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Public Policy Update-
Although the legislature does not meet until January 2009, important work continues this summer. In the following update are summaries of Lottery Privatization in Texas, Adult Basic Education and the Bible to be taught in public school classrooms.
Lottery Privatization in Texas
Over the past several years, cash-strapped states around the country have been approached with the idea of privatizing their lotteries. The idea is that a private company will pay a particular State up front for a license to operate the lottery for a set number of years. The company will operate the lottery during that period and recoup their investment and a return on its investment. Though to date, no state has agreed to sale their lottery.
In other words, similar to “payday loans”, private companies are trying to convince leaders of our State to accept a lump-sum payment of pennies on the dollar for future lottery sales, that may include casino style games if these companies are successful. Yes, casino style games!!!
Unfortunately, proposals from proponents of this “privatization” initiative in Texas, have advocated for the expansion of gambling in our state in the form of constitutionally prohibited games like Keno, VLTs, and other casino style games. In addition, they have recommended the expansion of the current lottery games to the Internet and other wireless devices. Alarmingly, a recent news article quoted a spokesman from the Lottery Commission that attributed the movement towards privatization and offering wireless lottery games to the Governor’s office.
A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m., Wednesday, August 27, at the State Capitol to discuss lottery privatization. The Senate Committee on State Affairs and the Senate Finance Subcommittee on General Government Issues, in joint session, will take public testimony. The hearing will be held in room E1.036 (Finance Room) of the Capitol Extension.
Below links of committee members:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c570/c570.htm
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c540/c540.htm
Adult Basic Education
Adult Basic Education, such as English language classes, has been ministry staple for Baptists for years. The role the church has played is critical due the gap in our education system in Texas.
The CLC continues to move forward on this issue in the public square. Shelton Green and Suzii Paynter met with the Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Robert Scott recently to discuss the state of Adult Basic Education. Commissioner Scott acknowledged the importance of English language proficiency, GED preparation and completion and assisting those who wish to continue their education in a nontraditional setting. The CLC is looking forward to working the TEA in the coming legislative session on Adult Basic Education.
Bible Bill Update
On Friday, July 18 the State Board of Education approved curriculum guidelines for two classes about the Bible to be taught in public school classrooms. The CLC was involved in the effort to pass a strong Bible in public schools bill for Texas. The bill signed into law by the governor contained CLC supported amendments requiring mandatory teacher training, affirmative religious liberty protections and oversight of textbooks and curriculum by the State Board of Education (SBOE). Such protections help to ensure, to the degree possible, the courses would be taught in an academic, non-devotional and constitutional manner
Under the law, the State Board of Education is charged with the task of developing state-wide curriculum guidelines that detail what the students are expected to learn called Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS. TEKS are developed for a wide range of classes and are designed to promote consistency of content in courses across Texas and insure all students learn what is required to pass state mandated tests. TEKS also alleviate local school districts from the burden of developing their own curriculum for each course. We believe it is especially important for a class so susceptible to unconstitutional or otherwise unacceptable course content that the state offer detailed guidance to the local districts. Unfortunately, the TEKS approved for these courses were relatively vague and lack the guidance necessary to help local school districts and teachers know what should be taught in these courses.
Moving forward, it is essential that the Texas Education Agency develop a rigorous and thorough teacher training program so that teachers know what content to teach, as called for in the law, which will help insure teachers are qualified and well equipped to teach these classes. Bible classes in public schools can be a very rewarding and education experience for students but all care must be taken to insure the classes are done in the right way and that the religious liberty of each student is protected.
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