In an email sent early this morning, the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) shares:
The TCEA Advocacy Committee wants you to know some of the steps we have been taking to gear up for the legislative session. We have been meeting with some vendor and association partners since September formulating position statements and legislative goals. Based on input the TECSIG membership submitted through a survey in October , we have even begun working on some draft legislation that supports Rep. Dan Branch’s vision of giving districts flexibility with the purchase of instructional materials.We met with Rep. Branch in September and have sent him a formal letter encouraging him to pursue increasing the technology allotment and changing the way the funding for instructional materials is allocated in order to give districts more flexibility in the selection of instructional content and the delivery of that content. We are currently working on a way to mobilize those wanting their voices to be heard in this upcoming legislative session. These discussions are ongoing and will only intensify as we get closer to January.In addition to these activities, the TCEA board is working on a draft advocacy plan that will provide us with a long-term vision for where we need law and policy changes to be made to promote the use of technology in education.We are encouraged that you feel so passionately about these issues. Our unified voice has been missing in past legislative sessions but we hope to begin changing that this legislative session.Sincerely,Jennifer Bergland & Kari Rhame
The actual letter appears below:
Dear Representative Branch:
Following our meeting with you recently in Austin at the Texas Computer Education Association office, the group in attendance has been meeting regularly and discussing the ideas you shared. While we are all supportive of these ideas, including; making sure language supporting the use of technology is inserted into all existing and newly funded projects such as the high school allotment; supporting the expansion of the TxTIP program; and, supporting the expansion of funding allotted to digital content, we did focus on two areas. We believe that there are two areas which offer the greatest opportunity to move Texas forward in creating the types of 21st century learning environments our students and teachers need, as well as preparing our students for the 21st century workforce. The two areas are:
- Increasing the technology allotment
- Providing flexibility in the textbook funds that would allow for local control and utilization of the funds to purchase technology-based solutions, including the computing devices required to utilize them.
We look forward to meeting with you soon after the upcoming elections to discuss these two areas and next steps.
Sincerely,
Kari Rhame, President Jennifer Bergland, Advocacy Chair
Kudos to the TCEA organization for beginning to advocate on behalf of Texas school children and educators that have fallen into the digital chasm created by too little funding and unfunded mandates. I encourage you to support this effort, as well as to be critical about how the effort might be improved or enhanced, then share those insights.
Subscribe to Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net
Be sure to visit the ShareMore! Wiki.
Discover more from Another Think Coming
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Another Think Coming 
I have to reiterate my comment on the list serve. I prefer that we not use vendors as part of a committee to decide OUR policy positions. Am I the only one who sees this as an issue? It will make it too easy to shoot down our voice as a valid one if it could have been tainted by commercial interests, regardless of whether it was or not? Policy positions should be of, by, and for the membership. Plain and simple.
I have to reiterate my comment on the list serve. I prefer that we not use vendors as part of a committee to decide OUR policy positions. Am I the only one who sees this as an issue? It will make it too easy to shoot down our voice as a valid one if it could have been tainted by commercial interests, regardless of whether it was or not? Policy positions should be of, by, and for the membership. Plain and simple.
Scott, I’m not seeing the vendor connection. Could you make it a bit more explicit with a quote and then tear it apart?I’m not doubting it’s there but I haven’t taken the time to read it closely. I’m merely applauding the effort. Much remains for it to be transparent and worthy of the organization’s membership.What the latter involves is up for discussion.Thanks,Miguel
Scott, I’m not seeing the vendor connection. Could you make it a bit more explicit with a quote and then tear it apart?I’m not doubting it’s there but I haven’t taken the time to read it closely. I’m merely applauding the effort. Much remains for it to be transparent and worthy of the organization’s membership.What the latter involves is up for discussion.Thanks,Miguel
“We have been meeting with some vendor and association partners since September formulating position statements and legislative goals.”Not much to tear apart other than they have vendors helping make the position statements. How many members have been invited to that table (which is the more serious question)? Why vendors and not members who want to be involved? What will it look like when legislators are made aware that there could be a conflict of interest in one of our positions. For instance:I hope that TCEA has adopted a policy advocating for online testing to be browser-based. This saves ISDs a ton of money and speeds up the ability to test these kids. But, what if one of the vendors is a Pearson rival? If we are pushing for legislation to make Pearson spend some of the Mucho Profits they have made off of the sweat of Texas students change their testing system, and we had a rival company who already has their testing in the preferred format, then it would look like we are just doing their bidding. While some may say it is a stretch, I am here to tell you it is not. I have been working with legislators during sessions for about five regular sessions and untold specials. I have testified before select committees, regular committees, and traveling committees. I have cell phone numbers for legislators that do not even represent me. I have legislators call me from the House and Senate floor to ask me questions during debates and votes. I say all of this to say that I know they pay attention to these things. You know a company like Pearson would be letting them know who helped us draft the position. My reputation I have earned working with legislators is too important to let something like that (which is out of my control) mess it up. It would make the position a mute point regardless of whether I represent TCEA or myself or whoever because the brush would be broad.I know of no other educator organization that asks companies to come in and help draft legislative positions. Now, I commend them for making the wise decision of working with other organizations. That makes complete sense so that we can have a unified, common goal(s) with an even larger voice in the Capitol. As for the October survey, I am not sure what that was. I hope I filled it out, but I just do not recall being asked for any legislative positions. If so, I would not have been surprised to hear there was an advocacy committee.Here’s to hoping it all works out. It is great to see we are making a first step. if we make mistakes along the way, then so be it. At least we will be trying to move forward. We just have to open to process more to ALL of the members. A real business meeting (optional to attendees) at TCEA would be a great first step (you know, resolutions, amendments, voting). It has to be done at some point.Thanks for blogging this, Miguel.
“We have been meeting with some vendor and association partners since September formulating position statements and legislative goals.”Not much to tear apart other than they have vendors helping make the position statements. How many members have been invited to that table (which is the more serious question)? Why vendors and not members who want to be involved? What will it look like when legislators are made aware that there could be a conflict of interest in one of our positions. For instance:I hope that TCEA has adopted a policy advocating for online testing to be browser-based. This saves ISDs a ton of money and speeds up the ability to test these kids. But, what if one of the vendors is a Pearson rival? If we are pushing for legislation to make Pearson spend some of the Mucho Profits they have made off of the sweat of Texas students change their testing system, and we had a rival company who already has their testing in the preferred format, then it would look like we are just doing their bidding. While some may say it is a stretch, I am here to tell you it is not. I have been working with legislators during sessions for about five regular sessions and untold specials. I have testified before select committees, regular committees, and traveling committees. I have cell phone numbers for legislators that do not even represent me. I have legislators call me from the House and Senate floor to ask me questions during debates and votes. I say all of this to say that I know they pay attention to these things. You know a company like Pearson would be letting them know who helped us draft the position. My reputation I have earned working with legislators is too important to let something like that (which is out of my control) mess it up. It would make the position a mute point regardless of whether I represent TCEA or myself or whoever because the brush would be broad.I know of no other educator organization that asks companies to come in and help draft legislative positions. Now, I commend them for making the wise decision of working with other organizations. That makes complete sense so that we can have a unified, common goal(s) with an even larger voice in the Capitol. As for the October survey, I am not sure what that was. I hope I filled it out, but I just do not recall being asked for any legislative positions. If so, I would not have been surprised to hear there was an advocacy committee.Here’s to hoping it all works out. It is great to see we are making a first step. if we make mistakes along the way, then so be it. At least we will be trying to move forward. We just have to open to process more to ALL of the members. A real business meeting (optional to attendees) at TCEA would be a great first step (you know, resolutions, amendments, voting). It has to be done at some point.Thanks for blogging this, Miguel.
I do not read that as vendors have been helping formulate plans. I just see it as a statement of seeking information in order to put together position statements.
I do not read that as vendors have been helping formulate plans. I just see it as a statement of seeking information in order to put together position statements.