TEA to Cut Student Certification Exam Fee Subsidy

In recent weeks, TEA submitted its proposed Legislative Appropriations Request to the Legislative Budget Board. With a state budget shortfall of $18 billion expected in the next biennium, TEA, like all state agencies, had to submit a proposed budget with a 10% reduction. Included in the proposed cuts are funds set aside by the state to pay for exam fees for industry-recognized credentials that lead to high-skill, high-wage, high-demand occupations for students enrolled in career and technical education programs.

If approved by the Texas Legislature, the elimination of these funds would be effective for the 2012-2013 biennium. At this time, TEA is establishing a list of subsidized certification exams for this item in the current biennium and will publish the list via listserv when finalized.

As reported last month, the largest cuts come from textbooks/instructional materials, Student Success Initiative, science labs, and teacher merit pay, although the program is left largely intact. Other areas included in the proposed budget, are cuts to AVANCE, Communities in Schools, Texas Humanities, Rural School Technology and others. It appears that Pre-K grants were not on the 10% cut list as some had feared. The agency recommends small cuts to funding for Education Service Centers, the Technology Allotment and Communities In Schools.

The agency recommends support for the AP Initiative, Early College High Schools, the Texas Virtual School Network, High School Completion and Success Initiative (STEM) and funding to school districts to implement middle grade interventions to ensure that students are ready to succeed in Algebra I, the first high school math course proven by research to be a stumbling block for students.

Although public education represents more than 40% of the state budget, the total cuts in TEA's proposed budget add up to $262 million largely because the Foundation School Program was exempt. Line items from the TEA about proposed cuts are linked below:

TEA's 5% Reduction Table - 81st Legislature

TEA's 10% Biennial Base Reduction Options - 82nd Legislature

CTAT staff will keep members informed as we progress toward the 82nd Texas Legislative Session.