Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium

Legislative Update and Next Steps for Texas Foundations

Alpine, TexasAugust 1, 2013

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Foundations at the Capitol: 2013 (and Beyond)

What is “The Consortium”?

FOR Foundations. BY Foundations. Education focus. Formed in 2011 in response to $5.4 billion in cuts to

Texas public schools by the 82nd Texas Legislature.Members come from all over Texas and include

private, corporate, and community foundations.17 Texas foundations are currently paid members.Membership requires a minimum contribution of at

least $5000 per calendar year with opportunities to pool additional resources with other foundations.

This is a “campaign” NOT a new nonprofit.

Consortium Timeline

February 2011: First Consortium Capitol DaySummer 2011: Creation of Advisory BoardSeptember 2011: Education Foundation SurveyJanuary 2012: TEGAC Strategic Plan ApprovedSpring 2012: Selected Budget Research PartnerSummer 2012: Statewide Consortium OutreachOctober 2012: Preliminary Budget Research FindingsJanuary 2013: Final Budget Research FindingsFebruary 2013: Second Consortium Capitol DayMarch 2013: Education Foundation SurveyApril – July 2013: Follow Up Fridays in Amarillo,

Austin, Dallas, Gulf Coast, Houston, San Antonio, Waco, and Far West Texas.

What is the Consortium’s Purpose?

The Consortium was designed to:Create a common voice for foundations partnering with public schools and school districts in TexasProvide leadership on research and policy reformPromote program accountability and a focus on a positive return on public and private moneyRestore the role of philanthropy as a funder of innovation, not just replacer of state cutsExample: In months before 2013 Texas Legislature, Consortium members pooled funding to support Children at Risk to conduct a budget cut impact study.

Education Budget

$3.4 billion of the $4 billion cut in 2011 from the Foundation School Program (core school funding) was restored. Minimal restoration to discretionary grant programs.

Good news, but NOT full restoration. For example, Dallas ISD will receive roughly an additional $37 million in 2014 and $50 million in 2015. With a student population of more than 200,000, per student spending increases by roughly $300 per student.

Some school budget deferrals corrected, meaning the buck will not be passed along to the 2015 legislature.

Not everything was restored: “Expansion Grants” for pre-k programs restored only $30 million,

after cutting $200 million last time. Tens of millions in public private partnership funds were cut. School populations continue to grow, as does poverty.

HB 5: Curriculum and Testing

High school students would take a foundation curriculum of four English credits; three science, social studies and math credits; two foreign language credits; one fine art and one P.E. credit; and five elective credits. They would add a fourth science and math credit when they select one of five diploma "endorsements" in areas including science and technology, business and industry, and the humanities.

To qualify for automatic college admissions under the top 10 percent rule and state financial aid, students must take four science credits and Algebra II must be among their four math credits. 

The state will require five standardized tests in English I, English II, Algebra I, biology and U.S. history. School districts will have the option of offering diagnostic exams in algebra II and English III that will not count toward their accountability rating.

Districts will get an A through F rating; campuses will remain under the existing exemplary, recognized, acceptable and unacceptable labels.

Prohibition of representatives of vendors serving on advisory boards

SB 2 Charter School Reform

The state cap on charter contracts will increase by about 15 a year to 305 by 2019. Dropout recovery and charters created by a school district will not count toward that cap. High-performing charter schools from out of state will. Up to five charters focused on special needs students will not count toward the cap.

School boards will have the authority to vote in favor of converting low-performing campuses into charters.

TEA, not the State Board of Education, will oversee the charter approval, renewal and closure process.

Vouchers: Cannon Goes “Pop”

Politics of the Texas House and Senate Laid BareTraditional opposition of Democrats, Moderate

Republicans, and Rural Republicans held.The Key Players:

For: Governor Rick Perry, Lt Governor David Dewhurst, Senator Dan Patrick, and Big Institutional Support

Against: A Diverse Array of Players, including Teachers, School Districts, and Business People

Future uncertain after convincing defeat in 2013.

The Power of the Pen: 2013 Vetoes

House Bill 2836 (Ratliff) would have required study of STAAR validity, cut elementary school testing, created commission to study role of the State Board of Education, and other measures.

House Bill 2824 (Ratliff) would have allowed high performing schools to implement alternative testing.

House Bill 217 (Alvarado) would have prohibited the sale of certain drinks on school campuses, including sugar sweetened beverages.

What else will impact Foundations?

Many cuts that directly impacted foundations’ long-standing partnerships with the state were not restored. Summer School Guidance Counseling (More Important than Ever) Libraries and Librarians Health Services Tutoring

Senate Bill 376 (Lucio) to expand the school breakfast program to poorest campuses. BIG anti-hunger win.

Senate Bill 426 (Nelson) to increase accountability of home visiting programs. Partnered with an additional almost $8 million in new money.

Senate Bill 503 (West) to create an Expanded Learning Opportunities Council with foundation participation to increase access to Out of School Time activities and extended learning.

House Bill 1018 (Patrick) to empower parents and communities to boost school-based physical activity via existing School Health Advisory Councils and joint land-use agreements. (Kudos to the RGK Foundation in Austin for creating research context.)

Oh No You Don’t: School Finance

The Single Most Important Thing We Didn’t Talk about and (Probably) Won’t Until: A Special Session in 2014 The 2015 Regular Session NEVER?

Timeline Driven by Courts and Politics/Primary Date. New trial set for District Court in January 2014

Texas Supreme Court holds all the cards. All 9 members are elected statewide and all are Republicans. Will they be willing to push the Legislature to possibly raise taxes?

How is the Consortium helping?

Consortium survey respondents most value:Advocacy Day at the Capitol – 69%Annual research on budget cut impact – 67%Policy updates during session – 62%Pooled funds to support advocacy – 58%Networking with other Foundations – 54%Communications Campaign – 46%

What Can We Do NOW?

Understand the legislative Interim: Interim Charges from Lieutenant Governor and

Speaker Interim Hearings and Reports from All

CommitteesBuild the research-based agenda for 2015Work Together to Create Bigger Impact

There is strength (and efficiency) in numbers.

TEGAC Work Groups

Implementation of HB 5 (Accountability and Graduation Requirements), SB 2 (Charter Bill Expansion and Accountability), HB 1926 (Blended Learning)

Early Childhood Education and Pre-kindergarten

Teacher QualitySchool Finance integrated into each of the

topicsHB 5 Implementation is highest priority in

terms of timing

How Do Work Groups Function?(June 2013 – December 2014)

Consortium determines critical public education for Focus(Implementation of HB 5, SB 2, and HB 1926; early childhood education; teacher quality; expanded learning opportunities)

Individual foundations “sign up” for one or more work groups

(Commitment of time and resources/opportunity to be lead funder)

High quality research sets priorities for policy reform(e.g: Data project on impact of cuts)

Work group members select diverse partners to promote research-

based agenda through advocacy

Texas Legislature and policymakers respond to proposals in 2015

School districts/nonprofits implement new statutes

What Can You Do to Help?

Spread the Word! The more foundations and philanthropists who join the Consortium, the stronger the Consortium will be.

Commit at least $5000 in 2013 and in 2014 to support the Consortium’s infrastructure.

Commit a portion of annual grantmaking for funding partnerships with other Consortium members via participation in workgroups.

What did they just say?

www.tegac.orgwww.facebook.com/TXEGAC

Jennifer EsterlineVoice and Text: 512.796.4530jennifermesterline@gmail.com

Jason SaboVoice and Text: 512.450.2125

fronterastrategy@gmail.com