Over the past two decades, TBEC has influenced the direction of state education policy and stimulated community-based school improvement activities. TBEC has gained national recognition for its accomplishments. In 1997, the National Alliance of Business honored TBEC with its first State Business Coalition-of-the-Year Award.

Whether you were there at the beginning, a new member or are a recently elected TBEC Board or Coordinating Committee member, your dedicated leadership and support has allowed TBEC to be a positive influence on Texas’ more than four and a half million public school children.

TBEC’s Impact on Public Education in Texas

TBEC helped establish the following state education policies consistent with the coalition’s long-term strategic plan that have contributed to the improved performance of Texas public schools.

Site-based Decision Making : In 1991, the Legislature required all Texas school districts to give school principals, acting in consultation with an advisory team, authority over educational process.

Accountability : In 1993, the Legislature created the nation’s strongest public school accountability system based on an expanded statewide student assessment program. The system rates school districts and campuses annually based on student test results, and outlines interventions and consequences for persistent low performance.

The Recommended High School Program : Also in 1993, the State Board of Education established the Recommended High School Program, modeled after TBEC’s Texas Scholars initiative, which outlines a rigorous course of study for Texas high school students.

Decentralization : In 1995, the Texas Legislature rewrote the Texas Education Code (TEC), shifting authority from the state to local school districts.

Safe Schools : TBEC was part of a broad coalition of education-related organizations that encouraged the legislature to take dramatic steps to improve the safety of Texas public schools, including giving teachers authority to remove disruptive students from their classroom and requiring school districts to provide alternative learning environments for students who could not function in regular classrooms.

The Texas Reading Initiative : In 1997, the Legislature enacted Governor George W. Bush’s reading initiative that provided resources to strengthen reading instruction through teacher in-service training and included a TBEC recommendation that all school districts be required to assess the reading development of kindergarten and 1 ^st and 2 ^nd grade students. The Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI), developed to serve that requirement, can be purchased for use by other states.

Student Learning Standards : Also in 1997, the State Board of Education adopted the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), new student learning standards for Texas public schools. TBEC supporters served on some of the subject-area writing teams, reviewed and made suggestions to improve draft documents, and testified publicly for adoption of the proposed standards.

Student Success Initiative : In 1999 the Texas Legislature enacted Governor George W. Bush’s initiative to “end social promotion” in Texas public schools. Students must demonstrate at certain checkpoints (3 ^rd grade reading in 2003, 5 ^th grade reading and math in 2005, and 8 ^th grade reading and math in 2008) that they have acquired the foundational skills to succeed at the next grade level.

TEXAS Grant Program :In 1999 the Legislature created a new need-based financial aid program that requires students to complete the Recommended High School Program. The Teach for Texas Program established also in 1999 provides financial aid to students in exchange for teaching for a number of years in a shortage area in a Texas public school.

Expanded High School Assessment : Also in 1999, the Legislature implemented a TBEC recommendation that moved the tests students must pass as a high school graduation requirement from the 10 ^th to the 11 ^th grade. This change first affects the graduating class of 2005.

Recommended High School Program :In 2001, the Legislature enacted a requirement that all students entering high school in 2004 must plan to complete the Recommended High School Program. Individual students can opt out of this requirement with the agreement of parents and their counselor.

Texas Mathematics Initiative : This program enacted in 2001 invests substantially in improving mathematics instruction in grades five through eight.

Fiscal Accountability : Also in 2001, theLegislature established the nation’s first public school fiscal accountability system that will became fully operational in 2004.

Assessment : In 2003, the Legislature reinstated the 8 ^th grade science test to bring the state into compliance with the requirements of No Child Left Behind. The Governor’s Science Initiative will help strengthen science instruction in Texas public schools.

High School Improvement : TBEC supported legislative actions that allows school districts to use “optional extended year” funds for high school students, targets resources for high school teacher professional development, and requires schools to spend certain resources to provide intensive, personalized instruction to students at-risk of failing the state’s new exit-level tests.

Early Childhood Education : TBEC supported legislation that will consolidate resources from various programs to be able to provide quality pre-school experiences to greater numbers of Texas children.

Texas B-On Time Loans : TBEC supported legislation that will provide zero-interest loans to cover costs of college tuition, fees and textbooks for students that complete the Recommended High School Program.

Concurrent Enrollment : Legislation enacted in 2003 will increase the number of students who will be able to take courses for dual high school and college credit.

School Finance : In June 2003, the TBEC Board of Directors adopted a statement of Principles of School Finance to guide efforts to reform the state’s public school finance system.

Career and Technical Education: In 2007 TBEC recognized the need to strengthen career and technical education. Working with House Education Committee Chairman, Rep.Rob Eissler, (R-The Woodlands) Rep.Susan King, (R-Abilene) Rep.Lois Kolkhorst, (R-Brenham) and Rep. Rafael Anchia, (D-Dallas), House Bill 3485 was passed into law and is the genesis for career and technical education bills recently passed this session.