| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Neutral |
Relating to measures to assist small and rural school districts in
implementing a collegiate model and expanding broadband access,
including the establishment of the Rural Schools and Communities
Technical Assistance Center and a grant program.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 1527, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,216,702) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The bill would make no appropriation but could
provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the
provisions of the bill.
SB 1527 would establish the Rural Schools and Communities Technical Assistance Center (Center) to assist small and rural school districts with the implementation and expansion of the Collegiate Edu-Nation P-20 System Model for 21st Century School Transformation to ensure better economic and life opportunities through the expansion of broadband development in rural communities. The bill would also require the commissioner of education to annually award planning grants to rural or small school districts, as determined by commissioner rule, and to evaluate the outcome of each grant against a list of specified expectations.
Texas Action is opposed to SB 1527 on the principle of limited government. The Collegiate Edu-Nation P-20 System Model for 21st Century School Transformation is a project of a nonprofit organization called Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN).
CEN programs may very well be effective tools to improve rural education, but they should be funded by private donations raised by the organization rather than subsidized by public funds distributed by the legislature.