Bilingual educators in Texas are engaged in a fierce battle to protect the current system for funding their programs and to increase state aid for educating English language learners. Because of the high stakes involved – not only in Texas but ultimately nationwide – NABE is financing a lobbying effort in Austin to ensure that bilingual educators’ voices are heard.
HB 2, which passed the Texas House on March 11, would dismantle the “weights” system under which school districts receive an extra percentage, over and above their basic allotment, for educating special populations including limited-English-proficient, low income, gifted and talented, and special education students. The bill would substitute a flat dollar amount that would no longer increase automatically along with other school costs, thus requiring advocates to return each year to fight for equitable appropriations. In addition, it would provide funding in the form of a “block grant” that schools could divert for purposes other than serving ELLs.
The Republican-backed measure now moves to the Texas Senate, where its future is uncertain because of broad opposition from school districts and education organizations. Bilingual education advocates are optimistic that Senate leaders will stand firm for retention of the weights system while also increasing levels of funding for ELLs.
Currently, Texas programs for ELLs receive a weight of 0.1 – that is, 10 percent – in supplemental funding, which equals about $450 annually. The gross inadequacy of this amount was highlighted in a recent court case, West Orange Cove v. Neeley. A representative the Texas Education Agency testified that a weight of 0.3 would more accurately reflect the real cost of educating students whose English is limited. Other education advocates testified that a weight of 0.4 was the bare minimum needed for ELLs.
HB 2 would provide a flat $500 for ELL students in grades K-8 and $1,000 in grades 9-12.
Working with ENABLE (Effective Network for the Advancement of Bilingual Education), a grassroots group based in Dallas, NABE is contributing resources to this fight. The funds are being used to employ an experienced and well connected lobbyist, Jesse Romero, to represent the interests of ELLs in the Texas legislature.
In the past, NABE has seldom engaged in legislative campaigns at the state level. But that policy is changing along with the politics of bilingual education and the impact of No Child Left Behind. State legislation – especially in large states like Texas – have national implications that cannot be ignored.
More now than ever, advocates for bilingual education need to make common cause with colleagues throughout the country. Where NABE’s help is needed, we plan to respond.
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