Thomas Ratliff: A Documented Liar

Today's Austin American-Statesman has dueling Op-Eds on CSCOPE.  Peggy Venable of Americans for Prosperity has a fantastic piece outlining the problems of CSCOPE.  State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff (R(ino) -- Microsoft) counters with a fraudulent and mendacious defense.

Ratliff asserts:

The allegations are also when extremists claim that CSCOPE is aligned with the Common Core curriculum promoted by the federal government. It’s simply not true. CSCOPE was developed by Texas educators for Texas educators to teach Texas standards to Texas kids. Period. Again, more fear-mongering.

Except for the fact that Linda Darling-Hammond helped design both:

CSCOPE documents also claim connection to Linda Hammond, a proponent of the nationalized Common Core movement that Texas has rejected in favor of its own standards.

 (Sidenote: Back in December, we broke a pretty big story on LDH's background).

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Ratliff also claims:

The allegations are also when extremists talk about parents being denied access to what their children are being taught. If that’s the case, schools are breaking the law and should be held accountable. Chapter 26 of the Texas Education Code provides for “Parental Rights and Responsibilities,” including the right to see what happens in their child’s classroom. The fact is many of these extremists are not parents of public school students. Don’t blame CSCOPE for following Texas law. In fact, CSCOPE lessons are now online for anyone to see. Yet the extremists still want it banned from the classrooms. Transparency obviously isn’t the issue. Censorship and winning a political battle is the issue.

 Cue Peggy Venable:

Last year, it took State Board of Education Chairman Barbara Cargill six months before she was finally granted access to the lesson plans. Parents were denied access to CSCOPE material in violation of state law, which requires lesson plans be available to them. [Emphasis Ours]

 In other words, Ratliff's co-board member experienced what Ratliff claims never happened.

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In another whopper, Ratliff alleges:

The allegations are when the extremists talk about the “Communist” “Marxist” “Socialist” “anti-American” “pro-Muslim” curriculum. First, they need to make up their mind if it’s Communist, Marxist or Socialist. In a state as “red” as Texas, do people really believe kids are being taught to hate America?...These allegations are simply fear-mongering designed to incite a mob.

 Funny, because you can see these lessons here, or here, or here, or here, or here.

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Thomas Ratliff is a smart guy.  He knows that what's he's saying isn't true, but he says it anyway.  That's why Thomas Ratliff is now a documented liar.

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BREAKING NEWS: Dan Patrick to Debate Thomas Ratliff over CSCOPE

With the 83rd Texas Legislature sine done, the time has come for the much anticipated CSCOPE debate between Dan Patrick and Thomas Ratliff:

Patrick to Ratliff: I’m Coming to East Texas, Will You Be There? by DanPatrickTX

Background: Ratliff had been trying to claim that Patrick was afraid to debate him because Patrick had been tied up with Legislative stuff.

Get your popcorn; this'll be fun....

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Travis County Taxpayers Union announces August 13th Moneybomb!!!

The ongoing saga of the Austin ISD lawsuit continues:

If we can take this case to the third Court of Appeal, we can win. The law is on our side. If we win we will, at a minimum, save taxpayers $500 million; this lawsuit, however, could restrict financial shenanigans that local governments can pull across the state of Texas.

Unfortunately, lawyers cost money; we need to raise $6000 to keep our guy out of the poorhouse as the appeal works through the system.

Normally, in politics, you need large sums of money to make things happen. Not this time. This $6000 investment on the front end could save taxpayers in Austin Hundreds of Millions of Dollars and (in a best case scenario) could save BILLIONS across the state.

 Pledge your support here.

Join the Facebook event here.

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Keep Standing Strong Barbara Cargill!!!

Donna Garner has an excellent rebuttal to the latest rubbish the Texas "Freedom" Network:

TFN is vilifying Cargill because TFN wants publishers to ignore the new Science curriculum standards (TEKS) adopted by the elected members of the SBOE. Nobody knows those Science TEKS any better than does Barbara Cargill because she poured her sweat equity into them for two years during the time they were under adoption.

Barbara Cargill is a certified science teacher, taught high-school biology in the Texas public schools for years, and conducts a nationally recognized science camp in the summer to which thousands of children come. The camp is so successful that children have to sign up early to get their names on the list.

Just as in the past where SBOE members have had special expertise in various content areas, these Members have tried to make sure that the textbook review teams follow the SBOE-adopted TEKS. That is state law. Instructional materials (IM’s) which pass through the SBOE adoption process must follow Texas’ curriculum standards (TEKS), and all teachers in Texas are to follow the TEKS.

We Texas citizens want Barbara Cargill to be closely involved with the Science IM’s. SBOE members serve the people of Texas without receiving any remuneration. If these members take their valuable personal time to meet with the textbook review teams, we Texans should be grateful. We should thank Barbara Cargill and the other SBOE members for their dedication to making sure that the IM’s are sufficiently aligned with the Science TEKS.

Textbook evaluation teams work in public settings; nothing is done behind closed doors. All SBOE members are invited to attend the meetings and to communicate openly with the evaluation team members. Barbara Cargill is not a vendor nor is she a lobbyist.

 Read the whole thing (and join the Ticked Off Parent and Teacher Association) here.

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Update: In a separate piece, Garner addresses the 'substance' of TFN's claim:

At our reviewers’ meeting on July 31, Barbara Cargill (Chair of the SBOE) was active in making sure that Proclamation 14 was carried out correctly and efficiently. She and the TEA staffers went to almost every reviewer’s table to introduce themselves and to thank them for volunteering their time; all seemed grateful for the kind words. There were 3 tables of biology reviewers while there were only 1 to 2 tables for the other IM products.

The process that was used this time was very different from the one used in the past. Before SB 6, there were two lists – conforming and nonconforming. Conforming IM’s had to cover 100% of the TEKS for the subject and grade level; nonconforming IM’s had to cover at least 50% of the TEKS for the subject and grade level. However, because of SB 6, now IM’s only have to cover 50% of the TEKS.

In light of all of the changes to the process, Cargill had asked panel members what they thought of reviewing the materials virtually (in Phase I) as opposed to face-to-face. Of course most would rather have had face-to-face meetings from the beginning, but the cost was prohibitive.

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Matt Rinaldi Makes It Official

Matt Rinaldi officially jumped into the race for HD 115 today; from his campaign website:

Irving, TX-- Matt Rinaldi today announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Texas House District 115.  Already armed with strong grassroots support, Rinaldi provides conservative opposition to incumbent Rep. Bennett Ratliff, who is widely regarded as one of the most liberal Republican representatives in Austin. 

“Conservatives in northwest Dallas County have gotten a raw deal this session,” said Rinaldi. “Rep. Ratliff has aligned with Democrats as often as his fellow Republicans on the most important legislative votes this session and has compiled the most liberal voting record of any Republican freshman in Austin.  He voted to increase the size of government by 26% from the previous session and then voted to dip into our state’s savings so he could spend even more.  Ratliff’s efforts put Texas’s financial future at risk.  As a conservative running to represent the voters and not Austin lobbyists, I will be a principled voice for smaller government, secure borders, protecting the sanctity of life and preserving our Second Amendment rights.” 

Rinaldi’s announcement comes less than a month after Ratliff spurned Governor Perry’s request to keep the State House redistricting maps the same as the previous maps and attempted to draw Rinaldi out of District 115 without a vote. The incident caused public outcry from Republican voters and Ratliff’s fellow legislators.  

(h/t Macias Strategies)

This is great.  Bennett Ratliff is a Straus crony who is part of a corrupt family that is in the pocket of big education.  While this is not (yet) an official endorsement, we wish Matt the best of luck in this primary.

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Dan Branch and Common Core-style Data Collection

Six weeks ago, we discussed HB 2103, a disastrous law passed by the Texas Legislature during the general session.  At the time, we wanted Governor Perry to veto it.  Unfortunately, in one of the worst moves he's ever made, he signed it into law.

In late May, Donna Garner explained:

[Author's note: This WaPo article is about a similar Federal program]

In a Washington Post article dated 3.13.13, (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/03/13/lawsuit-charges-ed-department-with-violating-student-privacy-rights/ ), the U. S. Dept. of Ed. Is being sued because of the changes made to the FERPA law under the Obama administration.  Now private companies and foundations under the cloak of “promoting school reform” are allowed to get access to private student (and teacher) information. No parental permission is required, and student ID’s are linked to their private information.

A database funded by Bill Gates called iBloom, Inc. has already collected personal student data from seven states and will most likely morph into the national database under the Common Core Standards Initiative.

According to the Washington Post article, the information already collected “holds files on millions of children identified by name, address and sometimes social security number. Learning disabilities are documented, test scores recorded, attendance noted. In some cases, the database tracks student hobbies, career goals, attitudes toward school – even homework completion.”

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[This is about the Texas Program]

State education agencies from other states can negotiate agreements for these Texas education research centers to share Texas data.

The research centers can also form agreements with local agencies or organizations that provide education services to Texas students, including relevant data about former students of Texas public schools.

 Earlier today, while looking into another topic, we made an interesting discovery about HB 2103.

Who was it's primary sponsor?!?

Dan Branch.

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Austin ISD backs down on 'Domestic Partner' benefits

An interesting development:

Highlights:

• On Thursday, AISD announced to staff home on summer break that it would not offer domestic partnership benefits as promised since March. Open enrollment is set for July first. 

• Domestic partnership doesn't just affect those in the LGBT community, but heterosexual couples who live together.

• In a letter sent to staff, district official sites the Attorney General's opinion issued back on April 29 that "a school district would violate the Texas constitution if the health plan is determined to create or recognize a legal status that is similar to marriage.

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Veto these Bills: An Open Letter to Governor Rick Perry

The Honorable Rick Perry

Dear Mr. Governor,

During its general session, the 83rd Texas Legislature passed a lot of terrible legislation.  It deserves to be vetoed in a reprise of your so-called 2001 "Father's Day Massacre."  The following list is incomplete, but it would be a darn good place to start:

• SB 1 AND HB 1025 -- These disgraceful bills increase Texas' state spending by 26% over 2011 levels that were already too high.  This budget would alter the trajectory of state spending with disastrous but predictable consequences.  As the Wall St. Journal explains: "nearly everything from mental health to family planning to Medicaid...won fat funding increases....The danger is that Texas will repeat the fiscal mistake that California has made repeatedly: spend during the glory days and, once the economy slows, raise taxes to cover the deficit. The Texas oil patch is riding high on $95 a barrel oil and a doubling in production in four years. But Texans shouldn’t forget the lesson of the 1980s and late 1990s that oil prices are volatile and a decline can be painful and prolonged."

• HB 5 -- This bill would gut accountability in Texas public schools that have proven they cannot be trusted.  Standardized testing is imprecise, but it holds big education somewhat accountable.  Until Texas structurally reforms education, end of course testing the least bad way to keep the current system under control.

• SB 15 -- Cahnman's Musings wrote you about this bill last month.  It takes the authority to appoint University regents out of the hands of an elected Governor and places it in the hands of University bureaucrats.  Similar to HB 5, the status quo isn't great, but it's better than the proposed alternative.

• HB 866 -- This is a companion bill for HB 5 and deserves to be vetoed for the same reasons.

• HB 1675 -- "Educational Service Centers" are a bureaucratic sinkhole that launched and promoted CSCOPE.  Under current law, those ESC's are scheduled to appear before Texas' Sunset Commission in 2015; HB 1675 would punt this appearance to 2019.  Given everything we've learned about the ESC's during the past few months, this type of accountability cannot come soon enough.

• SB 1730 -- This bill creates places tolls on existing roads without corresponding reforms to existing transportation authorities.

• HB 2013 -- Enables Common Core style data collection in Texas schools; need I say more?!?

• HB 2824 -- Another companion bill for HB 5; also deserves to be vetoed for the same reasons.

• HB 2836 -- This bill would gut the elected State Board of Education and place curriculum standards in the hands of educational bureaucrats.

The 83rd Texas Legislature passed A LOT of bad legislation during its general session.  Mr. Governor, the ball is in your court.  We urge you to act.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
June 10th, 2013

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Contact Governor Perry:

Phone: (512) 463-2000
Twitter: @GovernorPerry

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Update: Governor Perry signed HB 5 on Monday afternoon.

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How to Identify Toxic Cirriculums

A must read piece from Texas CSCOPE Review:

The Characteristics of Toxic Curriculum Include:

1. A 21st Century learning curriculum

2. Constructivism or Progressive Teaching Philosophy

3. Project Based Learning– Projects that have students reinventing the wheel.

4. Not available to be viewed by parents. Anything–ANYTHING used to instruct students should be visible to the public.

5. Self-directed learning, discovery learning, cooperative work in heterogeneous groups

 Example of a problem with heterogeneous grouping: Two elementary students worked together and their work was videoed. The parent was not allowed to see her son’s class work because the video contained another child. Parents of the other child had to give permission. Who gave the teacher to video tape elementary children?

6. Emphasis on the “whole child” approach that blends psychological, social and cultral well-being of the child, which are all subjectively measured. The increase in the number of dyslexic students may be due to these children not being taught how to read during the most important formative years. A Texas teacher has reported removing the dyslexic label from a student–HOW?  By teaching the child phonics–sounding out letters–etc.. in other words, teaching the child how to read. The progressive education approach has been tried and proven not to work. 

7. Whole-language–Doesn’t teach kids phonics–This was and is the CSCOPE approach to learning. Students need phonics —students need grammar—students to know how to write in script—in other words, use computers as resources that complement traditional teaching techniques.

8. Interactive and discovery learning–”fuzzy” math–CSCOPE promotes not teaching multiplication tables. Kids are not taught traditional –tried and true –methods of solving math problems.

 The terms used for progressive instruction sound wonderful. Interactive—it is good for students to interact with each other. Science students always work in groups when doing science lab investigation. Discovery learning–this is what science is all about. But the progressive interactive discovery learning means students are given a problem to solve and they interact and share ideas and discover facts. This is much like having students pretend they are scientists of the past. But even these scientists first learned everything that has been previously discovered about a problem. They were not trying to reinvent the wheel, which is what progressive education is doing. This is what project based learning is: giving students a project that results in their reinventing the wheel.

9. Focus on diversity, multiculturalism, and global citizenship

Even the science lessons in CSCOPE included biased social issues.

10. The 4 Ps–Posters, portfolios, projects, PowerPoints.

Most of the Projects that assessed CSCOPE lessons were for students K-12 to make a poster, a portfolio, or some time of organizer. Thus, subjective assessments.

11. Do not Use An Online Curriculum to replace student textbooks. Students need to have books to learn about using indexes, glossaries. CSCOPE directors scorned the use of textbooks. Thus, students in one Texas CSCOPE algebra 2 class spent two to three days copying equations flashed on the screen by an over head projector. That left two days for instructions. How 21 Century is this? I’ve pleaded with this school district to give students books.

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ACTION ALERT: No on HB 2836

In a sleazy, end-of-session, move, the Texas House is scheduled to take up HB 2836 today.

This bill would gut the elected State Board of Education and replace it with a 'select committee' much friendlier to Big Education:

If adopted, the committee substitute to HB 2836 would create an interim study of the TEKS; but out of the 14 members on the study committee, only 2 would be SBOE members who really have a grasp of curriculum standards, testing, and instructional materials. 

The rest of the 12 members of the TEKS study committee would be 4 appointed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst from the Senate Public Ed. Comm. (politicians) and 2 from the general public.  House Speaker Joe Straus would appoint 4 from the House Public Ed. Comm. (politicians) and 2 from the general public. 

This means that at least 8 would be politicians from the Texas Legislature, and we have already seen how vulnerable they are to being manipulated by the education bureaucracy.

The four added people from the public could easily come from the education bureaucracy.

The end result is that the 2 SBOE members could find themselves in a lonely corner while the other 12 who are tied to vendors and/or lobbyists could control the curriculum standards (TEKS) put into our public school classrooms!

 (Author's Note: TEKS are Texas' State curriculum standards.)

Find your legislator here.

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CSCOPE Fight is NOT Over

Via Texas CSCOPE Review; reposted in full:

Teachers Instructed to Save CSCOPE Lessons

MAY 20, 2013 BY JANICE LEAVE A COMMENT

The CSCOPE ESC directors announced that they will gut the CSCOPE curriculum by removing every CSCOPE lesson K-12. YEA!

Was this done because these Education Service Center directors decided that the CSCOPE lessons are not of a quality that they would want taught to our Texas children? I wish. Instead, this decision was made with the intent of killing a legislative bill that would provide control over curriculum created by the ESCs. Seems the ESC directors will do anything to remain in control of their kingdom.

In a last ditch effort to keep CSCOPE lessons in our Texas Schools, the CSCOPE ESC directors are encouraging teachers to download the CSCOPE lessons.  Yes, teachers are encouraged to copy the poorly written, incorrect, Anti-American, pro-Islamic, Anti-Christian CSCOPE lessons before Aug. 2013 when they will be forever gone. (Not if the CSCOPE ESC directors have anything to do with it. Wait and you will see these lessons for sale somewhere. Maybe in another form they will sell them to Texas School superintendents who confess that they must have CSCOPE.]

Now that the CSCOPE lessons may legally be copied, there is no need for school districts to rent CSCOPE. Every CSCOPE lesson has the number of suggested days and every IFD (Information Focus Document) for the lesson has the clarification for the TEKS. Done Deal! Teachers have the coveted scope and sequence that superintendents have used textbook funds to rent. Now all they have to do is open up the book room and dust off those textbooks. YES!!! Any textbook is useful. The ESCs who sell CSCOPE are the same ESCs who received more than $180+ million dollars to compare the TAKS state standards with the new TEKS. All superintendent have to do is request the Rider 42 K-12 TEKS Professional Development turnaround academy materials for Science, ELAR, Social Studies and Math. It is time for the public to evaluate this material that they paid $180+ million dollars for.

How fast things can change. Only yesterday teachers faced legal action for even making paper copies of the CSCOPE lessons. Following is one of several statements in the legal contract that teachers were forced to sign if they wanted to work. Yes, this contract was suppose to have been null and void according to Senator Patrick, but superintendents did not confirm this with their teachers.

“You are prohibited from copying, saving to a disk or hard drive, redistributing, using or publishing any portion of the Site, except as allowed by Section 3. (Which allows sharing only with others who have signed the CSCOPE gag-order.)”

What ever the reason, I send my thanks to each ESC director for making the right decision. Since there is no need for the ESCs to sell the CSCOPE scope and sequence, as of August, the entire CSCOPE website can be taken off line and the ESC directors and staff can return to actually providing a service to schools in their district.

Since my original intent for viewing the CSCOPE lessons was to help elementary kids with science, I volunteered my tutoring services. I am now volunteering my services to help elementary teachers with science. First order of business is to request science text books. If they are outdated–no problem. I am sure that the ESCs have not spent all of the $180+ million Rider 42 grant money and will be happy to use it to hire someone to post science information on the project share website. Without the CSCOPE micromanaging program, teachers can again be creative and actually align science lessons with the science process standards. I will be more than happy to provide complimentary materials to guide this process. My heart for the first time since I discovered the mind controlling CSCOPE program is light and happy. Thanks to everyone who has helped.

Texas It is Not Over

While the CSCOPE lessons have been offered up by the CSCOPE ESC directors, they want superintendents to continue to purchase supplies from companies that pay the ESCs a fee so that their products are purchased by Texas School Districts. Yes, companies are charged a yearly fee of $25,000 to $100,000 or maybe more for the honor of advertising that they are aligned with CSCOPE. I wonder how this is working out for them? But, on the sly, these companies could still sell to Texas schools with superintendents who continue to use the CSCOPE lessons. Teachers can help stop this by notifying CSCOPE Review that they are being pressured to copy the CSCOPE lessons. This can be done anonymously . Send the info to CSCOPEREVIEW@gmail.com or snail mail it to:

Tx CSCOPE Review
PO Box 145
Riesel, Texas 76682

Don’t stop now.  We still have the superintendents and other administrators who shoved CSCOPE down the throats of our teachers. We still have the school board members who sold out to CSCOPE and never evaluated the lessons. We still have TASA and TASB who are stealing school taxes from our school districts and have rings in the noses of most of the Texas school administrators. These administrators have no concern for our children. They have in their own minds established themselves as kings and queens. But, they need to be dethroned and people who love our children enough to listen to the concerns of parents. We want administrators who do not think they know what is best for our children and want parents and the community to not be involved in education. Yes, there is still much work to be done.

The ESCs need to explain what they have been doing with the millions and millions of grant money they have received over the past few years. They certainly do not need to be given anymore.

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OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT: Konni Burton for Texas Senate!!!

Cahnman's Musings wasn't planning to jump into Election 2014 before sine die.  Legislative outcomes during final week of the General session and the upcoming Special session(s) remain our top state level priority.  But it's Friday and this one's a no-brainer.

Konni Burton has worked behind the scenes the past few election cycles.  She helped lead the revolution that swept the Tarrant County GOP during 2012.  She also supported Ted Cruz in 2011, back when doing so was (to put it mildly!) controversial.

Konni Burton has been an advocate of school choice and an opponent of educrats for a long time.  In post CSCOPE Texas, with the school finance lawsuit expected to come to a head in 2014, an irreconcilable clash of visions is brewing.  Cahnman's Musings encourages Konni Burton to focus on the moral case FOR school choice while simultaneously mocking educrats and their financial enablers.

That being said, another aspect of Konni Burton's platform holds special appeal:

Work to reduce the state’s dependence on federal dollars.

 This is VERY important, and it highlights a concern that drives everything Cahnman's Musings does at the state level.  40% of Texas' Budget comes from Washington.  This is dangerous.  Washington is not a reliable business partner.  Cahnman's Musings is pleased to see Konni Burton make this issue a priority.

While the case FOR Konni Burton is strong enough on it's own, Cahnman's Musings must also comment about her opponent, incumbent State Senator Wendy Davis (D - Educrats).  In 2011, Wendy Davis held taxpayers hostage to flush more money down the rat-hole of public education.  In addition, the relationship between Wendy Davis' law practice and her votes in the Texas Senate are questionable at best.  Wendy Davis uses a self-righteous mask to cover crony corporatist double dealing.  It's just as easy to oppose Wendy Davis as it is to support Konni Burton.

An irreconcilable clash of visions over education is brewing in Texas.  In one corner are parents, children, and taxpayers who want options and a reasonable rate of return on their investment.  In the other are a group of self-serving bureaucrats protecting their boondoggle.  Konni Burton is the former; Wendy Davis is the latter.  For this reason, Cahnman's Musings unapologetically and unconditionally endorses Konni Burton for Texas Senate!!!

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ACTION ALERT: YES ON SB 2!!!

After yet another abdication of responsibility by the Texas House over CSCOPE yesterday, conservatives justifiably feel like Charlie Brown with the football; nevertheless, a major school choice bill is scheduled to see the floor today.

From Americans for Prosperity -- Texas:

In Texas today, we have 315,000 students in over 500 failing schools.  Kids’ futures ride on one five-digit code which they have no control over:  their zip code.

Public schools assign kids to schools based on their zip codes.  We believe these students should have choices.  Charter schools provide choices.  Charter schools are public schools and have around 150,000 students enrolled.

Unfortunately, there are over 100,000 students on charter school waiting lists in Texas.  More would likely sign up but know that they have little chance of getting into a charter school.

....

Here are the highlights of SB 2:

• lifts the cap on charter schools
• the parent trigger provides an opportunity for schools to convert to home rule charter schools
• underutilized or unused schools would be available for charter schools; and
• limited funding would be provided to charter schools for facilities.

Read more: http://americansforprosperity.org/texas/newsroom/afp-testifies-on-sb-2-lifting-the-cap-on-charters/#ixzz2TTAoTa7X

 From the Texas Public Policy Foundation:

With more than 100,000 students currently waiting to attend public open-enrollment charter schools in Texas, the need to allow more of these schools to operate in Texas is obvious. By elevating the cap on open-enrollment charter schools from the current 215 to 305 in 2019, SB 2 creates opportunities for students to choose an education that best suits their needs, and empowers parents by making the Texas education system more competitive.

 You can contact your legislator here.

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ACTION ALERT: MAJOR CSCOPE Vote!!! (Yes on SB 1406)

One of the most important votes of the 83rd Texas Legislature will occur today when the Texas House votes on SB 1406.  If passed, this bill will take all things CSCOPE out of the hand of bureaucrats and place them under the supervision of Texas' elected State Board of Education.  This will begin to control CSCOPE.

From Concerned Women for America -- Texas:

Thank you for all your prayers, phone calls, and e-mails regarding SB 1406 "The CSCOPE bill". This has been the major bill we have been working on since day one of session, and we are getting excellent movement on this bill. SB 1406 will be heard tomorrow on the House floor. CWA of Texas will be there. If this bill passes as written, it is an exact match to the Senate version, and we believe it will head straight to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. CWA of Texas believes CSCOPE needs to have oversight by the State of Texas because it was paid for using federal, state, and local tax dollars. That is what makes CSCOPE different from any curriculum in this state. It was created with Texas tax dollars. If our House members do not support this bill, they are saying to Texans that it is OK for a non-transparent, unaccountable, un-elected bureaucrat to run amuck with millions of our tax dollars and the hearts and minds of our children with their slanted materials.

 From Americans for Prosperity -- Texas:

Chrmn Patrick and Sen. Donna Campbell sponsored SB 1406 which does the same.  A hearing was held April 2 and passed out of committee April 4^th with a vote of 7-0. The April 2^nd hearing can be viewed here: Senate Education (Part 1) and Senate Education (Part 2).
It is clear some Senators are not open to public review of CSCOPE and we encourage their constituents to be asking why.

We encourage citizens to take action, talk to your school board and see if your district uses CSCOPE and if it does, work to get it out of your District.  Call your legislators and ask them to support SB 1406 and HB 760.  Help educate more citizens on what is going on in our schools by joining AFP-Texas.

Read more: http://americansforprosperity.org/texas/legislativealerts/cscope-of-c-scam/#ixzz2TMyyAqcP

 While the General Session of the 83rd Texas Legislature has been a bust for conservatives, we can still get CSCOPE under control.  Let's salvage something.  Call your legislator NOW and urge them to vote YES on SB1406!!!

Find your legislator here.

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Ramparts 360: Texas Senate Does It's Job, House Drags it's feet

A Must Read Piece from Ramparts 360; re-posted in full:

Texas Senate Does Its Job, House Reps Drag Their Feet

by Sibyl West | May 14, 2013 | Citizen Report

“This is probably the first session I’ve seen in a long time where the Texas Senate has been far more conservative than the House. They’ve [the Senate] managed to pass meaningful legislation that conservatives support while the House has twiddled their thumbs, waiting for time to run out.”

- Eliza Vielma, AFP Legislative Affairs & New Media

What’s up at the TxLege? Well there doesn’t seem to be much sense of urgency in the house. Yet. They’re still in the tease-the-reporters phase. Over at Trailblazers we find this:

“Asked if he was keeping all his options open, Pitts downplayed the referral of the bill by Straus’ office to Appropriations. ‘Uh, they didn’t refer a lot of Senate bills until now,’ he said.” [Pitts is saying Straus didn't refer the bills until now.]

Continue reading Pitts won’t say if House will punt water-fund issue to voters

Senators are very concerned about the House’s slow pace with only 13 days left in the 83rd Legislative Session. It’s now or never to push the House to do the job we sent them there to do and get some of these important bills heard.

Details – Great Conservative Senate Bills  that the House needs to push to pass:

• SB 2 – Expanding Charter School Cap – This bill was placed on the General State Calendar for this week, but just got taken off the agenda and is back in calendars again.
• SB 7 – Health Care Savings - Description here; currently sitting in calendars
• SB 8 – Targets Medicaid Fraud; sitting in calendars
• SB 11 – Drug testing before receiving benefits; Hasn’t been heard in House Human Services yet
• SB 12 – Allowing admission of more evidence in a trial re: sexual offenses committed against a child – Background here; sitting in calendars
• SB 21 – Drug screening before receiving unemployment benefits; sitting in calendars
• SB 149 – Clarifies and Strengthens conflict of interest provisions at Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT);  made it out of committee, headed to calendars.
• SB 150 – Paying down debt of CPRIT through their collected royalties, etc to help alleviate taxpayer cost; sitting in House Public Health
• SB 1263 – Parent Trigger (Ed Reform); sitting in House Public Education Committee
• SB 1406 – CSCOPE Oversight; Placed on General State Calendar for tomorrow (5/15)
• SB 1458 – Revisions to Teacher Retirement System of Texas law in relation to benefits; sitting in calendars
• SB 1655 – Financial Relief for Electric Customers; Relating to authorizing the Public Utility Commission of Texas to direct the comptroller to return the unappropriated balance of the system benefit fund to retail electric customers; sitting in House State Affairs

I hope you’ve got your rep on speed dial. Let’s get to work. Click here to find out who represents you.

Cahnman's Musings has intended to put together something like this for awhile; thanks to Ramparts360 for doing so.

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The Next Step: #AuditAISD

"I won." 
President Barack Obama
January 23, 2009

Several people have written to ask what comes next following conservatives' upset victory over Austin's progressive establishment Saturday night.  That the pro-bond campaign outspent us 45:1 and could only manage a draw illustrates voters unease with the district's stewardship of the people's money.  The citizens of Austin have spoken, and they gave a clear mandate to get to the bottom of the district's finances.

#AuditAISD.

Austin Independent School District needs a financial proctology exam.  This election raised a lot of questions about the district's finances.  It's now time for answers.

#AuditAISD

From questions about administrative bloat, to basic maintenance, to the cozy relationship between the district and special interest cronies, to countless others, the time has come to answer citizens' questions.  Obviously, the district lacks the credibility to examine its own finances.  An independent audit, with subpoena power, is the appropriate next step.

#AuditAISD

Once Austinites get to the bottom of the district's finances, then we can consider major policy changes.  For now, however, discussing its premature.  We need more information.  Let's get it.  #AUDITAISD.

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ACTION ALERT: Yes on SB 2, HB 3497, and HB 607

This week, we could see action on several of our priorities in the Legislature:

SB 2 Relating to charter schools and home-rule charter school districts.

• Status: Voted favorably out of House committee. 
• Recommendation: FOR 
• Comment: Will lift the cap on the creation of charter schools and create more choice.
• Additional Research: Lifting the cap on charters 
• Call to action: Contact the calendars committee to schedule this bill for a floor vote.

HB 3497 Relating to state savings and government efficiency through a taxpayer savings grant program.

• Status: Public hearing scheduled for May 13th 11:30am NOTICE 
• Recommendation: STRONGLY FOR
• Comment: Replaces SB 1575. This will save taxpayers millions and will give parents the freedom to choose the right education for their children.
• Research: It's Time for School Choice in Texas 
• Call to action: Contact committee members to voice your support FOR this bill. \

 HB 607 Relating to the phaseout and repeal of the franchise tax.

• Status: Placed on General State Calendar     Recommendation: STRONGLY FOR

• Research: Fixing the Texas Magin Tax 

• Comment: The franchise tax is more than a business income tax it's a revenue tax that punishes Texas businesses even if they loose money. 

• Call to action: Contact your state representative (find your rep) and voice your support for this bill.

  (h/t New Revolution Now)
  

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Austin Bond Result: We Need Your Prayers

Folks have written in asking how the bond election went.

We need prayers.

I hope this helps.

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VOTE TODAY: AGAINST AISD Bond Props 1 - 4

Today is the big day; vote against all four Austin ISD bonds:



Read our endorsement AGAINST the bonds here.

Find your polling place here.

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Turnout Up for AISD Props. 1 - 4

According to the Burnt Orange Report, 16,551 people voted in all elections across Travis County during early voting.

In 2010, by contrast, the May AISD trustee election saw fewer than 10,000 people show up.

Caution is in order, because the sixteen thousand number is for Travis County as a whole (not just AISD), but turnout is clearly up.

Election Day voting locations can be found here.

Let's slow this process down; vote AGAINST AISD props. 1 - 4.

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