The Politicians talk about cutting cost in every area of the Texas Education System but never mention the Billions wasted on attempting to educate the ILLEGALS and their Anchors. Send the ILLEGALS along with their anchors back to their home countries and the resulting savings including the teachers and free lunch and breakfast that cater to the ILLEGALS and anchors would most likely cancel out any budget cuts for the Educational System. Consider the resulting side benefit with the decrease in health cost when the ILLEGALS and their anchors do not utilize the Hospital ERs as their primary physicians without one thought of paying not wasting more Billions and Texas would be in good shape.

February 21, 2011

Texas education budget cuts roundup

As a parent, the talk of education budget cuts in Texas has me worried. It also has me frustrated because as of right now that's all it is, talk. Only time will tell where the cuts are actually made. In the meantime, here's a look at some of the ideas being thrown around on how to cope with education cuts in the budget. (Your ideas in the comments below.)

Over the weekend the U.S House voted to overturn an amendment requiring Texas to maintain state funding for education through 2013. Democrats supported the original amendment because it meant Texas would be required to use federal money to supplement, not supplant, its education funding. Gov. Rick Perry supports the overturning of the amendment because it may mean an extra $830 million for Texas schools. The legislation must still go through the Senate.

Managing editor of The Texas Tribune writes for the New York Times that the budget cuts may mean school districts that get state financing might have to write checks to the state instead to even out funding between rich and poor districts.

Talk of using the Rainy Day Fund, estimated at $15 billion, may be gaining ground. "I think the political argument is going to revolve not on whether you spend it or not, but how much do you spend," said Sen. Steve Ogden, author of the Senate version of the budget and chairman of the chamber's powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Budget cuts could mean higher tuition at Texas universities.

What are we looking at in budget cuts, an overview from Rick Casey: The latest U.S. Census figures from 2005 rank Texas 49th among the states for per capita state and local taxes. Texas spends 31 percent of its budget on public schools, the highest in the nation. But that works out to make Texas 42 in the per capita amount spent on schools.

State Senate Education Committee Chairman Florence Shapiro is calling for districts to be allowed to furlough teachers and reduce salaries to avoid layoffs. Some estimates say the budget cuts could cost 100,000 jobs.

Texas higher education is also looking at budget cuts of up to 20 percent. Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas System, is asking for more flexibility in pay cuts and furloughs for staff to cope with the new budget requirements.

Houston school district sent notice to 170 educators their jobs may disappear in June after the end of federal stimulus funding. Ann Best, the chief human resources officer for the Houston Independent School District called the stimulus program, which allowed for the hiring of 128 academic coaches, a "mixed blessing."

HISD looks at cutting funding to Community Education Partners, the private company that runs the alternative program for students suspended for discipline problems.

Texas may cut funding to program that tests student athletes for steroids. Since February 2008, 50,000 tests have been conducted, and only 20 confirmed cases of steroid use were confirmed. The program receives $750,000 a year.

Superintendents rallied last month to ask Texas not to cut $5 billion in education spending. "I simply say: Don't balance this budget on the backs of school children in Texas," said John Folks, superintendent of San Antonio's Northside school district.

Posted by Francisca Ortega at February 21, 2011 01:44 PM
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