TASB Talks: Recent Episodes
Texas Association of School Boards
TASB Talks is regular podcast produced by the Texas Association of School Boards. Each episode we talk with subject-matter experts on important education-related issues.
Host Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez and Kelly Rasti from TASB Governmental Relations to recap the 89th Texas Legislature. They break down important bills impacting Texas public education, discuss ways trustees and advocates can stay involved in the interim, and recount their favorite moments from the session.
Matt and Dax give a quick update on House Bill 2 and other public education bills from the past week at the 89th Texas Legislature.
Matt is joined by Dax to recap Texas House debates and votes on HB 2 (school funding) and SB 2 (vouchers) + other updates from this week at the Texas Legislature.
Matt and Dax discuss the latest updates on ESA vouchers and school funding bills (SB 2 and HB 2) + budget day in the Texas House.
Matt is joined by Dax for a 'State of the Legislature' update + information about TASB Spring Workshops.
Matt and Dax discuss new public education developments from the 89th Texas Legislature, including recent hearings for House Bills 2 and 3.
Matt and Dax recap a busy week at the 89th Texas Legislature and provide updates on public education bills.
Matt and Dax discuss the newly announced Texas House committee assignments in this special mini episode.
Matt and Dax discuss the latest news from the 89th Texas Legislature, including Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State address and update on Senate Bill 2.
Host Matt Mitchell is joined by Kelly Rasti, associate executive director of TASB Governmental Relations, to recap the first week of the 89th legislative session and preview what’s next.
Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez and Whitney Broughton from TASB Governmental Relations to recap the latest from the Texas Legislature, including recent SBOE discussions.
Matt Mitchell and Dax Gonzalez recap a busy txEDCON24, including the SBAN luncheon and Delegate Assembly. Then, they discuss what other advocacy events are around the corner.
TASB Talks returns from hiatus, as host Matt Mitchell is joined by Dax Gonzalez, Division Director of TASB Governmental Relations. Dax provides an update on what’s been going on in the legislative interim, and what trustees can be doing in the last few months leading up to the session. He also discusses recent meetings held by the Senate Finance Committee and the State Board of Education. Finally, Dax looks ahead to what’s coming up in the next few weeks.
Get TASB's Legislative Report for regular updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org.
Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools.
© 2024 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In this episode, Kay is joined by Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield, TASB deputy executive director and Esperanza Orosco, TASB board development consultant and Hays CISD board member, to discuss building strong relationships between trustees and parents. Get practical advice and strategies to effectively engage with parents, leading to improved collaboration, trust, and educational outcomes.
We also discuss TASB's new resource on the subject, "A Toolkit for Strong Parent Conversations." The toolkit provides practical tips that board members can use to implement parent-friendly strategies in their districts.
Don't miss the TASA | TASB Convention pre-conference focused on building parent relationships. Registration opens July 25.
The Legislature has adjourned, but a special session is already underway. We're here to recap some of the public-education-related bills that passed during the regular session.
- First, we note that despite a $33 billion budget surplus, there was no increase in the basic allotment.
- HB 3, school safety, includes several new requirements for school districts. It does include a small per-student allotment increase and some new per-campus money.
- SB 10 gives retired educators a cost-of-living raise and a 13th check.
- HB 1707 requires municipalities to treat charters as they would ISDs for the purposes of permitting and zoning. It includes increased transparency that will help provide more information to communities when a new charter school is opening.
Thank you to all the public school advocates who took the time to write letters, call their lawmakers, and support public education this session!
Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools.
© 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
"The last train out of Dodge" for vouchers this session is House Bill 100. The bill was passed in the House as a school finance bill. Earlier this week though, the Senate added a voucher program to the bill and made other changes. In its current form in the Senate, HB 100:
- Includes a $1.8 billion voucher/education savings account program.
- Increases the basic allotment by $50.
- Includes additional funding for charter facilities.
- Eradicates school district attendance zones.
We discuss more on HB 100, property tax relief, and the budget as the days left in the session dwindle.
Get TASB's Legislative Report for regular updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org. Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools.
© 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Kay and Dax discuss the House Public Education Committee's discussion and vote on Senate Bill 8 (vouchers and testing.)
Get TASB's Legislative Report for regular updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org.
Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools.
© 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The House passed HB 100, school finance. Kay and Dax discuss what's in the bill, including changes to the basic allotments and other allotments. We also cover updates to budget negotiations and property tax relief.
Get TASB's Legislative Report for daily updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org.
Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools.
© 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This week, we discuss the happenings in the Texas Legislature:
- Dueling property tax relief proposals
- Both chambers have passed their budget proposals and will now begin negotiations
- Voucher bills are still pending in the House Public Education Committee and could be voted on at any time
- The Senate passed SB 11, school safety
Get TASB's Legislative Report for daily updates on the legislative session. Sign up at gr.tasb.org.
Get advocacy action alerts in your inbox by signing up for Texans for Strong Public Schools.
© 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
On this week's TASB Talks, Kay and Dax discuss:
- The House Public Education Committee's discussion last week on several voucher bills
- The difference between the House and Senate's property tax relief plans
- The budget proposals from each chamber and what they include for public education
- Library book bills
Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report to get updates on the session: https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1353789/1352967/
© 2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last week was a busy one in the Texas Legislature.
The Senate passed:
- SB 8, a voucher bill
- SB 9, the "teacher bill of rights"
- SB 175, community censorship
Meanwhile, the House rejected vouchers during its budget debate. Get the details and learn what you need to know for next week.
Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report at gr.tasb.org.
Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org.
©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last week, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 8 (vouchers) and SB 9 (teacher bill of rights). The bills have not yet gone to the full Senate.
The House Public Education Committee took up several bills last week, including HB 2890, which would change the number of votes needed for the State Board of Education to veto a charter application from a majority to two-thirds.
State Senate Affairs discussed SB 946, which would require all school district bond and tax elections to be held in November.
This week, we are awaiting HB 1, the state budget bill. An amendment is expected to be filed that would prohibit the use of state tax dollars for vouchers.
Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report at gr.tasb.org.
Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org.
©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Last week, the Senate Education Committee heard several voucher/education savings account (ESA) bills, including SB 8. This bill is estimated to cost Texans $1 billion.
TASB commissioned a poll on ESAs and found that 55% of Texans reported being less likely to support vouchers knowing that these proposals would give private schools, not parents, the right to choose.
We also share updates on the House budget, Senate property tax relief, and school safety proposals.
Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org.
©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Kay and Dax journey through last week's happenings and talk about what's to come this week. Learn more about:
- Senate Bill 175 on "taxpayer funded lobbying" a.k.a. community censorship was discussed last week
- Conversations on property tax reduction continue
- Legislation related to teachers, including an across-the-board pay raise, will be heard in Senate Ed this week
- Senate Ed will also be focused on vouchers Wednesday, hearing SB 8 and other voucher bills. SB 8 would create education savings accounts that would give out up to $8,000 in taxpayer money, per student, to pay for private school.
Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org.
©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Things are starting to pick up in the Legislature with House and Senate committees meeting regularly. Kay and Dax discuss:
- Enrollment vs. attendance-based school funding
- House priority bills
- School safety
- The legislative process
- Accountability of voucher (education savings account) programs
Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox at StrongTexasSchools.org.
©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This week we’ve seen Gov. Abbott travel around the state to promote education savings accounts. Kay and Dax discuss:
- What is an education savings account and is it any different from a voucher?
- Can public schools really be fully funded if vouchers are implemented?
- House and Senate education committee meetings
- The Teacher Vacancy Taskforce recommendations
©2023 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Get all the info you need on public ed and the 88th Texas Legislature with our weekly Lege Update episodes! Our first weekly update covers:
- House and Senate Education Committees
- Gov. Abbott's emergency items (and what that means)
- Texas school leaders at the Capitol
Sign up for TASB's Texans for Strong Public Schools to get advocacy action alerts in your email inbox! https://bit.ly/3cxTKME
The next legislative session begins Jan. 10. Here's what school board members, administrators, and public school advocates need to know before it begins.
Sign up for Texans for Strong Public Schools action alerts: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0
Register to attend the Texas Federal Advocacy Conference, Feb. 6-7 in Washington, D.C., and the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference, Feb. 21 in Austin: https://bit.ly/3V5sSXn
Political family to rock star to pilot to cultural diplomat isn't your typical career trajectory. But Ravi Hutheesing, whose great uncle was the first prime minister of India, knows the importance of being able to pivot in life. On this episode, he shares some of his experiences with us, and talks about how we can nurture talent and curiosity in students, giving them the skills to become lifelong learners. Ravi will be a general session speaker at Summer Leadership Institute, taking place June 15-18 in San Antonio and June 29-July 2 in Fort Worth. Register now at tasb.org/sli.
"What if you just listen to each other?" J. Michael Hall is the founder of Strong Fathers Strong Families and facilitates workshops between schools and parents across the state and country. He talks with Kay about the importance of transparency and communication.
Mike will be the preconference speaker at Summer Leadership Institute, taking place June 15-18 in San Antonio and June 29-July 2 in Fort Worth. Register now at tasb.org/sli.
Dax Gonzalez, TASB Governmental Relations division director, joins us to discuss the issues public schools are facing right now and headed into the next legislative session.
TASB just wrapped up its Grassroots Meetings, one of the first steps in determing the Association's Advocacy Agenda. The meetings are held across the state and all public school leaders have a chance to participate and let their voices be heard.
Sign up for advocacy action alerts at StrongTexasSchools.org.
Lizzie Velasquez was born with a rare congenital disease—very rare, in fact. She's now a global motivational speaker, anti-bullying activist, and author.
Lizzie joins Kay to talk about being bullied in school, overcoming obstacles, and her advice to educators about dealing with bullying (it may surprise you).
She'll be a general session speaker at TASB’s Governance Camp, happening March 2-5 in Galveston. Registration is open: https://bit.ly/33d2nqD
©2022 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As a kid, Victor Rios was a dropout who lived on the streets. Now he's a MacArthur Foundation chair and professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, researching how educators can empower young people from marginalized groups. His TED Talk, "Help for Kids the Education System Ignores," has more than 1.4 million views. Dr. Rios joins TASB Talks to share some of his personal experiences growing up, including how a teacher changed the course of his life. He also discusses learning loss, celebrating the stories of all students, and giving kids the skills they need to succeed. Rios will be a general session speaker at TASB’s Governance Camp, happening March 2-5 in Galveston.
Registration for Governance Camp opens January 24.
https://bit.ly/33d2nqD
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Kay chats with Dr. Dan Troxell, TASB's executive director, about his first 100 days on the job and his plans looking forward. He discusses:
- What he's learned about school board service
- TASB's grassroots advocacy process
- Words of wisdom for educators
Follow Dan on Twitter @DanTroxellTASB.
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Tracy Fisher, Coppell ISD school board member, was named TASB's first-ever Advocate of the Year. She talks with host Kay Douglas about steps any trustee can take to speak up for Texas public schools.
Find your regional Grassroots Meeting: https://bit.ly/3oxjKh2
Subscribe to Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
H.T. Sanchez, Plainview ISD, was recently named the 2021 Superintendent of the Year. He joins Kay to talk about:
- How to hire and retain good teachers
- How Plainview ISD makes college readiness systemic
- His advice to boards on working well with a superintendent
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aledo ISD's Board President Hoyt Harris and VP Jessica Brown join Kay for a conversation on what makes them the top school board in the state. They share advice on working well with the superintendent and improvements they've made in the past few years.
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We are pleased to welcome the new host of TASB Talks, Kay Douglas! You may know her already from her many years training school boards across Texas.
We chat with Dax for a recap of the second special legislative session of 2021. Get details on bills that were passed, like virtual learning and critical race theory. We also chat about what's happening with mask mandates in schools and the upcoming special session (yes, another one).
Sign up to receive TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
Dax may have Post-Legislative Stress Syndrome, but he's moving forward. In our legislative session wrap-up episode, we chat about:
- The death of the virtual learning bill and what it means for next school year.
- The final version of the HB 3 (2019) cleanup bill.
- HB 999, individual graduation committees.
- HB 547, districts may allow homeschool kids to participate in UIL activities.
And yes, it's coming…a special session. When? Will there be more than one? Dax and Roger discuss.
Finally, Dax gives his overall grade for this session when it comes to public ed.
Don't miss the virtual Post-Legislative Conference June 26: https://events.tasb.org/?eventId=6244
Sign up for action alerts from Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
"This is the session of zombie bills." Sine die is Monday and legislators are working overtime (Dax, too). Get updates on:
- Virtual instruction
- HB 3 cleanup bill
- SB 10, transparency in lobbying
And, we bid a special farewell to TASB Talks host Amanda Quraishi.
Sign up for alerts from Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0
Sign up for the TASB Legislative Report email updates: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
We have a special episode this week! Dax is joined by his fellow TASB Governmental Relations staff members Marisha, Whitney, and Ruben. The roundtable discussion includes updates on virtual instruction bills, changes to the accountability system, and how the permitless carry bill would affect education.
Sign up for alerts from Texans for Strong Public Schools: https://bit.ly/39g1qS0
Dax is staying hydrated during these final weeks of the 87th Texas Legislature, where time is of the essence for any bills hoping to get passed. Texas trustees will return to the Capitol Wednesday. Our hosts talk about some public ed-related bills that died this week.
Follow TASB on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tasbpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tasbnews
TASB Governmental Relations is tracking 1,000 bills. Meanwhile, time is running out to get legislation heard.
This week, Dax and Q discuss the $11.2 billion in federal relief funds that will be allocated to Texas public schools. How will they be distributed? What's the timeline?
Our hosts also chat about SB 28 and charter school accountability.
Sign up to receive TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The House is working on the state budget. Some important amendments were made to SB 1 that affect education, including guidance on the $18 billion in federal relief funds.
SB 28 would limit the power of the State Board of Education and give more power to the education commissioner when it comes to charter applications.
Contact your lawmakers about SB 28: https://bit.ly/3tSr6vT
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Things are moving quickly in the #txlege. Listen to Dax and Q discuss:
- The state budget and what it means for public education
- SB 28, a bill that would weaken oversight of charters
- $18 billion in federal funds meant for schools that have not been distributed.
Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
Trustees, take part in our legislative advocacy game: https://bit.ly/2QAuWuT
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
On this week's Lege Update, Dax and Q talk about:
- The budget bill that passed the Texas Senate.
- An update on federal stimulus money for schools.
- What happened with STAAR testing?
Sign up for TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TASB Governmental Relations is tracking more than 1,000 bills in the Texas Legislature. Dax and Amanda discuss just a few of them, including:
- SB 1, the Senate's budget bill
- SB 28, charter school expansion
- SB 481, pandemic operations
- HB 299, individual graduation committees
- HB 1525, the House Bill 3 (2019) cleanup bill
Contact your lawmakers on education issues: https://bit.ly/3cxTKME
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Learn more about the education bills that were heard last week:
- HB 749, community censorship, would severely limit school board members' abilities to advocate at the Capitol.
- HB 3687 would increase transparency in lobbying.
- SB 1365, directed at Houston ISD, would expand the powers of the TEA Commissioner.
- SB 28, related to charter schools, would remove the authority of the State Board of Education to veto the commissioner's approval of new charters.
Subscribe to TASB's Legislative Report: https://bit.ly/31q1fyK
Trustees, sign up for the School Board Advocacy Network: https://bit.ly/2O2ZnZz
Contact your lawmakers on education issues: https://bit.ly/3cxTKME
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
It's the first of our weekly Lege Updates! Dax and Amanda talk about:
• The $12.4 billion in COVID relief funding earmarked for Texas public schools. How will it be used?
• The Texas Supreme Court ruling on Houston ISD's school board
• HB 1438 and charter school accountability
• Charter school funding and spending
• HB 5: Access to broadband services
• Bills that were voted out of the House Public Education Committee and will now go to the floor, including HB 690, which adds continuing education requirements for trustees
The Lege Update will be published weekly through the rest of the 2021 legislative session. Subscribe to TASB Talks wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode.
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We chat with Dax Gonzalez, TASB’s director of Governmental Relations, about the projected revenues for the state’s upcoming budget cycle, education committee assignments, and what to expect at the TASA/TASB Legislative Conference taking place on February 23.
Register for the free Legislative Conference: https://events.tasb.org/?eventId=5744
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Students are the primary stakeholders in education. How can district leaders engage students to co-create, work through problems together, and seek a variety of perspectives to improve student experiences? Merrit Jones, senior advisor for Student Voice, shares her experiences working with districts across the country.
TASB's Governance Camp is powered by Student Voice. Don't miss this year's virtual event March 3-6. Registration is now open: https://bit.ly/33d2nqD
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Texas legislative session begins January 12, and the pandemic is sure to have a major impact on the proceedings. We talk with Dax Gonzalez, TASB’s division director of Governmental Relations, about what to expect when it comes to education funding, state budget woes, charter school expansion, and more.
Sign up for alerts by texting SCHOOLS to 313131. School board members can sign up for the School Board Advocacy Network: https://bit.ly/3hQEDid
©2021 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sarah Orman, lead attorney for TASB Legal Services, joins us to discuss the Title IX regulations that went into effect on August 14. With new rules about defining and responding to sexual harassment, it's important for Texas school districts to be aware of the changes and train staff appropriately.
For more on the new Title IX regulations, visit TASB Legal eSource: https://bit.ly/3mqCwmz
Joe Biden has indicated that as president he would take steps to roll back the current Title IX regulations. Read more: https://bit.ly/3fRzqpf
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We speak to Dr. Angela Herron, chief teaching and learning officer at Grand Prairie ISD, about her research on school board presidents and their relationships to the rest of the board. She discusses the role of the president as a facilitator between the superintendent and the rest of the board, and the shift in boards to serving the community as a whole.
Herron will share her research at the upcoming XG Summit, a conference that focuses on how school boards can positively affect student achievement through eXceptional Governance. Registration is now open for the XG Summit, taking place online November 9-10. https://bit.ly/2Gwah69
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Former California School Boards Association Executive Director Davis W. Campbell shares the four characteristics of high-functioning school boards. Boards must be unified in order to provide a high-quality education to all students. He also chats with us about the opportunity gap and how it's been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Campbell will share his expertise at the upcoming XG Summit, a conference that focuses on how school boards can positively affect student achievement through eXceptional Governance. Registration is now open for the XG Summit, taking place online November 9-10. https://bit.ly/2Gwah69
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. Samuel Bonsu Jr., researcher and assistant principal in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, shares his knowledge of the board self-assessment survey and the five standards that define the duty of a school board member.
Bonsu will share more of his research at the upcoming XG Summit, a conference that focuses on how school boards can positively affect student achievement through eXceptional Governance. Registration is now open for the XG Summit, taking place online November 9-10. https://bit.ly/2Gwah69
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Dr. Paul Johnson, associate professor at Bowling Green State University and a researcher on how school boards impact student achievement, shares with us his 12 leadership practices of effective school boards. He also discusses the importance of a healthy relationship between boards and superintendents and offers his own experience serving as a trustee.
Johnson is a featured speaker at the upcoming XG Summit, a conference that focuses on how school boards can positively affect student achievement through eXceptional Governance. Registration is now open for the XG Summit, taking place online November 9-10. https://bit.ly/2Gwah69
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Texas Education Agency is now requiring districts to submit special education operating procedures. We speak with Dana Johnson, director of special education at Georgetown ISD; Jessica Witte, senior associate at Thompson and Horton; and Karlyn Keller, TASB’s division director of special education about what's included in special education operating procedures, best practices, options for creating them, and what trustees need to know.
Learn more about a TASB Student Solutions membership, which includes model operating procedures: https://bit.ly/2Wo4fJB.
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Sheldon ISD school board has a passion for engaging the community, supporting teachers, and focusing on students. Latricia Archie, board president, talks about the importance of transparency and the great things happening in Sheldon schools.
The Sheldon ISD board is one of five 2020 Honor Boards named by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The five boards are now finalists for Outstanding School Board.
The 2020 Outstanding School Board will be announced by TASA on October 2 during the virtual txEDCON2020, the TASA | TASB Convention. txEDCON2020 will be held September 30–October 2. Earn up to 10 hours of credit during the live event, AND earn credit with access to the content for 30 days after the conference ends. Register: https://bit.ly/2Ex5T5A
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Gary Bingham, board president of Mesquite ISD, discusses how the board demonstrated proactive leadership through the creation of a one-of-a-kind accreditation program for campuses. The district has also teamed up with Google, using artificial intelligence to customize learning for students' different interests, gifts, and passions.
The Mesquite ISD board is one of five 2020 Honor Boards named by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The five boards are now finalists for Outstanding School Board.
The 2020 Outstanding School Board will be announced by TASA on October 2 during the virtual txEDCON2020, the TASA | TASB Convention. txEDCON2020 will be held September 30–October 2. Earn up to 10 hours of credit during the live event, AND earn credit with access to the content for 30 days after the conference ends. Register: https://bit.ly/2Ex5T5A
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Temple ISD school board members knew they wanted to create a strong focus on communication and sought a superintendent who could do just that. Dan Posey, board president, shares how his district prioritized districtwide communications, found ways to pull together when a crisis hit, and why the diversity of the school board is a strength.
The Temple ISD board is one of five 2020 Honor Boards named by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The five boards are now finalists for Outstanding School Board.
The 2020 Outstanding School Board will be announced by TASA on October 2 during the virtual txEDCON2020, the TASA | TASB Convention. txEDCON2020 will be held September 30–October 2. Earn up to 10 hours of credit during the live event, AND earn credit with access to the content for 30 days after the conference ends. Register: https://bit.ly/2Ex5T5A
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, the school board focuses on continuous improvement from the board room to the classroom. Board President Julie Cole tells us how this focus has led to more effective and efficient district operations, with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.
HEB ISD is one of five 2020 Honor Boards named by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The five boards are now finalists for Outstanding School Board.
The 2020 Outstanding School Board will be announced by TASA on October 2 during the virtual txEDCON2020, the TASA | TASB Convention. txEDCON2020 will be held September 30–October 2. Earn up to 10 hours of credit during the live event, AND earn credit with access to the content for 30 days after the conference ends. Register: https://bit.ly/2Ex5T5A
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In the small town of Tornillo, Texas, the school board is the only elected governing body. The board took a leadership role in the community and included the town in the vision for the district. Hear Marlene Bullard, board president of Tornillo ISD, talk about how the school board has taken a leadership role in the community.
Tornillo ISD is one of five 2020 Honor Boards named by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). The five boards are now finalists for Outstanding School Board.
The 2020 Outstanding School Board will be announced by TASA on October 2 during the virtual txEDCON2020, the TASA | TASB Convention. txEDCON2020 will be held September 30–October 2. Earn up to 10 hours of credit during the live event, AND earn credit with access to the content for 30 days after the conference ends. Register: https://bit.ly/2Ex5T5A
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We're joined by Amy Campbell, division director of TASB HR Services, to discuss the challenges of district staff returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. She answers common district questions, like: Do teachers have a choice in returning to the classroom? If a staff member is exposed to COVID-19, what are the next steps? How will daily screenings work? Should schools be preparing contact tracing teams?
View the latest return-to-school resources: https://bit.ly/31GaTgn
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hear from Joy Baskin, division director of TASB Legal Services, about the legal challenges and implications as public schools prepare for the new year in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Joy gives us an expert legal interpretation of the Texas Education Association's guidelines on in-person and virtual learning, extracurricular activities, and the processes for managing outbreaks as they arise.
View the latest return-to-school resources: https://bit.ly/31GaTgn
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We are joined by Dax Gonzalez, TASB's division director of Governmental Relations, who updates us on the TASB Advocacy Agenda, public school funding, and shares the latest news relating to the reopening of schools next month.
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hear from Teresa Flores, longtime Ingleside ISD trustee and former TASB President, about how school boards can stay flexible and lead their districts under constantly changing circumstances when a crisis hits.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Viola M. Garcia, longtime Aldine ISD trustee, former TASB President, and president-elect of the National School Boards Association, about the importance of bridging the digital divide for students who lack resources to engage in online learning. We discuss why trustees should have a seat at the table when it comes to the complex conversation about school funding during the upcoming 87th legislative session.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In this episode of TASB Talks: Leadership during COVID-19, Charles Stafford, Denton ISD trustee and former TASB President, discusses the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Texas students. He stresses the importance of dedicating resources toward bridging the digital divide in districts and the implications of the economic downturn on school funding.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In Texas, 1 in 4 children are food insecure. No Kid Hungry is a nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger. We spoke with Director of No Kid Hungry Texas Kathy Green about how the organization supports school districts through grants and increasing access to federal nutrition programs.
Find out more about No Kid Hungry Texas: https://state.nokidhungry.org/texas/
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hear from Faye Beaulieu, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD trustee and former TASB President, about the need to set priorities during a crisis and how leaders can inspire those around us to rise to the challenge during emergencies, regardless of their role in the district.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In this episode, hear from Bret Begert, Fort Elliott CISD trustee and former TASB President, about what it means to adopt a people-first approach to crisis management. Bret discusses his own experience supporting the needs of families in Fort Elliott CISD, and shares wisdom about how to practice self-care during difficult times.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Robert Seward is a longtime Mesquite ISD trustee and past TASB President who joins us to talk about the need for districts to have responsive, reliable communications systems in place when a crisis occurs. He discusses what's important for the community to know during a crisis and how the district is getting feedback from parents right now.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Troy Simmons, Longview ISD trustee and former TASB President, as he gives his thoughts on unifying a board to take action during a crisis. Dr. Simmons shares his experience on the intentional steps that boards can take to create solidarity and cooperation prior to any emergency and ways to come to a consensus quickly during a crisis like the current pandemic.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Our new podcast miniseries brings you short, information-packed interviews (10 minutes or less!) with Texas trustees about how they are leading during these unprecedented times. Our first conversation is with TASB President Lee Lentz-Edwards of Kermit ISD. Lee shares inspirational words and practical advice about how to pull together and work through a crisis.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This episode features a panel discussion that was recorded at TASB headquarters during Black History Month when three Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members spoke to TASB staff to discuss challenges and experiences in leading their districts through the years.
The panel features Ted Beard (Longview ISD), Anthony Hill (Coppell ISD), and Larry “Doc” Hawthorne (Hubbard ISD) and includes a special introductory interview with Ted Beard in the TASB Talks studio.
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In this episode of TASB Talks: Lege Update, Dax and Q talk about the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had so far on Texas school districts and the state budget, and discuss implications for next year's legislative session.
View TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
View the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) COVID-19 resources: https://bit.ly/3e8uNWJ
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Things have changed drastically for school districts and boards over the past few weeks. In this episode, we address changes that are impacting board operations right now.
Joy Baskin, division director of TASB Legal Services, answers questions about some suspended provisions of the Open Meetings Act and what a board should take into consideration when granting emergency delegation of authority to the superintendent. Amy Campbell, division director of TASB HR Services, provides info on paying district employees during closures and how going online might affect learning.
See TASB's COVID-19 resources for school districts: https://bit.ly/2IYBtbx
Subscribe to HRX, TASB HR Services' blog: https://bit.ly/2QOZExy
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We sit down with Jennifer Barton, former teacher, and current HR and Compensation Consultant for TASB HR Services, to talk about how trustees and administrators can better support teachers. More and more teachers are leaving the profession, while fewer are entering it. How can districts improve their culture to reduce teacher turnover? What is a teacher induction program and why is it important?
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations joins us again to discuss all things legislative. Grassroots Meetings are in full swing, where trustees join together to come up with their legislative priorities, which then become TASB's Advocacy Agenda. Mental health issues are rising to the top of a lot of priority lists for school board members across the state. We also talk about trustees' concerns over lawmakers studying how governmental entities use public funds for lobbying activities.
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We sat down with board members and TASB directors Corinne French (Valley View ISD-Cooke County) and Dr. Mary Jane Hetrick (Dripping Springs ISD) for a conversation on women in leadership. What are some unique challenges women face in leadership and on boards? How can we encourage more women to take on leadership roles?
©2020 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Northside ISD Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods sat down with us to discuss leadership, accountability, equity, and advocacy. The 2018 Superintendent of the Year gives advice on how school boards and superintendents can work well together, the issues with A-F Accountability, and what public school advocates should focus on in the legislative interim.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We sat down with Dax Gonzalez, division director for TASB Governmental Relations, after the November election to discuss the results. We also talked about the Senate's interim charges, including teacher recruitment, retention, and preparation; special education; online schools; and discipline in schools. The State Affairs Committee has a charge to ensure that trustees and staff are not improperly using district funds to advocate for candidates or ballot measures.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aledo ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan K. Bohn joined us during the TASA | TASB Convention in Dallas to discuss leadership, communicating with the school board, hiring, and community engagement.
Miranda Beard, former National School Boards Association president and Mississippi school board member, joined us for an interview at txEDCON19, the TASA | TASB Convention. We discussed a variety of subjects, including her advice for school board candidates and new trustees, how boards can better engage their communities, and the importance of early childhood education.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We interviewed two different guests with two different perspectives on dyslexia. Dr. Karlyn Keller, division director of special education at TASB, shares her expertise on the subject. Addie Sassman, adjuster for TASB Risk Management Services, is a parent of two sons with dyslexia.
What exactly is dyslexia? Are there signs an educator or parent might notice? How is it funded in Texas public schools? What should trustees know about dyslexia and how it's addressed in their districts? Listen to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Don't miss Dr. Keller's article on the same subject in the May issue of Texas Lone Star magazine: https://bit.ly/2rJ6afB
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Robert S. Kaplan joined us live at the TASA | TASB Convention. The economy and education are intertwined, and he tells us the biggest strengths and weaknesses of each. How can educators prepare students for what's coming next in the economy? Kaplan discusses the importance of preK, teacher pay, and skills training. He also shares his definition of leadership and how to create a culture of employees who think like owners.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The legislative session may be over, but the action hasn’t stopped. Policymakers are busy implementing the laws passed during the last session. Dax Gonzalez of TASB Government Relations sits down with host Amanda Quraishi to discuss the status of all our favorite bills from the 86th.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Texas has one of the highest percentages of English language learners in the country at 18%. How can we best support this population? Do schools have the resources they need to serve them? What is the difference between bilingual education and English as a second language? We chat about these questions and more with Antonio Cruz, 5th grade master teacher and former dual language teacher at San Antonio ISD, Bea Ramirez, high school ESL district specialist at Northside ISD, and Dr. Karlyn Keller, division director of TASB Special Education Solutions.
Read "Learning and Language" from the June 2019 Texas Lone Star magazine: http://bit.ly/2WE95A4
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
In 2018, education had the highest number of ransomware attacks of any industry. What can school districts do right now to prevent cyber attacks? We chat with Lucas Anderson, privacy and cyber risk consultant for TASB Risk Management Services, about cybersecurity basics and how to prevent costly mistakes.
Later, we have an announcement from BoardBook, TASB's paperless meetings software, about an all-new version of the product. Learn more about BoardBook® Premier at www.boardbook.org/premier.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
txEDCON19, the TASA | TASB Convention, will take place September 20–22 in Dallas. Listen to learn more from the event organizers about preconference activities, keynote speakers, and exciting highlights. Visit http://www.tasa.tasb.org for more details on Convention.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TASB Senior Attorney Sarah Orman joins us to discuss student privacy. What are the laws regarding student vs. parent privacy? How can districts balance the need for student privacy with school safety?
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
From the archives: We interviewed Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya Goffney and long-time board member Dr. Viola Garcia during the TASA/TASB Convention in September 2018 in Austin. Hear what they have to say about leadership, listening, and putting people first.
Dr. Goffney was the 2017 Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Garcia has served on the TASB Board of Directors, the National School Boards Association Board of Directors, and the Mexican American School Boards Association Board.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(25:34) What happened during Texas' 86th legislative session and how will that affect Texas public schools? We chat about the school finance reform bill (HB 3), property tax relief, and school safety with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Time is running out in the 86th legislative session. On this week's episode, we discuss what's happening with HB 3 and SB 29. Then, we ask the dreaded question...will there be a special session?
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(20:00) Last week, the Senate passed its version of HB 3 with 40 amendments. Now, the House and Senate will meet in conference committee to hash out differences. We chat with Dax Gonzalez about the school finance bill, SB 29, and the death of the sales tax swap. Visit http://www.texansforstrongpublicschools.org/time to contact lawmakers about HB 3 before it's too late!
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(15:11) We chat with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations about property tax reform, HB 3, and the cost of both.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(31:36) We had the opportunity to interview the inspiring Leon Logothetis and Dr. Natalie Stavas, who will both speak at TASB's Summer Leadership Institute, June 13–15 in San Antonio and June 20–22 in Fort Worth.
On April 15, 2013, Dr. Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston Marathon. Just blocks away she heard explosions. She ran toward them. Hear her speak about her experience that day and what she's done since then.
Leon Logothetis is a global adventurer, TV host, author, and kindness ambassador.
After those interviews, get a preview of SLI from the event organizers. For more information on SLI or to register, visit https://www.tasb.org/sli
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(19:46) The Senate Education Committee heard HB 3 (school finance reform) last week. The Senate's bill differs in several ways, including the basic allotment increase, staff and teacher pay raises, and tax compression. We also chat about HB 281, a bill that would silence the voice of school board members and other education advocates across the state.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(12:56) Time is running out in the 86th Texas Legislature! We discuss all things taxes: a sales tax increase, the Senate's property tax revenue cap bill, and more. Learn more about bills in both chambers that would prohibit school districts from hiring a lobbyist or joining an association that employs a lobbyist. Join us as we discuss just a few of the 1,5000 bills TASB is currently tracking in the #txlege.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(10:36) The Senate Education Committee will consider House Bill 3, the House’s school finance reform proposal, on Tuesday. Last week, the House took up a number of bills on charter school transparency.
We chat about all of this and more with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(7:51) HB 3 passed the House last week. What's next for school finance reform? We discuss teacher and staff pay raises, the gifted and talented allotment, and charter school transparency with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(11:48) The House passed its budget bill unanimously last week, while the Senate agreed to a similar spending plan for public ed. The two chambers disagree on how exactly to spend the funds though.
In addition, House members approved a measure that would require the state to develop a plan to audit the STAAR after multiple studies showed that the readability of the test was above grade level.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(11:15) The House Public Education Committee will hear 34 school security bills this week. We chat about a few of them with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations. We also look at the road ahead for House Bill 3 (school finance reform).
Visit http://www.texansforstrongpublicschools.org to contact your lawmakers in support of public schools.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(9:25) On this week's episode, we dive into House Bill 3 with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations. What's the timeline for the bill? What's going on with the gifted and talented allotment? How does the Senate's school finance bill compare?
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(16:21) We had the honor of speaking with Ross Ramsey, executive editor and co-founder of the Texas Tribune during the recent TASA/TASB Legislative Conference. Is this the year for real school finance reform? Listen to hear more about the beginning weeks of this legislative session.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(9:04) We chat in depth about House Bill 3 with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations. What does the school finance reform bill entail? Where is the funding coming from? How do school leaders feel about it?
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(7:12) It's our first-ever TASB Talks: Lege Update. We talk with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations about what's happening this week in the Texas Legislature. Learn more about SB3 (teacher pay raises), the property tax cap, and the upcoming school finance bill.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(15:26) "Board behaviors matter. And they do have an impact on student achievement in the classroom."
We chatted with researchers Bill McCaw and Ivan Lorentzen about their research on the effect school boards have on student achievement. What do the best performing school district boards have in common? How can trustees bridge the gap between the district and community?
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We had the pleasure of chatting with former legislator Jimmie Don Aycock about the current Texas Legislature, school funding, and teacher retention.
©2019 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We had the opportunity to speak with Miss Texas Madison Fuller about her experiences as a teacher in Tyler ISD and how she uses her talent to connect with children.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(11:52) What's in store for public education in the upcoming legislative session? We chat with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations about school finance reform, vouchers, school safety, Hurricane Harvey recovery, and charter schools.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(10:59) TASA and TASB's executive directors sit down with us for a chat about the organizations' priorities headed into the next legislative session.
Kevin Brown tells us how he's settling into his new role as TASA's executive director. We chat with James B. Crow about what TASB is doing to improve the member experience.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(22:58) On this episode, we interview Ron Reed, executive producer of SXSW EDU. Listen to learn more about the event, teaching as a creative enterprise, and how teaching and learning have changed over the past 10 years.
For more on SXSW EDU, visit https://www.sxswedu.com/
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(21:18) "Never bring data to a values fight." Enjoy a lively chat with NPR's Two Guys on Your Head podcast hosts Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy. We discuss how to best frame the conversation around public education to stress its importance.
This is one in a series of TASB Talks podcasts recorded live from the TASA/TASB Convention.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(29:50) We're back with Title IX experts Sarah Orman, senior attorney for TASB Legal Services, and Ken Braggs, school law attorney for Brackett & Ellis, P.C. On part two we discuss how to protect students during an investigation, tips for conducting interviews, what to do if a harassment claim draws media attention, and how school administrators can minimize the risk of sexual harassment in their districts.
TASB Risk Management Fund members can access a new Title IX Online Learning Course. Get details: https://bit.ly/2PmuZbe
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(25:49) We're joined by Title IX experts Sarah Orman, senior attorney for TASB Legal Services, and Ken Braggs, school law attorney for Brackett & Ellis, P.C. In episode one of two discussing Title IX, we cover #metooK12, the prevalence of sexual harassment in our schools, and how schools should handle a harassment complaint.
TASB Risk Management Fund members can access a new Title IX Online Learning Course. Get details: https://bit.ly/2PmuZbe
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(24:26) A lack of staff training can lead to misidentification in special education, especially among certain racial groups. What can administrators and school board members do to prevent this? What resources are available to parents whose child has been identified as having special needs? We talked to Dr. Karlyn Keller, TASB Special Education Solutions, about these issues and more.
Read "The Numbers Aren't Adding Up" by Dr. Keller in the August issue of Texas Lone Star magazine: https://bit.ly/2MiYDsv
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(7:46) Get a preview of this year's TASA/TASB Convention, including keynote speakers, highlights, what's new this year, and more! The event takes place September 28–30 in Austin. For more info on Convention visit tasa.tasb.org.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(33:51) When it comes to keeping our schools safe and responding to emergencies, the entire community must be on the same page. On this episode, we chat with Hutto ISD Police Chief William Edwards and TASB's Emergency Management and School Safety Consultant Melanie Moss about how districts can best partner with law enforcement and first responders.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This month, we are highlighting one of our favorite TASB Talks episodes. We spoke to Texas trustees and superintendents about how they connect their schools and communities.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(30:55) We chat with former State Board of Education member and TASB consultant Thomas Ratliff about two hot-button topics, charter schools and vouchers. How do charter schools perform compared to ISDs on metrics like testing, graduation rate, and dropout rate? What are the real costs of a voucher program? Is a voucher just a family's money "following the child"? Find out on the latest episode of TASB Talks.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(18:08) We've heard a lot on the news lately about special education in Texas. How are students classified as special education? Who determines eligibility and what's the process for identification? We sit down with Dr. Karlyn Keller and Valerie Gomez of TASB Special Education Solutions to get answers to these questions, and more. Our guests also address the US Department of Education's recent conclusion that Texas violated federal law with regard to students with disabilities.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(21:31) Do decisions made at the highest level of a school district affect learning in the classroom? We talk to Phil Gore, PhD, about his research in this area, and specific steps boards can take to impact student achievement.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(23:42) We interview leading education-change advocate Will Richardson about challenging traditional classrooms and ways of learning. Will believes schools have to change to reflect the way we learn today. He will be the keynote speaker at Winter Governance and Legal Seminar (WGLS) March 1–3 in Galveston. We also speak with the WGLS event planners to see what's in store for this year's event, including 18 student-led sessions. Registration is now open at tasb.org/wgls.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(18:17) We talk to TASB Executive Director Jim Crow about the ups and downs of 2017 and look to the future with a discussion of board member advocacy efforts for 2018.
©2018 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(22:57) As the Texas Education Agency (TEA) transitions from the current accountability system to A–F, what changes can school districts expect? Susan Whisenant, director of curriculum and instructional design for TASB, discusses how grades are determined and what trustees and administrators should do now to prepare for the release of the ratings.
©2017 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(24:00) Over the last few years, we've seen an increase in immigration enforcement. How does this affect schools and what can they do to minimize any disruption? Joy Baskin, division director for TASB Legal Services joins us to discuss these issues and more, including what schools should do if law enforcement requests access to a student or student records, and how schools can respond to protests.
©2017 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(17:46) Texas public schools are open to all students, regardless of immigration status. Has this always been the case? What is the difference between an immigrant and foreign student? How do our public schools verify eligibility for admission, including residency and age? Joy Baskin of TASB Legal Services answers these questions and more on part one of our immigration episode.
©2017 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(23:31) We hit the Exhibit Hall floor during the TASA/TASB Convention to talk to board members and administrators about how they get their schools involved in the community.
©2017 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(17:39) The special legislative session of 2017 was a wild ride for public education. From vouchers to school finance to unfunded teacher pay raises, the stakes were high. We chat with Dax Gonzalez of TASB Governmental Relations about the outcomes of the special session, and the details of House Bill 21.
©2017 Texas Association of School Boards, Inc. All Rights Reserved.