1/17/2014 Public schools No. 1 campaign issue » Standard-Times Login | Manage Account | Mobile News Today Sports Local | Contact Us | Site Map | Subscriptions | eEdition | Reader Rewards | Business Obituaries Opinion Entertainment My San Angelo Data Center Lifestyles State National Media World Jobs Politics Alerts Homes Cars Classified Columnists Scores, tweets, up-to-the minute coverage here from the ST Sports Team Your sports team live report here! Public schools No. 1 campaign issue Stats can be found for every political stance By Chris Tomlinson Associated Press Posted January 12, 2014 at 10:45 p.m., updated January 12, 2014 at 11:09 p.m. Discuss Print A A A AUSTIN, Texas — Public schools are shaping up to become the top issue in the 2014 election campaigns, with Democrats complaining about Republican budget cuts and conservatives calling for more choice and less government involvement in an issue that impacts every Texan. Expect candidates to offer a barrage of statistics about schools and student achievement, since something can be found for every political persuasion. Money is likely to be the biggest talking point, with Democrats complaining about cuts in per-pupil spending and low salaries in Texas, while Republicans will say there is no correlation between government spending and student success. Fact checkers will find that both sides are about half right. The Republican-controlled Legislature rewrote the formula for public school funding in 2011 to cut $5.4 billion from the state’s public education budget, the first such reduction in spending since World War II. In 2013, the Legislature restored about $3 billion, but is still not spending as much as it did in 2010. Texas teachers also make about $1,000 less a year than the national average, prompting many teachers to leave the field or move elsewhere. Sign up for email updates Never miss a thing! Sign up for email updates to be alerted when new content is available from your favorite Go San Angelo special sections. No subscription or site registration required! Increased spending over time, though, does not result in commensurate increases in student performance, conservative groups point out. Conservative Texas organizations such as the Texas Public Policy Foundation argue that public schools need to change the way they operate and use existing funds more efficiently before they get additional taxpayer dollars. Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis filibustered the state budget in 2011 and forced a special session to protest the cuts in school spending, which eventually passed. http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2014/jan/12/public-schools-no-1-campaign-issue/ 1/4 1/17/2014 Public schools No. 1 campaign issue » Standard-Times “I do believe that education must be the No. 1 priority that we address as a state,” Davis said at a round table at the University of Texas at Arlington on Thursday. Democrats believe they can win over suburban mothers upset at the budget cuts made at their schools. But Republicans are not ready to cede the issue, laying the blame on teachers’ unions and tenure systems they say keep poor educators on the job. “It’s time for Texas to set our sights on being No. 1 in education,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott told a conservative political conference on Friday. Most Popular Viewed Commented Emailed Death notices, 1/17 Abbott’s solution is more charter schools and allowing parents more leeway to choose where to send their children. Davis wants to encourage the brightest students to become teachers, and forgive their student loans when they work at public schools. Expect the candidates to also debate curriculum, graduation standards and testing. Christian groups continue to fight against teaching evolution, industry groups want bettereducated high school graduates and parents complain of too much testing. The Legislature recently dropped the requirement that all students take Algebra II to graduate from high school. Published 1/16/2014 at 3:55 p.m. Police advise avoiding Southwest, Sunset Updated 1/16/2014 at 1:24 p.m. The Texas Education Agency on Thursday said the number of schools falling short of minimum standards doubled from 2012 because of newer, higher standards. That means at least half the students at those schools have failed the accountability tests in two of the three previous years or the schools were rated academically unacceptable in 2011 or “Improvement Required” last year. Texas ranked 47th in the nation in SAT scores last year. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst also joined the education debate, praising the progress in student performance since 2000, when the state adopted a long-term strategy called “Closing the Gaps 2015.” He called on Texas senators on Thursday to examine the lessons learned and make a plan for the next 15 years. There is no doubt that public education always has been, and likely always will be, a challenge for the state’s leaders. The number of children growing up in poverty and homes where English is not the first language is on the rise. The 2014 election allows voters to choose whose vision they trust more for solving these problems. Discuss Recommend 1 com m ent UPDATE: San Angelo police seek hit and run driver Updated 1/17/2014 at 9:43 a.m. 0 com m ents Death notices, 1/16 Published 1/15/2014 at 3:47 p.m. 0 com m ents San Angelo water supply levels continue to dwindle Published 1/16/2014 at 5:32 p.m. Striking the balance will be difficult at a time when, by some key measures, Texas students continue to lag behind. 0 com m ents 0 com m ents Photo Galleries San Angelo SWAT standoff gallery TOP PHOTOS: Jan. 16, 2014 PHOTO GALLERY: Suspected shooter… Weather Currently 36-Hour Your Photos Currently 30° Mostly Cloudy Wind: W 4mph Today 59° 30° More Weather » Print Share Sign Up to see what your friends recommend. More from Go San Angelo Robles appointed as interim tax assessor-collector 'Girls' gets fourth season, Lena Dunham's nudity a talking point at TCA Police advise avoiding Southwest, Sunset Seth Meyers talks about his plans for 'Late Night' Death notices, 1/14 Business Directory http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2014/jan/12/public-schools-no-1-campaign-issue/ 2/4 1/17/2014 Public schools No. 1 campaign issue » Standard-Times More Also in Local news for the iPad app Search RICK SMITH: Harvesting history Browse Business: e.g. salon Target breach appears to be part of broader scam Wildfire erupts in California Location: e.g. San Angelo, TX San Angelo, TX From around the web Sponsored Content Search Sizzling Photos of Maria Sharapova You Can't Miss Pow ered by Local.com (Rant Sports) New Rule for Texas Drivers (Lifestyle Journal) CPAP Makes You More Attractive - Don't Miss These Photos that Prove It (Easy Breathe) Did You Know These 20 Stars Are Gay? (Hollyscoop) Michelle Obama's mixed race heritage proved by DNA. (Ancestry.com) Recommended by Comments » 1 January 13, 2014 10:17 a.m. Suggest removal Reply to this post Hide Railguy writes: Oh Brother. . .not another year of listening to idiots from both parties trying to say just a little more this or a little less that will help our failing education system. The politicians of both parties in both the Federal and State level have NO clue. As long as we have a "One size fits all", and "Everyone is educated to a test so they can go to college" system we are DOOMED to failure. We need to talk to our children, educated them all to a high school degree via two routes at least. One route leads out of high school to advanced University studies and the other route educates them in high school to a trade and job where they know the basics and immediately have value to an employer. Want to participate in the conversation? Become a subscriber today. 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