House Bill 5019 (2025) proposes several good government reforms to the manner in which an independent school district (ISD) interact with certain organizations. Key changes include prohibiting school districts from contracting with organizations involved in electioneering, political advocacy, or issue advocacy; restricting payroll deductions for professional organization dues, limiting such deductions to entities established or managed by governmental bodies; and mandating that training provided to school employees be approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), ensuring that content is not political or activist in nature. The proposed changes aim to maintain the neutrality of educational institutions and prevent the use of public funds for political purposes, which has recently become a source of great concern.
Houston’s Fat Cat Superintendents: The Hidden Benefits How Some of Texas’s Highest-Paid Public Employees Are Systematically Underreporting Their Compensation
Exorbitant and hidden superintendent pay reflects a culture of self-enrichment that has no place in Texas public schools, diverts taxpayer dollars from students, and betrays the public trust. Key points: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) understates the total compensation for some of Texas’s highest-paid superintendents. Though they oversee fewer people, many superintendents have drawn a...