ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield (right) testifies before the Senate Education K-16 Committee on March 11.

While the House Public Education Committee heard House Bill (HB) 3, the Senate Education K-16 Committee met Tuesday, March 11, to hear several bills, including significant special education bills. ATPE provided testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 57 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D–Laredo) and SB 568 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston). 

SB 57  relates to provisions and plans by public schools to ensure the safety of individuals with disabilities or impairments during a mandatory school drill or a disaster or emergency situation. ATPE provided both written and brief oral testimony conveying concerns about the increased administrative burden it may place on educators. Read the testimony submitted here or watch here. 

SB 568 relates to special education in public schools, including funding for special education under the Foundation School Program. There was a committee substitute laid out; however, it was not available online at the time of testimony. ATPE provided both written and oral testimony thanking Sen. Bettencourt for taking a critical first step in ensuring equitable funding and support for students receiving special education services in Texas public schools; however, ATPE voiced concerns about the implementation timeline and called out that the appropriations for special education evaluations and services continue be too low to cover the true costs incurred by school districts and do not significantly close the current gap between funding and the cost of services provided. You can read the written testimony here or watch here. 

Both of these bills were left pending in committee. ATPE will continue to monitor them and report back as they move through the process.