Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath briefed state lawmakers in Austin on Monday about the state’s education system. Morath expressed concerns about Texas underperforming on national tests and spending below the national average per student.
He emphasized the importance of focusing on teacher training and increasing pay to improve education outcomes. The Texas Education Agency estimates a changing school system with a decrease in total student numbers but an increase in harder-to-teach groups like low-income students, English language learners, and special needs students.
During the hearing, Morath addressed issues such as low pay and discipline problems causing teachers to leave the profession, leading to an increase in uncertified workers in the state. He stressed the need for urgency in providing training and resources for teachers to succeed.
With Governor Greg Abbott’s proposal to expand a teacher incentive program and an allocation of nearly $5 billion for teacher pay raises in the state budget, there is hope for improvements in teacher retention and education outcomes. However, debates over issues such as using public school tax dollars on private and home schools could complicate the process.
Overall, Morath highlighted the need for more investment in teachers to address the challenges facing Texas public schools. As the funding situation becomes more pressing, finding sustainable solutions for teacher support and student success will be crucial in the weeks ahead.
Source
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
