FORT WORTH -- Texas must find a way to speed up the process for closing low-performing public schools that have students "trapped," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Thursday.
"I don't think it's fair to leave the parents and students trapped in a failing school," said Dewhurst, who was the keynote speaker at the Higher Education Thought Leaders Forum at TCU.While the future of higher education was a key part of the forum, Dewhurst expressed frustration with the number of academically unacceptable schools in the state and how that hinders students.In 2011, there were 530 schools -- or 6.2 percent of all campuses statewide -- rated academically unacceptable under the old state accountability system, according to the Texas Education Agency. The ratings for 2012 were suspended because the state is implementing a new standardized testing system.The TEA also reported that 56 percent of Texas campuses failed to meet federal accountability standards in 2012, up from 34 percent in 2011. Schools that repeatedly fail to meet accountability standards, both at the state and federal level, face closure or takeover by the state, but it is a lengthy process.For example, a Title I school would have to fail to meet the federal Adequate Yearly Progress standard for five consecutive years before facing state takeover.Dewhurst wants to simplify that.He suggested that Texas should speed up the process by allowing a majority of parents in a struggling school to authorize overhauling the campus."I am not making any hard proposals," Dewhurst said, explaining that he only is floating ideas.The forum was sponsored by the Kansas-based Ad Astra Information Systems, which offers universities software services. The company is working with higher education institutions on how to better use data to improve student success in college, said Tom Shaver, CEO and founder of Ad Astra.More than a dozen universities were represented at the event, including Texas Christian University, Baylor University, Tarrant County College and the University of North Texas.Among higher education issues Dewhurst mentioned were: the need to place greater focus on college completion rates; the potential need for tuition revenue bonds to fund future public college projects; and continued support for a program that turns a college loan into a grant if the student finishes college in four years and has a 3.0 grade-point average.Diane Smith, 817-390-7675Twitter: @dianeasmith1Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
