T4PE Ratings Database

HISTORY Publicly stated to Quorum Report that he does not support Dan Patrick for re-election. Co-sponsored: SB797 (Relating to the display of the national motto in public schools and institutes of higher education). Joint-Authored: HB1568 (Relating to the School district property value study conducted by the state comptroller). Co-Authored: HB2554 (related to the operation by a school district of a vocational education program to
provide eligible high school students with vocational and educational training under a graduation plan and the application of certain student-based allotments under the public school finance system). Co-Authored: HB2681 (Elective courses on the study of the Bible offered to public school students). Co-Authored: HB3979 ("Banning critical race theory" bill). Co-Authored: HB4042 (Relating to requiring public school students
to participate in interscholastic athletic activities based on biological sex). Co-authored: HB764 (Reducing STAAR testing for public school students). Voted yes - HB1080 (participation in UIL for students who receive mental health services). Voted no - HB1133 (Relating to an election to revoke a county equalization tax imposed in certain counties). Voted no - HB1147 (Relating to military readiness for purposes of the
indicators of achievement under the public school accountability system and the college, career, or military readiness outcomes bonus under the Foundation School Program). Voted no - HB1252 (Related to the limitation period for filing a complaint and requesting a special education impartial due process hearing). Voted yes - HB1468 (Public school remote learning programs). Voted yes - HB1525 (HB3 cleanup bill).
Voted no - HB159 (Training for all educators on how to better serve disabled students). Voted yes - HB1603 (Ends sunset dates for IGCs). Voted yes - HB189 (Relates to severance payments to a superintendent or administrator in an open-enrollment charter school). Voted no - HB2256 (Creates a bilingual sped program for students with disabilities). Voted no - HB2287 (Relating to data collection and receipt of certain
reports by and consultation with the Collaborative Task Force on Public School Mental Health Services). Voted yes - HB2519 (Composition of SBEC, issuance of sanctions by the board, requiring a school district to notify a teacher regarding the submission of complaints to SBEC). Voted yes - HB2681 (Elective courses on the study of the Bible offered to public school students). Voted yes - HB2721 (Prohibiting a student
from participating in future extracurricular activities for certain conduct involving the assault of an extracurricular activity official). Voted yes - HB2802 (Administration of certain public school assessments and the temporary suspension of accountability during a school year in which public school operations are disrupted as a result of a declared disaster and the requirement to use those instruments for promotion or
graduation). Voted yes - HB3261 (Electronic administration of tests, measures to support internet connectivity for purposes of the test, the adoption and administration of optional interim tests, the review and use of the instructional materials and technology allotment, and requests for production of instructional materials). Voted yes - HB3456 (Inclusion of funds received by certain educational institutions or programs in
foundation school program funds for purposes of certain budget reductions). Voted yes - HB3489 (Development of guidelines for the use of digital devices in public schools and a school district or open enrollment charter school policy for the effective integration of those devices). Voted yes - HB3597 (Relating to policies, procedures, and measures for school safety in public schools). Voted no - HB3643 (Creates a Texas
Commission on Virtual Education). Voted yes - HB3731 (Relating to public school accountability ratings, including interventions and sanctions administered to a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or district or school campus assigned an unacceptable performance rating. (HISD takeover bill)). Voted yes - HB 3932 (Relating to the establishment of the State Advisory Council on Educational Opportunity for
Military Children). Voted yes - HB3979 (critical race theory bill #1). Voted no - HB41 (Relating to class size limits for prekindergarten classes provided by or on behalf of public schools). Voted yes - HB41 (Relating to class size limits for prekindergarten classes provided by or on behalf of public schools). Voted yes - HB4124 (Relating to student enrollment in certain special-purpose districts and the allotment under the
public school finance system for those districts). Voted yes - HB4509 (Relating to instruction on informed American patriotism in public schools and study of the Founding documents of Texas and the United States). Voted yes - HB4545 (Relating to the assessment of public school students, the establishment of a strong Foundations grant program, and providing accelerated instruction for students who fail to achieve
satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments. (Bill used to include increasing commissioner powers, now just is about tutoring). Voted no- HB547 (Would allow homeschooled students to participate in UIL activities on public school campuses). Voted yes - HB572 (Relating to the inclusion of students enrolled in a dropout recovery school as students at risk of dropping out of school for purposes of
compensatory, intensive, and accelerated instruction and to a study by the Texas Education Agency on competency-based educational programs). Voted yes - HB690 (Relating to training requirements for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district). Voted yes - HB699 (Relating to public school attendance requirements for students diagnosed with or undergoing related treatment for severe or lifethreatening
illnesses). Voted yes - HB725 (Relating to the eligibility of certain children who are or were in foster care for free prekindergarten programs in public schools). Voted yes - HB750 (Relating to requiring a school district to post the district's employment policy on the district's Internet website). Voted yes - HB764 (Reducing STAAR testing for public school students). Voted yes - HB773 (Includes CTE students as a
student achievement subpop for accountability). Voted yes - HB785 (Relating to behavior improvement plans and behavioral intervention plans for certain public school students and notification and documentation requirements regarding certain behavior management techniques). Voted yes - HB999 (Exempts kids from testing requirements for 2021, allows IGCs for all 5 tests rather than 3). Voted yes - SB1063 (Relating
to courses in personal financial literacy & economics for high school students in public schools). Voted yes - SB1095 (Relating to notice regarding the availability to public school students of college credit and work-based education programs and subsidies for fees paid to take certain advanced placement tests. (Let students know these programs exist)). Voted yes - SB1109 (Relating to requiring public schools to provide
instruction and materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence). Voted yes - SB123 (Relating to instruction in positive character traits and personal skills in public schools). Voted no - SB1267 (Relating to continuing education and training requirements for educators and other school district personnel). Voted yes - SB1351 (Relating to the donation of food by public
school campuses). Voted yes - SB1356 (Relating to the participation by members of nonprofit teacher organizations in a tutoring program for public school students and related retirement benefits for certain tutors participating in the program). Voted yes - SB1365 (Relating to public school organization, accountability, and fiscal management. (HISD takeover bill)). Voted no - SB1590 (Relating to rules by the State Board for
Educator Certification regarding virtual observation options for field-based experiences and internships required for educator certification). Voted yes - SB168 (Relating to emergency school drills and exercises conducted by public schools). Voted yes - SB1696 (Relating to establishing a system for the sharing of information regarding cyber attacks or other cybersecurity incidents occurring in schools in this state). Voted
yes - SB1697 (Relating to allowing parents and guardians to elect for a student to repeat or retake a course or grade). Voted yes - SB1716 (Relating to a supplemental special education services and instructional materials program for certain public school students receiving special education services). Voted no - SB179 (Relating to the use of public school counselors' work time). Voted yes - SB1831 (Relating to the
punishment for trafficking of persons, online solicitation of a minor, and prostitution and to the dissemination of certain information, including the required printing of certain signs, regarding human trafficking; increasing criminal penalties; providing a civil penalty). Voted yes - SB1955 (Relating to exempting learning pods from certain local government regulations). Voted no - SB2050 (Relating to bullying and cyberbullying in
public schools). Voted yes - SB2066 (Relating to emergent bilingual students in public schools). Voted no - SB2081 (Relating to class size limits for prekindergarten classes provided by or on behalf of public schools). Voted yes - SB226 (Relating to instruction in educator training programs regarding digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction). Voted yes - SB279 (Relating to the inclusion of suicide prevention
information on certain student ID cards issued by a public school or public institution of higher education). Voted yes - SB289 (Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to obtain a driver's license or learner license). Voted no - SB338 (Relating to the adoption of uniform general conditions for building construction projects entered into by school districts and the composition of the committee that
reviews uniform general conditions). Voted yes - SB348 (Related to parent access to public school virtual instruction and instructional materials for virtual and remote learning). Voted yes - SB369 (Requiring students to submit a FAFSA application as a condition for graduation). Voted yes - SB462 (Relating to funding under the transportation allotment for transporting meals and instructional materials to students during a
declared disaster). Voted yes - SB481 (Relating to the transfer of certain public school students to a school district offering in person instruction). Voted no - SB560 (Relating to developing a strategic plan for the improvement and expansion of high-quality bilingual education.). Voted yes - SB746 (Relating to requiring the parent of a student enrolled in a school district to provide and update a parent's contact information).
Voted no - SB776 (Relating to the creation of an inclusive sports program by the University Interscholastic League to provide students with intellectual disabilities access to team sports). Voted yes - SB797 (Relating to the display of the national motto in public schools and institutes of higher education). Voted yes - SB801 (Relating to the development of an agriculture education program for public elementary schools).
Voted yes - SB1776 (Relating to the inclusion of an elective course on the founding principles of the United States in the curriculum for public high school students and the posting of the founding documents of the United States in public school buildings). SPECIAL SESSION 2: Voted yes - SB3 (Relating to civics training programs for certain public school social studies teachers and principals, parental access to certain
learning management systems, and certain curriculum in public schools, including certain instructional requirements and prohibitions). Voted yes - SJR2 (Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence
homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead). SPECIAL SESSION 3: Voted yes - SB1 (Relating to an increase in the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district and the protection of
school districts against the resulting loss in local revenue). Voted yes - SJR2 (Proposing a constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes). Voted yes - HB160 (Relating to making supplemental appropriations for education initiatives, institutions, and related agencies and giving direction regarding appropriations). Voted yes -
HB25 (Relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex).
Talks on his FB page about increasing the state's share of education funding to lower property tax burden. About M&O tax: "Identify a replacement consumption tax to the school district M&O property tax that is revenue neutral. I am interested to see the findings from the
interim charges for the 86th legislature on this issue. It?s too early to commit to exactly what that looks like without the results of that study: it could be a swap based on a rate adjustment for sales tax, a swap based on expanding what the sales tax applies to, or some
combination thereof. Either way, it has to be revenue neutral." Survey responses: WHAT IS BROKEN? Our school finance system is broken. Texas does not adequately fund its share of public education expenses. I support increasing the State?s share of public education
expenses to at least 50% to provide property tax relief for taxpayers and adequately fund education in the state. I also believe our testing and accountability systems are broken. Our primary test, STAAR, does not test at grade level. I support lessening the burden of
standardized testing. I leave that answer open-ended only because, in my search of education resources and my extensive discussions with superintendents, educators, and parents, I have yet to find a concrete solution to replace our STAAR test with. I can only articulate
what it should be: it should be fair, it should be grade-level appropriate and accommodating of disabilities, it should be limited, and it should emphasize testing growth.PRIORITIES: As I implied above: (1) ensuring the State of Texas adequately funds its share of public
education of at least 50%, including eliminating unfunded mandates; (2) reforming our standardized testing system to be grade-level appropriate and effective; and (3) providing more flexibility to local school districts to craft solutions to the educational needs of their
individualized populations. FUNDING: The percentage of funding paid by the State should increase to at least 50%. As I understand the impacts of HB 3, the current funding formula has gone a long way towards bridging the gap for providing resources for our schools. I
believe, however, that unfunded mandates should be eliminated through increased funding. FINDING THE MONEY: Growth in the Texas economy and smarter investments by our rainy day fund and Texas Permanent School Fund. I also support the Texas Legislature?s
study to determine if school district M&O property taxes can be replaced by a revenue neutral broad based and low rate consumption tax. VOUCHERS/CHARTERS: The only voucher I would support is one that is limited to the amount of taxes paid by the parents of the
child for whom the voucher will be issued. Vouchers that draw monies from other taxpayers to fund private/charter schools deprive other taxpayers of their right to control the use of that money through the election of a school board. I oppose taxation without
representation. STAAR: No. I believe it should be reformed to test at grade level, to measure growth, and to accommodate individuals with disabilities. I believe school districts should not have their funding cut because of the performance of an 8-year old on a high-stakes
test. ADVANCEMENT/GRADUATION: IGCs/determination by teachers, staff and parents. IGCs: All government programs must include a sunset provision to allow for the continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of all government programs. I oppose ending the sunset
date for any governmental agency or program. A-F CAMPUS EVALUATION: It is important to have accountability, but the current system seems convoluted, emphasizes standardized testing results too much, and gives a false impression of some of our public schools.
MERIT PAY: I support individualized merit pay programs implemented by school districts based on the unique circumstances of their student populations to incentivize and encourage the retention of high quality teachers. I do not support tying merit pay to STAAR test
scores. CLASS SIZE CAPS/WAIVERS: I support research-based and evidence-supported class size caps for elementary schools. I support limited waivers on a case-by-case basis. ATTRACTING/RETAINING TEACHERS: I support lessening the time spent by teachers
outside the classroom and broadening the pay scale to allow teachers with more experience to make more money?including a path for paying the best teachers six figures. To the extent additional funding is necessary, I support covering the costs of such benefits from
the growing Texas economy and through more effective investment of the Texas Permanent School Fund. COLAs: Every year. TRS CARE: Funding permitting, I believe the State should increase its contribution and index that contribution to a percentage of costs. TRS: I
support shifting new teachers to a 401(k) style plan that provides for a certain minimum guaranteed benefit. I believe defined contribution plans out perform defined benefit plans and provide teachers with greater opportunities for higher retirement income. I oppose any
reduction in benefits under the existing TRS plan for current and retired teachers. 25x25: I certainly support increasing the State?s share of public education expenses and, as funds permit in the budget, ensuring our schools are adequately funded. I believe better
investment of our Texas Permanent School Fund would put us on a path towards increasing Texas?s standing. Took money from American Federation for Children, which supports charters. Supports a ban on taxpayer funded lobbying.

T4PE Public Ratings

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