Burnt Orange Report

Isn't this Perry's sixth special session?

3 redistricting
3 school finance reform

This is only the second called session this year for school finance. But it certainly seems like the 3rd.

According to the this reference that I used for the post, Education Reform has been included in every Called Session of the 78th and 79th Legislature. These proclamations include reforms for public education, both content and finance, and higher education. I have updated my post with both the reference and my finding that all six special sessions (four from the 78th and two so far from the 79th Legislatures) have had something to do with education reform.

This is what I found in the proclamations:

78th Lege 1st Called Session:
#Directing the Texas Coordinating Board for Higher Education to review the organization and operation of each university system office. [Tue Jul 1, 2003]

78th Lege 2nd Called Session:
#Relating to state fiscal management, including adjustments to certain school district fiscal matters made necessary by recent changes in state fiscal management; making related appropriations. [Mon Jul 28, 2003

78th Lege 3rd Called Session:
#Relating to state fiscal management, including adjustments to certain school district fiscal matters made necessary by recent changes in state fiscal management; making related appropriations [Tue Sep 9, 2003]

78th Lege 4th Called Session:
# Closing loopholes in the franchise tax and dedicating the revenue from closing the loopholes to the Educational Excellence Fund and for school property tax relief for taxpayers [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
# Creating an Educational Excellence Fund to provide incentive funding, funding to maintain and enhance equity, and greater funding to address the needs of students with limited English proficiency [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
# Education reforms and property tax reduction proposals that benefit the school children and property tax payers of Texas [Thu Apr 15, 2004]

79th Lege 1st Called Session:
# Charter school funding and reform. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Establish indicators of college readiness and higher levels of student achievement in the public school accountability system. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Fund textbooks and create the instructional materials allotment for public schools. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Funding for the public school finance system and the continuation of the Texas Education Agency. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Increased accountability and intervention for schools failing to meet state standards. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Local property tax rate compression and voter approval of local property tax rates. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Modifications to the recapture provisions of the public school finance system. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Performance-based incentives to educators and schools that attain higher levels of student achievement. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Provide for November elections for public school boards of trustees. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Provide for public school financial accountability and increase transparency in school district financial reporting. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Providing for end-of-course examinations to be used in public schools. [Sat Jun 18, 2005]
# Limitation of ad valorem tax rates of certain taxing units. [Tue Jun 21, 2005]
# Legislation and a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead ad valorem tax exemption. [Mon Jun 27, 2005]
# Legislation to provide ad valorem tax relief and protect taxpayers. [Mon Jun 27, 2005]

79th Lege 2nd Called Session:
# Increase the homestead ad valorem tax exemption. [Wed Jul 20, 2005]
# Limiting the ad valorem tax appraisals and rates of certain taxing units. [Wed Jul 20, 2005]
# Providing ad valorem tax relief and protecting taxpayers. [Wed Jul 20, 2005]
# Address educator compensation, benefits and certification. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Charter school funding and reform. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Funding for the public school finance system and the continuation of the Texas Education Agency. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
Increased accountability and intervention for schools failing to meet state standards. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Legislation that establishes indicators of college readiness and higher levels of student achievement in the public school accountability system. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Legislation that funds textbooks and creates the instructional materials allotment for public schools. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Local property tax rate compression and voter approval of local property tax rates. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Modifications to the recapture provisions of the public school finance system. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# November elections for public school boards of trustees. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Providing for performance-based incentives to educators and schools that attain higher levels of student achievement. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# Providing for public school financial accountability and increasing transparency in school district financial reporting. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
# The authorization, issuance and funding of tuition revenue bonds. [Thu Jul 21, 2005]
#Legislation providing for end-of-course examinations to be used in public schools. [Thu Jul 21, 2005