Latest news with #HB2
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jennifer Roberts considering another run for Charlotte mayor
From the highs of the Carolina Panthers Super Bowl run to protests over the police shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott and the passing of the nondiscrimination ordinance that led to HB2, Jennifer Roberts was mayor for some of Charlotte's biggest moments. In an interview with Channel 9 Friday afternoon, Roberts confirmed she is considering making another run for the post. Roberts was at the helm for some of Charlotte's biggest moments. 'When I first ran for office, I did it because the community said there was a need for the kind of voice I would bring,' she said. 'So, I'm not looking to jump in the race, but I am listening, and I have not made up my mind yet.' Roberts said she is discussing the run with her family and seeing what the feedback is from the community before officially deciding whether to run. READ MORE: Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Councilwoman Tiawana Brown announce intention to seek re-election Roberts is one of Charlotte most well-known progressives. She served as mayor from 2015 to 2017. Her former mayor pro tem, Vi Lyles, defeated her by 10% in a three-person primary. Lyles is now running for a fifth term. Roberts says she has heard from people who want more choices on the ballot 'I'm somebody who is not just talking to the 1%. I am out at events. I'm in the community,' she said. 'Some people feel frustrated that they're not being heard.' Roberts cited the recent tiebreaker vote by Lyles. The SEIU is asking Charlotte City Council for help in improving wages and working conditions for contractors at the airport. Lyles broke a tie to not send the issue to committee. READ MORE: Mayor Vi Lyles breaks tie vote to reject SEIU ordinance request Lyles is already facing a primary challenge from Tigress Acute Sydney McDaniel who earned 5% of the vote when she ran against Lyles in the primary in 2022. Community activist Gemini Boyd also says he is planning to run. Democratic strategist Dan McCorkle says Lyles will be hard to beat but primaries are healthy. 'If we have a good discussion about our Democratic values then it is worth it,' McCorkle said. A spokesperson for Lyles declined to comment on Roberts potentially running. Filing ends next Friday at noon. READ MORE: City councilmember, daughters indicted on PPP fraud charges VIDEO: Embattled Charlotte Councilwoman Tiawana Brown hosts town hall
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Set To Roll Out Country's Biggest School Choice Initiative
(Texas Scorecard) – After decades of campaigning by education reform advocates, Texas is set to enact the nation's largest education savings account program, opening new options for up to 100,000 students. The state will spend the next year preparing for the program's 2026-2027 launch. Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, which creates the ESA program, into law on May 3. An ESA allots funds to parents for use toward a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, and online learning. The program, which has been allocated $1 billion by the Legislature, will support up to 100,000 students, making it the largest launch of a universal school choice program in the nation, according to the governor. Most students will receive $10,000. However, special needs students will receive $11,500, and homeschool students are eligible for $2,000. The ESA program will be managed by the Texas comptroller. The comptroller will maintain a list of pre-approved vendors and educational providers, but participating families will also be able to request approval for other vendors and educational providers to suit their needs. A specific provision in the legislation dictates that no rule or action may prohibit or restrict religious or institutional values when distributing funds. In addition, it prevents limitations on participating parents when 'determining the methods or curriculum to educate students.' If the program is not maxed out the first year, a weighted lottery will determine who is next in line to receive funding. Once the program is rolled out, students will be considered in the following order: Siblings of currently participating students All other students Former students who have previously been enrolled in the program but have since stopped for a period of time The program further prioritizes students based on household income and disability status: Households 500 percent below the federal poverty line whose participating child has a disability Households 200 percent below the poverty line, which are expected to be the largest qualifying group Households 200 percent above the poverty line Households 500 percent above the poverty line No more than 20 percent of the funding will go towards the latter priority group, though it's unlikely to reach that amount. The comptroller's office will provide further details on the application process in 2026. In addition to school choice, lawmakers also passed House Bill 2, which covers public school finance. The total K-12 education funding for the 2026–2027 biennium is about $80 billion out of a $338 billion state budget. HB 2 increases the basic allotment per student from $6,160 to $6,215, which districts can use to meet a variety of needs, while the rest of the funding is earmarked to expand teacher incentives and create more grant funding. However, additional oversight of public education was also a priority of lawmakers. Senate Bill 12 increases parental control and oversight in K-12 education, limits DEI-related activities, and enhances transparency and accountability in Texas schools. It also bans instruction or programming regarding gender identity and sexual orientation.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manchester school board warns language in budget trailer bill could cost city schools $10.2M
The Manchester school board is sending a letter to state legislators sounding the alarm about a small section — six lines, to be exact — in the state budget trailer bill (HB 2) that would cost the school district approximately $10.2 million next fiscal year. Page 70 of the bill includes language establishing what is essentially a cap on targeted aid for larger school districts. For districts with 5,000 or more students, the bill seeks to subtract from targeted state aid until the amount decreases to $3,750 per student. The cap would effectively cut Manchester's adequacy aid from $127.8 million under current law to just under $117.6 million — a cut of more than $10.2 million. By comparison, the city of Nashua would see its targeted aid jump by more than $1.2 million under the new language, from $83.2 million to $84.4 million. 'As far as we can tell, Manchester is the only municipality in New Hampshire that stands to lose money because of this cap on targeted aid,' the letter from Manchester's school board to the Legislature's Committee of Conference says. 'Such a loss would put at risk our ability to best serve the educational needs of our students.' The state's education aid formula was tweaked in response to Manchester getting a bonus from the introduction of the Extraordinary Needs Grant in 2021, a more than $30 million annual increase. The amendment limits that bonus and will lead to Manchester getting more than $10 million less than it gets now. The amendment received support from members of both parties, because the $10 million is being shared by other income- and property-poor communities like Berlin, Claremont and Franklin. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said Tuesday he has been in contact with some of the committee members, who will likely begin meeting later this week. "I am reaching out to the conferees to gather information and develop a course of action to address this issue," Ruais said. School board member Bob Baines, a former mayor and educator, said he spoke to Gov. Kelly Ayotte about the targeted cap last week. 'We've been in touch with various representatives, but this needs to be watched very, very carefully in the (Legislature's) Committee of Conference,' Baines said. 'Can you imagine the devastation that will occur in Manchester, the most significant devastation possible in our public schools. We all need to work on that with our representatives, because I think in any big government bill — no matter how big and beautiful it is — some people don't read it and don't understand. 'Why would Manchester be singled out as the only community in the state of New Hampshire that would lose funding? If you care about Manchester, we should get that funding — we planned on it.' School board member Sean Parr drafted the letter and gathered the signatures of fellow board members this week. 'We are hoping to reach out to the Committee of Conference to let them know that it has this particular effect only on Manchester,' Parr said. 'I think it would be good for us to at least explain the situation, tell them that it's a significant impact to our budget in its current form, and to ask that they reconsider that part of the budget proposal.' In the letter, school board members urge committee members to reconsider the 'targeted cap' portion of the bill, warning the proposed budget could lead to 'harmful cuts and reductions to student services.' School officials point out that despite being the largest school district in New Hampshire with nearly 12,000 students, Manchester ranks at the bottom of the state in per-pupil spending, with over 53% of students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals, 20% multilingual learners, and 23% special education students. 'The proposed reductions would therefore have devastating consequences for our students, our educators, and ultimately, the future of our city,' the letter says. 'We welcome the opportunity to engage in continued dialogue, and we hope that you will collaborate in crafting a budget that reflects the values, priorities, and long-term vision of a thriving state with excellent public schools.' pfeely@
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Governor Signs $8.5B Education Bill, Boosting Teacher Pay
Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 (HB2) into law Tuesday, delivering a 'historic' boost to public education funding and teacher pay across Texas. According to a June 4 press release from the governor's office, the $8.5 billion package includes a record $4 billion in salary raises for teachers and school staff. The goal is to build up the state's education workforce and improve student success rates. The bill signing occurred at Salado Middle School, where Abbott was joined by over 175 teachers, students, and parents. 'Now is the time to make Texas No. 1 in educating our children,' Abbott said. 'House Bill 2 ensures that our schools are funded better than ever, teacher pay and student funding are at all time highs, reading and math performance will improve, and students will be better prepared for the workforce.' The bill also dedicates nearly $834 million to special education, $648 million to 'early literacy and numeracy,' and $430 million to increasing overall school safety. Small and rural schools will receive $318 million in additional support, while $199 million will go toward expanding facilities for charter schools. Abbott was accompanied by Salado ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Novotny and Temple ISD Educator JoMeka Gray at the ceremony. Gray, a Region 12 Teacher of the Year and 2025 Texas Teacher of the Year finalist, praised the legislation's focus on teacher retention and support for special education. 'House Bill 2 is more than just policy—it is a promise to our teachers,' Gray said. 'This legislation touches the lives of 5.5 million students enrolled in Texas public schools. It strengthens the teaching profession and largely supports the needs of special education students,' she added. Abbott's plan also expands career and technical education, particularly in smaller or previously underrepresented areas across Texas. Lawmakers allocated $153 million for high-demand fields of work and job training facilities, while $187 million will enhance teacher preparation and certification programs. The measure increases the Tier II basic allotment by $55 per student and funds school districts' operational costs: including transportation, insurance, and utilities – by $1.3 billion. In his 2025 State of the State Address, Abbott had previously declared an incoming increase in teacher pay raises and career training opportunities as emergency priorities for the legislative session. Yesterday, the governor's office announced that more than $481 million from the Teacher Incentive Allotment was distributed to over 42,000 designated teachers for the 2024-25 school year. 'The foundation is now in place for Texas education to start climbing the ranks,' Abbott said after signing the bill.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas public schools are set to get an $8.5 billion funding boost. Here's the plan.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday is expected to sign into law a bill providing roughly $8.5 billion in new funding for Texas public schools, offering relief to districts for teacher and support staff pay, operational expenses, special education, educator preparation, early childhood learning and campus safety. The new dollars in House Bill 2, which lawmakers have dubbed 'historic' because it marks the largest one-time public education investment in recent memory, will arrive after years of stagnant funding. That includes 2023, when the state gave schools targeted money in areas like school security but left billions more on the table due to the political fallout over private school vouchers. Abbott signed a $1 billion voucher program into law last month. The Legislature granted final approval to the 231-page public school funding bill in the last days of the 2025 legislative session, which concluded on Monday. HB 2 will largely go into effect on Sept. 1. Certain parts of the bill will take effect next year. School officials and public education advocates have praised the new funding while warning that the new dollars are a long way from catching districts up with inflation, which has ballooned their costs since the COVID-19 pandemic. HB 2, they say, also will not cure every hardship staring public education in the face, including multimillion-dollar budget deficits and school closures. While the legislation does not give schools as much spending flexibility as they had hoped for, it makes targeted investments in areas lawmakers believe will leave the Texas' public education system better off. Here's a breakdown of some key provisions. Teachers will receive long-term pay raises based on their years of experience and the size of their school district, using the following criteria: Educators with three to four years of experience in districts with 5,000 or fewer students will get a $4,000 raise, while those with five or more years of teaching on their resume will earn $8,000. For districts with more than 5,000 students, teachers with three to four years of experience will earn a $2,500 raise, while those with five or more years of experience will receive $5,000. First- and second-year teachers are not eligible for raises under the new system, known as the Teacher Retention Allotment. The raises for more experienced teachers are permanent, not one-time bonuses. The new law also gives districts $45 per student that they can only use to increase the salaries of school counselors, librarians, nurses and other non-administrative support staff, as well as the teachers who do not qualify for raises under the new retention allotment. Lawmakers expanded Texas' Teacher Incentive Allotment, a state program that awards raises over a five-year period to classroom instructors who demonstrate that they have improved their students' academic performance. HB 2 will allow more teachers in a district to qualify for raises, which will range from as low as $3,000 annually to as high as $36,000. Higher dollar amounts will go to the program's highest performing teachers working in rural or high-poverty communities. School districts can also decide to open up the incentive pay system to include principals and assistant principals. But doing so would mean the district can only offer salary increases to classroom teachers based on performance — not across the board — except for when adjusting for inflation. Educators who have obtained their national teaching certification will continue to automatically qualify for raises through the Teacher Incentive Allotment under the new law, though the State Board for Educator Certification can now revoke their participation if it concludes that the requirements for the national designation do not comply with state law. The board will conduct an initial review of the national certifications no later than Dec. 31, 2026. School districts will not see a significant increase to their base funding per student, known as the basic allotment, which grants them flexibility to tackle their campuses' particular needs, from building maintenance to fine arts programs. That pot of money will only go up by $55 per student. Instead, districts will get more targeted funding — $106 per student — to pay the costs of transportation, insurance, utilities, employee benefits and hiring retired educators, which has become more common as schools struggle to fill teacher vacancies. Texas is moving away from the long-scrutinized special education funding system that gives money to districts based on the classroom setting where a child with a disability receives instruction. Now, schools will receive dollars based on the individual needs of that student — an approach educators, lawmakers and public education advocates consider more equitable. The new system, which Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath will design, will take effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. The education chief must consider the nature of services provided to students, the technology and equipment required and the professional needs of educators. When HB 2 takes effect later this year, districts will also start receiving $1,000 for each assessment they conduct evaluating kids for disabilities. School districts must finalize plans to ensure that no educators without formal classroom training teach children in reading, math, science and social studies — and they have until the 2029-30 school year to transition the uncertified teachers out of those classrooms. The Texas education commissioner may allow districts to delay implementation of the new requirement until Sept. 1, 2030. None of the certification rules will apply to charter schools, which receive public funds but are privately managed. To incentivize untrained teachers hired in the last three years to earn their certification, the state will provide a one-time payment of $1,000 to educators who get formal training by the end of 2026-27 school year. The law also provides a salary of $10,000 to aspiring educators who participate in teacher residencies — training programs that provide them direct classroom experience under the guidance of seasoned instructors — while those who go through a traditional university or alternative certification route will get $3,000. For districts to qualify for the funding, their programs must meet several state requirements, including ensuring candidates spend time in a classroom for at least a full academic year. The education commissioner will establish a list of brief assessments, known as screeners, that districts will use throughout the school year to evaluate foundational reading and math skills among students in kindergarten through third grade. Superintendents are required to publicly report the results at a school board meeting and make them available to parents, who also have the option to opt their kids out of taking the assessments. Lawmakers hope the screeners will help schools provide targeted support before it becomes too difficult for children to catch up. Students who are falling behind will receive additional tutoring. HB 2 also tries to help districts close Texas' prekindergarten funding gap. The state currently requires that districts provide full-day pre-K to eligible children for free, but it only funds those services at a half-day level. Though the way pre-K is funded remains the same, the new law makes changes to the state's funding system for early learning that could help some schools pay for the other half day. Meanwhile, the bill expands free pre-K eligibility to include the children of teachers. Additional funding will go toward helping districts fulfill safety mandates enacted by the Legislature after the Uvalde mass school shooting in 2022, a list that included hiring one armed security officer at each campus. Districts will receive $20 per student and $33,540 for each campus, up from the current allocation of $10 per student and $15,000 per campus. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
