Our legislators are back in session. Hear about our priorities, next.

Recently, our Board passed Legislative Priorities organized in four broad categories:

school funding and finance, local control and unfunded mandates, assessment and accountability, and anti-vouchers.

Some of the highlights include advocating for a school finance system that is equitable and adequate.

Our current system was described by the Texas Supreme Court as Byzantine...

...and stated that there were “shortfalls in resources and performance."

They went on to say that a “large number of students are in danger of falling further behind."

In Klein ISD, we believe our students deserve more than an archaic, complicated and under-funded system for financing their education,

and we call on the legislature to dramatically improve the system for the 5.1 million Texas school students.

We also oppose unfunded mandates like Senate Bill 507 requiring districts to place video cameras in classrooms upon request.

This unfunded mandate could cost Klein ISD in excess of $1.3 million.

We believe in accountability, but strongly oppose the A-F accountability system because it is not an accurate representation of school performance.

We advocate for a comprehensive state accountability system that is based on multiple measures of student achievement and success...

...and one that adds value for students and staff, as well as locally defined criteria in areas deemed important to the community.

Finally, we strongly oppose vouchers by any name because such programs advocate for using public tax dollars for private education with no accountability.

The state already has mandated mechanisms in place to allow students in certain schools an option to attend another school with provided transportation.

Why is there a push to help students move from schools to private schools with no accountability?

Something to think about.

Ah, the legislative session!

If you want to view our legislative priorities in their entirety...

...visit the link you see on your screen.

And while you're on the website, check out the "Paint the Community with Peace" week page.

We hope you'll join our schools in celebrating this annual event.

That's Klein ISD in a bit more than 90 seconds.

Have a great day!