. Mark Henry Superintendent Galena Park Independent School District
We have wonderful legislators who care about children and we urge them to act now to make sure that the textbooks and other instructional materials our children must have do not fall victim to the whims of the stock market. This is the most important purchase of instructional materials in more than a decade and funding should be protected as part of the general budget."
Alton Frailey Superintendent Katy Independent School District
If textbooks are not fully funded not only will it disrupt the deliberate schedule that is put in place to ensure textbooks are delivered to all Texas classrooms on time students will not have the materials they need to succeed in their education."
Cliff Avery Executive Director Textbook Coordinators Association of Texas
