TLEEC Policy Agenda for the 2021 Legislative Session
Nov 14 2020
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Advocate Meaningful Assessment and Fair Accountability
Eliminate state-required tests that exceed federally required assessments (per ESSA).
Remove high-stakes accountability sanctions to schools and students (i.e., grade promotion graduation requirements).
Promote meaningful, diagnostic and formative assessments designed to assess students’ learning without punitive measures attached.
Extend individual graduation committees for high school graduation approval without expiration.
Invest in Public School Students
Maintain full funding for education; oppose education cuts and maintain hold harmless provisions for 2020-21 attendance funding.
Invest in public education and critical services that support families (e.g., assistance to resolve the digital divide, healthcare).
Protect against privatization efforts that compromise public school resources (e.g., charters, vouchers, virtual charters).
Prioritize funding for historically marginalized students, such as English learners, students receiving special education services, and students from limited incomes.
Channel federal stimulus funds for education equitably toward districts and students that have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Promote Quality Bilingual Education
Support diverse teacher preparation programs, especially for bilingual teachers.
Monitor, support, and expand high-quality, effective programs for English learners, including dual language programs.
Protect and increase student-weight funding for English learner students in all instructional programs.
Prepare All Students for College Readiness and Success
Ensure that a rigorous college preparatory curriculum is available to all students, especially for students of color and from lower-income households.
Expand access to and affordability for postsecondary education through an increase in-state financial aid, expansion of eligibility for gift aid, and protections for student borrowers.
Make institutions of higher education more equitable in their faculty pay structures, internet infrastructure, and student services and resources.
Protect in-state tuition and aid eligibility for undocumented students.
Protect the Top Ten Percent Plan.
Promote Educational Equity in All Aspects of Student Learning
Adopt ethnic studies and support implementation through state standards.
Engage families in the policies and practices for school reopening.
Support greater mental and behavioral health resources for students, teachers and staff.
Support wraparound services that address all needs of school community (e.g., full-service community schools model).
Develop a robust, racially diverse teacher workforce and educational leadership.
Accurately and transparently collect and monitor data disaggregated by race-ethnicity regarding, but not limited to student engagement, discipline, and achievement to assess racial equity in schools.
Promote authentic methods of two-way, family-school engagement.
Advocate policies for racial justice in schools, including dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, promoting professional development in racial justice and culturally responsive pedagogies and practices, and district adoption of racial equity policies.