KOLKHORST PASSES FOUR BILLS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  

On Thursday, Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst passed Senate Bills 925, 934, 935 and 972 on the Senate floor, a legislative package to improve public schools in Texas.

Under the proposal, the Texas Education Commissioner will develop literacy and mathematic achievement academies with stipends for teachers who provide instruction to students in kindergarten through third grades as well as reading-to-learn achievement academies for students in fourth and fifth grades. In addition, SB 935 will create "reading excellence teams" to assist Texas school campuses, especially in low performing areas. The legislation was part of Governor Abbott's education platform and drafted on ideas he campaigned on during last year's election.

"We're providing our public school teachers with more tools to educate and inspire our children," said Kolkhorst. "I'm proud to work with Governor Abbott and his staff in crafting these sensible solutions that will stimulate teachers and improve student performance."

Governor Greg Abbott issued the following statement on the passage of Kolkhorst's legislation. “I applaud the Texas Senate for recognizing the importance of providing our teachers with the tools necessary to improve numeracy and literacy instruction and ensuring students are receiving the highest quality education possible in critical early years.  Today’s vote is an important first step toward transforming the foundation of our state’s early education system for generations to come, and I look forward to signing this legislation into law.”