Van de Putte Issues Statement On Focus Of Special Session

[Statement Released By Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, Chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus].

Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chairwoman of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement today:

“Legislation which has already passed the house prohibits any new revenue from going to improve our public schools, and I am dismayed.

“Let me be clear: I am for property tax relief, but I agree with the vast majority of Texans who believe that property tax relief cannot come at the expense of the quality education of our children.

“It’s time for state leaders who claim to put children first to actually start putting children first.

“Legislators cannot claim to have improved our public schools when we are on a course which may not help one single child learn one single thing any better. That’s not reform – it’s ridiculous.

“If we’re serious about improving public education, we will create a system with a high level of funding equity. If we’re going to require every child in Texas to pass the same standardized test, we must give every child in Texas the resources to do so.

“If we’re serious about improving public education, we will make sure that our children have the best teachers in the nation. We must give Texas teachers a substantial pay raise, before we lose the best of them.

“If we’re serious about improving public education, we will provide the resources to every classroom in Texas to ensure that our children can succeed. Our teachers can’t teach a 2006 education with a 1994 textbook. Our schools can’t provide a world class education from a mobile home with a window unit out behind the school. And we can’t teach an increasingly diverse student population with dual language education programs which are starving for more focus and resources.

“I remain cautiously optimistic that this session may yet produce real movement toward excellence in public education. But if it does, it will be because the Senate puts our public schools first.”