Ah, August. The month of AYP results, legislative actions, and a new school year. What a busy month.

 In Texas (TEA News Releases Online), more students took AP exams with a higher rate of success than last year; SAT math scores improved, but reading and writing scores declined; ACT composite scores increased along with the subtests scores; and, we are behind on NCLB’s goal for meeting highly qualified teacher requirements.

The Center for Desease Control predicts an increase in Swine flu cases this year, especially on school campuses. TEA willl continue to offer waivers for high absentee flu-related days, but “school closures will no longer be recommended to limiting transmission.”  Super-size me with anti-bacterial hand soap, please.

TEA also released its 2009-2010 Minimum Salary Schedule. AFT’s Survey and Analysis of Salary Trends 2007 ranked Texas at 29th, up from 36th in the nation. However, that’s not the point just yet. The point is the language of the law that stipulates how to calculate teacher pay. It seems to shift the burden of increase from the state to the Local Education Agency. Sorry, I cannot explain something that I don’t understand.

The state Legislative Budget Board announced that $2 billion of the Stimulus money earmarked for education will go to recurring expenses. That means the next legislative session will have to get real creative with educational funding. Perhaps they can leave that to the LEAs as well.

Several school districts are now requring new substitutes to show teaching certification as a requirement of employment. In a sluggish economy, the substitute teacher pool rises. Some districts see the new screening process as a way of moderating an influx of applicants.

The August 30, 2009 issue of the Las Vegas Sun ran a great interview conversation with Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education. Here are some select quotes of what may be things to come.

The process is broken for every teacher at every ability level, and if it’s broken for each of them, it’s broken for every student, too. Good teachers don’t get recognized and rewarded. We don’t learn from them. Teachers in the middle don’t get the support they need. And teachers in the bottom who, frankly, shouldn’t be teaching, don’t get identified.


Schools being open six hours per day, five days per week, nine months per year is an outdated model. It’s based on an agrarian calendar. Our kids aren’t working in the fields anymore.

We’re challenging districts and states to talk about common standards that demonstrate our students are ready for college, career and to compete internationally.

Finally, we say farewell to one of education’s strongest allies, Senator Edward Kennedy. During his tenure he impacted educational policy with his unique input from the Higher Education Act of 1965 through Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. We can only pray for others to fill his shoes.