Texas Insider

11:28 am CST - October 14, 2009

Gov. Perry: Improving Texas’ Public Education System Positively Affects the Future of Our State

HOUSTON – Gov. Rick Perry today applauded the Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center’s success in transforming from a chronically underperforming school to one recognized statewide for excellence in education.

“Because students at chronically low-performing campuses struggle to develop the necessary skills to succeed at the next level, improving public education in Texas positively affects the lives of our young people and the very future of our state,” Gov. Perry said.

“Our overall goal is for young Texans, no matter their economic status, to graduate from our high schools career- and college-ready, with the essential knowledge and skills that will allow them to tackle the next step.”

Despite being academically unacceptable for six years, the Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center earned its status as a recognized campus in one year. These gains are not unique to Sam Houston, as the 2008-2009 TAKS scores across the state improved in each subject and grade level, and Texas was recently recognized as one of only four states to close the achievement gap in math.

Gov. Perry noted that Texas schools that are still struggling can learn from schools like Sam Houston and take advantage of initiatives such as the Texas Turnaround Center, which was created in July 2008 as part of a state-wide system to provide support and technical assistance to districts and campuses identified as under-performing.

Working through a regional network of highly trained turnaround teams, the center aims to reduce the number of low-performing campuses by enhancing the statewide capacity to support comprehensive, ongoing improvement of under-performing schools.

The governor also emphasized the importance of House Bill 3 of the 81st Legislative Session, which helps students prepare to enter college or the workforce by ensuring that schools retain rigorous high school graduation plans, improving parent access to student academic information and increasing school district financial transparency.

The bill also encourages students to stay on the recommended high school plan, which includes four years of English, science, social studies and math, while allowing for greater scheduling flexibility to take courses that will prepare students for a successful career.

Education Week Magazine recently recognized Texas as one of the first states in the nation to hold schools directly accountable for ensuring our students graduate college- and career-ready with four years of math, science, social studies and English on their transcript.

9 Comments

CWJensen
11:30 am CST
October 14, 2009

Rick you want to improve TEXAS education GET the politics OUT of it.

I am sick and tired of the way our politicians are hiding behind closed doors waiting for people to GIVE UP.
WELL is crazy old man is NOT going away.
I have been CALLING and VISITING politicians wherever they try to HIDE.
NOW for the NEXT two days I am going to post the same message over and over again.
I CANNOT do it alone I NEED HELP.
PLEASE PICK a DEMOCRATIC SENATOR EVERY DAY call their office in WASHINGTON and each of the offices in their home state.
TELL THEM THIS:
I am fed up with you hiding behind closed doors. You are making a mockery out of OPEN REPRESENTATIVE government……………………………WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO HIDE.
OUR economy is terrible, our troops are dying in record numbers,the value of the dollar falls everyday.
While you hide behind closed doors and try and force a healthcare bill that we DO NOT WANT down our throats.
For now all I can do is call BUT be rest assured I will never FORGET and when you run for reelection I will donate all the time and money I have available to CONSERVATIVES to DEFEAT
you.
After you are defeated I will do to EVERYTHING possible to have you held criminally responsible for your actions against our country.

Pam
1:09 pm CST
October 14, 2009

Did you not read the article? It’s about EDUCATION!!

Pam
1:13 pm CST
October 14, 2009

The politics of funding education in Texas is horrible. We have billions in the Permanent School Fund and yet we still cannot put textbooks in every student’s hands. Another 15% just got dropped from the funding for next year. I am glad that a school got a good rating after 6 years but let’s try doing it for all the schools and all the children. Quit the smoke and mirrors of a few successes and get the word out about the failures in our education system as well……..

KBH is a RINO
2:08 pm CST
October 14, 2009

Texas Insider is biased. You always put Kay Bailout’s press releases at the top, and bury Rick Perry’s press releases.

CWJensen
2:23 pm CST
October 14, 2009

PAM stop complaining about funding until you have 40 students in a classroom and work for $17,000 a year.
Good teachers find a way to teach if the administrators and politician get out of their way.
Be thankful you have a job

Harry
8:29 pm CST
October 14, 2009

I have two children in the education field. One in Admn. , the other in the classroom. They loathe the TAKS test. The classroom teacher teaches to the test. She also teaches migrants and English is the second language. How would you like 10 and 11 year olds deciding your feature when the primary language at home is Spanish? The administrator spends his time in court with truants and parents who don’t take responsibility for their children.Free breakfast, free lunch. When did this become an entitlement? Don’t parents take responsibility for anything.Teachers also end up furnishing supplies to students and for the classroom. Working form 0700/0730 to 1730/1800 hrs.
They love what they do, but, need support from the superintdent and school board who worry about the average daily enrollment and monies for each child in the system. A good ole boy system with relatives working throughout the system.
The more federal money involved in anything, the more strings attached! The only thing missing is the ring in the nose and some probably have them.

Lisa
6:04 am CST
October 14, 2009

EASY!

Quit taking ANY FEDERAL MONEY…..return the control of textbooks and curriculum to the individual schools systems…get the NEA influence out!

DONE!!!

Ed
9:57 am CST
October 14, 2009

If Gov. Perry was really concerned about improving education he would clean up the Democrat scoundrels that inhabit the State Board of Education and use it for their own financial benefit.

James
9:51 pm CST
October 14, 2009

High Quality education begins with discipline. Students need to be held accountable for their conduct, not just their test scores.