Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3464

Filed
3/3/23  
Out of House Committee
4/19/23  
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to creating the criminal offense of tampering with a correctional facility tablet device.

Impact

If enacted, HB 3464 would notably impact state laws related to education funding and resource allocation. The bill seeks to revise the existing funding formula, making it more responsive to the economic conditions and needs of individual school districts. Such changes would likely also influence teacher salary structures, potentially leading to increased compensation for teachers in lower-funded districts to attract and retain talent. This reallocation of funds aims to bridge the gap between affluent and less affluent districts, promoting an equitable education system.

Summary

House Bill 3464 proposes significant changes to the way public education is funded in the state. The bill aims to allocate more resources to underfunded school districts while also establishing a system of performance metrics to evaluate student achievement and teacher effectiveness. The motivation behind this legislation is to ensure equitable funding across various districts, particularly those with a higher concentration of low-income students. Proponents believe that this approach will lead to improved educational outcomes and foster a more skilled workforce for the future.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 3464 is generally supportive, especially among education advocates and parent groups who view the bill as a necessary step toward ensuring better educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. However, there is some apprehension from certain stakeholders regarding the implementation of performance metrics. Critics fear that an over-emphasis on standardized testing could undermine the holistic development of students and lead to unintentional negative consequences, such as the narrowing of the curriculum.

Contention

Notable points of contention include debates on the effectiveness of performance metrics and how they will be used to gauge teacher effectiveness and student success. Some educators and union representatives argue that these metrics could create undue pressure on teachers and may not accurately reflect the diverse factors influencing student learning. Additionally, there are concerns about how changes to the funding formula might affect budget allocations in the coming years, particularly in wealthier districts that could see significant reductions in funds, impacting resources available to their students.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Penal Code

  • Chapter 38. Obstructing Governmental Operation
    • Section: 115
    • Section: 115
    • Section: 115

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.