Accountability and Readiness
May 11, 2009Hopson's Capitol Chronicle
The Texas Legislature just made great strides to move away from the one-size-fits-all model of education. Soon, our children will have more options for success in our public school system.
Providing Young Texans Choices, Creating a New Measure of Achievement
A ground-breaking education bill was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives. House Bill 3 will make Texas the first state in the nation to include post-secondary readiness as a central piece of the public school accountability system. The bill eases the pressure of high-stakes testing, which failed to provide an accurate picture of student achievement and requires a more holistic view of a child’s performance, requiring the class grades, teacher recommendations and state tests will be considered before a student is retained.
Students on the recommended plan would be required to complete four years of English, math, social studies, science, two years of a foreign language and eight electives of their and their parent’s choice. The bill maintains the requirement that school districts offer the foundation and enrichment curriculum such as physical education and fine arts. Students in high school will now have more flexibility to explore their interests and develop their talents by choosing elective courses that are of interest to them.
The Vitality of Houston County
I recently presented legislation to the House Ways & Means Committee that is intended to help stimulate economic development in Houston County by tapping into the county’s rich history. House Bill 3669 would allow the Houston County Commissioners Court to impose a hotel tax, the proceeds from which would be dedicated to promoting the county’s tourism industry.
Houston County – the Gateway to the Texas Forest Country – was the first new county created by the Republic of Texas. The county is also home to the Davy Crockett National Forest, Ratcliff Lake National Recreation Area, and the Mission Tejas State Park – the site of the first Spanish mission in East Texas, dating back to 1691.
The preservation and promotion of these historic attractions is key to cultivating tourism, which will be a critical component of Houston County’s future economic well being. Changes to the Texas public school system to adequately prepare our children to enter the workforce of tomorrow, will be a critical component of our state’s economic power for years to come.
Sincerely,
Chuck Hopson
