Dear Friends,
I know most of you have seen these phenomenal stats and letter our awesome Scott Milder wrote to Texas Senate, but wanted to make sure you have a "walking around" copy of the data driven stats.
I love using these in speeches every time I get the chance to remind EVERYONE what an AWESOME job we have BEEN DOING and ARE STILL DOING each and every day in our Texas Public Schools!!! We have proven we are good, we continue to get better and that we will not stop until we reach the BEST for all 5 million children we so proudly serve.
Scott Milder and Mary Ann Whitekar are our heroes for sure because they sing these data from the rafters w/the lege and public every chance they get. Thanks, Scott and Mary Ann! Keep up the good work. You have been such professional, profound, positive spokespersons for all of us!
Thanks! God bless you all!!!
Dr. Shirley J. (Neeley) Richardson
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School districts can piggyback on money-saving contracts available through two national cooperative purchasing programs under one roof, The Keystone Purchasing Network and PEPPM Technology Bidding and Purchasing Program. Both programs advertise and solicit sealed bids, which are awarded to the most responsive and responsible bidders. The result is higher quality at lower prices. |
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Now is the time to budget and make plans to include the Ambassador Training Academy Staff Development Series as part of your strategic mix for 2015-16.Training the 600,000+ people who work in our schools to step up as ambassadors for themselves, their students, and their schools is the most effective long-term strategy for restoring the public's confidence in public education and neutralizing the destructive rhetoric leveled against Texas public schools. Ambassador program participants gain actionable strategies for raising morale, strengthening the culture of brotherhood, and restoring public pride, hope, optimism and confidence in their schools. Contact Leslie Milder at lmilder@fotps.org, or by phone at 214-498-7680 to get started.
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Friends of Texas Public Schools
Scott Milder
700 Lavaca, Suite 1400-2500
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By Leslie Milder - Founder, Friends of Texas Public Schools
With the exception of my family and a few precious friends who feel like family, I RARELY express my politics and personal beliefs in public. But I have had enough.
I follow the Texas Legislature when it's in session like some people follow their favorite sports teams. I am a former Texas high school government teacher and love the system we have in place that assures certain rights and freedoms of the people.
However, while following the commentary and actions of our Texas legislators, so intently focused on the matters of open carry and creating a school ratings system based on letter grades A-F, I am compelled to weigh in.
Last August I took the Texas CHL course. I decided to get it for a variety of reasons that you may agree or disagree with, but mainly because my dad, a retired police officer, Vietnam vet, and former Texas House member nagged me into it because I travel across Texas and he worries. My husband Scott joined me and we spent the day taking the course. In a bar. Yes. A bar. Closed of course because it was daytime, but a smoky, stinky bar nevertheless.
The course was a joke. It was taught by a retired reserve Sheriff Deputy, no real law enforcement experience, and the owner of a local gun range. We spent five hours listening to ridiculous war stories and scenarios of what constitutes "deadly force" and being sold insurance in case we one day shoot someone. Then came the written test. The test was passed down the row of bar tables to each participant and we all took one from the stack. We were seated shoulder to shoulder and told we could use our notes, our neighbor, and our phones to complete the test. (I won't even go into the range portion where I qualified with my weapon next to people who didn't even know how to load the gun they were shooting. They passed and are now legally allowed to carry.)
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? The course and test that gives me the right to carry a GUN in public was open note, open friend and open Internet while my 4th grader was subjected to the most ridiculously intimidating, uncomfortable, and rigid testing environment one can imagine?
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According to the latest figures released by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, the Class of 2013 high school graduation rate for Texas African-American and Hispanic students topped that of similar students groups across the country.
In addition, various student groups in Texas - including White, Asian, Economically Disadvantaged and students with disabilities - rank in the top five nationally in national Class of 2013 graduation rate comparisons."Across the board, student groups in the Texas Class of 2013 easily outpaced the national graduation rate of their counterparts in other states," said Commissioner of Education Michael Williams. "The Class of 2013 comparisons confirm Texas as a national education leader committed to helping every student earn a high school diploma and that bodes well for our state's economic future."
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by Andra Self posted on Texasisd.com
Lately, much of what is said by some state leaders about schools just doesn't add up. Inconsistencies and conundrums in their statements are leading many Texans to ask questions. Here are a few examples:
We all know that Texas is a state that loves to brag. We brag about everything being bigger and better in Texas. We brag about how we compare to other states. But somehow, when it comes to schools, some state leaders don't take the opportunity to brag, and I wonder why. Recently, U.S. News & World Report released its list of the best high schools in the nation. Of the top 10, four are public high schools in Texas. That is certainly brag-worthy! For the past few years, Texas has been ranking in the top handful of states on graduation rates. In fact, Texas African American students rank first when compared to their peers in other states. Graduation rates for Hispanic students are also best in the nation. White students' graduation rates are outdone by only one state. Texas graduation rates are something to brag about, and it seems odd that some state leaders aren't bragging.
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Worth Ave. Group offers insurance policies perfect for K-12 schools wanting to insure electronic devices. Policies provide replacement cost coverage and protect the devices on and off school grounds. Insurance works perfectly for schools with 1 to 1 programs, designed to issue laptops, iPads or tablets to students and teachers.
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With more than a million hits annually on its website and more than 22,000 e-news subscribers, Friends of Texas Public Schools is making advertising/sponsor opportunities available to organizations wishing to reach school leaders across Texas.
For information on getting your organization's message out to Friends of Texas Public Schools followers and readers, please email Scott Milder at smilder@fotps.org.
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