LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES January 30, 2020
PREPARING FOR THE 87 TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION • January 12, 2021 Regular Session Convenes • May 31, 2021 Last Day of Regular Session (sine die)
NISD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES Proposed 2019 Legislative Priorities 2021 Legislative Priorities • Approved November 12, • Considering Approval 2018 January 30, 2020 • 4 Priority Categories • 5 Priority Categories • 20 Total Priorities • 17 Total Priorities • 17 – Support • 16 – Advocating “For” • 3 – Oppose • 1 – Opposing
PROPOSED 2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES North Texas & School NISD Growing School Safety Accountability Fast Growth Finance & Assessment & Security Transportation Needs
FAST GROWTH
FAST GROWTH Provide considerations, accommodations, and relief for fast-growth school districts.
Create an adequate and equitable system with local discretion that accommodates fast growth and ensures the community’s needs are met . • Support evaluation and reconsiderations of the school funding system and impact of HB 3; support continued efforts to reduce the reliance on recapture and property value increases; support going back to prior-year values for revenue calculation; support reconsiderations to provide school districts adequate time to prepare an effective budget.
• Support fast- growth schools districts’ need for flexibility and ability to exceed the $0.50 debt cap due to rapid enrollment growth and construction needs; support consideration of a weighted scale or different funding formula to provide fast- growth accommodations. • Support reconsideration and increased flexibility of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (HB 3); oppose linking teachers’ salary to student assessment performance. • Support the ability for locally elected school boards to effectively manage the total tax rate and make decisions on how best to utilize funding.
• Oppose unfunded mandates. • Support consideration of mandates and requirements on personnel and effective caseload management. • Support consideration of growth-based needs for personnel and programs. • Support funding for the Texas Retirement System (TRS) and TRS-Care (healthcare); support sustaining a defined benefit retirement plan; support necessary state funding for TRS Active Care to ensure retirees’ access until they are covered by Medicare.
Establish a system that looks beyond the STAAR exam and measures what the community prioritizes, and oppose A-F ratings. • Support the establishment of a comprehensive accountability system that looks beyond a single assessment, considers multiple measures, and measures what the community deems as a priority; oppose A-F. • Support allowing academically successful school districts to continue practices that data shows to be successful.
NORTH TEXAS & NISD GROWING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
NORTH TEXAS & NISD GROWING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS Support efforts and funding to address the expansion and improvement of transportation infrastructure in response to the rapid growth of the North Texas area. • Support expediting construction of state and county road infrastructure to address the burden of a fast-growth area and public schools. • Support increasing and enforcing regulations for developments in extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) areas that are not heavily regulated.
NORTH TEXAS & NISD GROWING TRANSPORTATION NEEDS • Support requirements on developers to accommodate regional infrastructure needs. • Support efforts and funding to expand road infrastructure needs – especially east/west thoroughfares.
Support funding student and school safety initiatives and flexibility in how funds are used to meet the needs of the NISD community. • Support ongoing funding for school safety initiatives and flexibility in how districts utilize funds to meet local needs. • Support funding to provide social and emotional health services for students. • Support increased regulation of e-cigarettes and educational awareness campaigns to stop and prevent use and abuse by Texas youth.
NEXT STEPS • 2021 Legislative Priorities will guide interim discussions • Develop handout • Can revise and ratify if needed as January 2021 nears
QUESTIONS / COMMENTS
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