Tx Bd of Ed: Obama's Ed policy, and: the Lege threatens the Board...

1:40 pm Board is back after lunch break. On a 12-item agenda, they've finally wrapped up item 4 and are ready for item 5--repealing old TEKS that were replaced by newly approved TEKS.

Don McLeroy (R-The Faction, Bryan) asks for clarification of Texas involvement in Obama's "Race to the Top" effort to create national educational standards with no more than 15% deviation from a "common core." Commissioner says Texas will lose $750 million in federal education funding as a result of state's decision to stick with their own recently-minted standards, but there's no plan to acquiesce yet. You get points for your application depending upon whether you agree to national tests and national standards. "This is a path where we would have very little say about curriculum and testing," said Commissioner Scott. "Eventually this would impact textbooks. But if they don't get it right, they might as well call it 'Cash for Clunkers'."

Pat Hardy (R-Weatherford) takes a strong stand against this as being a concerted federal effort to usurp local and state authority that will result in unfunded mandates.

1:50 pm Fine Arts requirement has been added for students on the "Minimum" Graduation Requirements plan, but students in the "Recommended" plan must take one credit of Physical Education, but are no longer required by the state to take health or technology applications. (Local requirements for these courses are still in place in nearly all Texas districts.)

1:55 pm Pat Hardy (R-Weatherford) wants Attorney General to examine contradictory legislative intent--specific guidance on what must be in health courses (parenting and paternity awareness, alcohol awareness, and a physical education component) in some bills with repeal of health as a required course in another bill.

2:03 pm Rep. Norma Chavez, El Paso asks to speak on Social Studies K-5 document, with concerns about social studies expert reviewers' recommendations on Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall's inclusion in Texas history books. Now included as "may be" taught, not "required." 23 historical figures required to be taught in grade 5 but not one is a Latino. "This is not just about Cesar Chavez--this is about the entire Latino community." No Latinos required for K-2, H.S. World History, Government, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, etc. and only a handfill remaining in other social studies courses. As a member of Appropriations Committee, she will be asking for the agency to be reviewed. (Not so veiled threat.)

Pat Hardy (R-Weatherford) replies that legislators don't understand the pedagogy involved or how history is written. That's why there is representation in grades 4 and 7--that's when Texas History is covered. "You can't demand 40% coverage in a history class because Latinos make up 40% of the population--that's revisionist history."

Chavez retorts: "This is not revisionist history. We're not asking for 40%. But you are not looking at the history of this state and accurately reflecting individuals that should be included. It's as if we don't exist. Why is Moses included? (Mosaic law as the foundation of the Judeo-Christian basis of our government.)

Pat Hardy--there is nothing that precludes local district from including more in curriculum. This is a FRAMEWORK, not a curriculum.

Mary Helen Berlanga (D-Corpus Christi)--if we discuss Stephen F. Austin in kindergarten, why can't we say there were people here--Tejanos--who greeted him and helped him when he arrived.

Chavez points out that Thurgood Marshall is also not included as "should be" but only "may be" taught.

Nunez (D-San Antonio)--more than 50% of the K-12 student population will be Hispanic in the next 10 years. We need role models.

Hardy: Whether people are listed as "such as" (i.e. optional) or "including" (i.e. mandatory), all publishers will use all of them. (Chavez isn't buying it. She offers instead that the Legislature will look to rewrite the legislation to change language to make things mandatory.)

Bradley (R-Beaumont): Brings up national standards--your ability to comment on this is because we are NOT going along with Washington's push. You'd lose your voice. (Chavez: I don't think we're doing a good job with diversity now.)

Cynthia Dunbar (R-Richmond) Is there a framework for what will be appropriate? I'm not sure that it is clear what we need to do to satisfy you. (Chavez: wants to have Legislators meet with Board Members to discuss this. But you appointed these reviewers, and we're having a public conversation about our concerns about them and what they have recommended.)

Chavez: We all want the same thing. We do not want political correctness. We want accuracy. We need to pay attention to Native Americans and others...

Then, the Board heard testimony about graduation requirements--mostly about the desire to re-instate the physical education curriculum and not allow marching band and other courses to substitute for it, and to allow career & technical education to count as a fourth year course for math and/or science...Board members keep reminding folks that the Legislature made the change, not the Board.