As a long-time advocate for education finance reform, Representative Terry Wilson was likely the only person who was surprised he was named Chair of the House Subcommittee on Article III Appropriations.
In simpler terms, Col. Wilson is tasked with leadership of the House subcommittee “where all the money comes from to fund public education.” Fortunately, his background in billion-dollar acquisitions at the Department of Defense gives him ample expertise to manage the one-third of the State’s budget appropriated for public education.
FIRST, REFORM
Rep. Wilson explains the legislature is re-working education finance laws to ensure communities and schools are not in competition for the same dollars. He explains, “We slowed the rate of property taxes because 50 to 60 percent goes to school funding. But, that also applied to taxpayers who are not making use of the public school system. Today, the State is taking on more of that burden to provide tax relief to property owners. Our Republican House is being diligent about making sure we are providing the resources our schools need while being respectful to everyone in the community.”
GETTING BACK TO SCHOOL
Another priority for the legislature is making sure districts receive the funds they need to continue the mission of educating the next generation.
While schools in Texas are funded based on average daily attendance, changes due to COVID have created an alarming statistic that many children are enrolled but not attending in person, or participating virtually. Rep. Wilson says, “It is a travesty that we may have a generation of kids who did not receive the education they needed, but we hold the ISDs harmless in these unusual circumstances. As such, the Subcommittee’s primary focus is to make sure our districts have funding necessary to continue paying teachers based on pre-COVID attendance data.”
He shared praise for local school districts, including Georgetown ISD’s Superintendent Dr. Fred Brent, who report greater than 80 percent attendance and, moreover, the teachers who chose to continue to come to school to see to the wellness and education of our children. “My hat is off to GISD Trustees, as well, who have done an excellent job managing COVID expenses and restitution across the board,” he adds.
“NOW, LET’S GO TO MARS!”
It is no secret Central Texas is benefiting from a significant influx of high-tech companies opening or relocating to the Lone Star State. In addition to the U.S. Army Futures Command, recent bids by Elon Musk, and Samsung are a harbinger of many career opportunities for the workforce in Williamson County.
This is significant because our forward-thinking Legislature is on the verge of passing HB1525, which will push $260 million into vocational, and career and technical education (CTE) programs all over the state. Rep. Wilson sums up the need and the benefits; “Success is not only about a four-year college any more, and Texas is making sure every student has access to, and a path in a universe of opportunity as early as middle school.”
Many Texas schools already have CTE programs that enable high school students to start on a pathway to certification that can end with a high-paying job right after graduation. But, a tri-agency workforce study showed the extent and geography of gaps in our skill sets. Rep. Wilson says, “Texas is very advanced in working with predominant skills sets, like agriculture, that are region-appropriate. The new paradigm is to go full throttle on CTE classes that will help schools fill demands of specific skill sets in every region. We want to prioritize training for electricians, HVAC, or automotive tech in regions where the skills are needed. With newcomers like Tesla and Bitcoin, we are going to provide Cisco certifications and other expertise that will be in high demand.”
What this means for students is a chance to explore new interests in middle school, and have the opportunity and choice to continue on those paths in high school. With state-supplied resources, students can continue through Level 4 certification before they even graduate high school, to turn their passions into a high-paying job without the expense of post-secondary education. Dr. Brent noted, “We believe public education is the foundation of our community. These local and federal funds for career and technical education support the district’s commitment to providing programs that align with student interests and support local workforce demands. With existing high-demand career fields like healthcare, and the influx of advanced manufacturing and high-tech jobs to our area, we know it is vital to our students and our community to provide industry-grade learning experiences that empower our students to graduate competent, confident, and ready to enter the workforce in high-demand and lucrative career fields.”
YOU BE THE BRIDGE
The vision is for workforce and school demands to intersect so Texas students will be prepared to fill those future jobs. These changes also offer opportunities for individual communities to contribute to the workforce with their respective skill sets and willingness to train up the next generation.
Rep. Wilson explains, “If there is a high demand for a particular skill set in a city or region, local chambers of commerce can send a letter of endorsement and have that skill set added to the ‘menu’ of CTEs. Once accepted, the state will then pay for the necessary infrastructure; e.g., refurbished buildings or equipment. What’s missing are enough subject matter experts to train the students in specific lanes. As such, individuals and companies are encouraged to connect with the ISD to help provide CTE instruction hours or fund apprenticeships to prepare these students with real-world experience.”
In addition to community buy-in, there is great potential to ensure that all students are included, whether they attend public, private, or virtual school. “The expansion of video instruction means whenever an agency offers dual credit, or technical training, we just need to ensure there is enough broadband to allow access to it,” Rep. Wilson says. “It may even bring more kids back to public schools and raise parent satisfaction. I am prepared to push the envelope with this vision. Everyone is paying for public education whether they use it or not; let’s open the envelope, like they do in college, and let kids sign up for the classes they need, not just the ones where they are.”
Contact Rep. Wilson at [email protected]