State Commissioner of Education Michael Williams issued a statement I response to court ruling that held state funding inadequate and unconstitutional. Be it noted that Commissioner Williams is not an educator. He is an ally of the Bush family, a real good tie in Texas. In his last post he regulated the oil and gas industry.
TEA News Releases Online Aug. 28, 2014
Statement of Commissioner Michael Williams regarding ruling in school finance case
AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Michael Williams issued the following statement regarding today’s ruling in the school finance case:
“Today’s decision is just a first step on a very familiar path for school finance litigation in Texas. Regardless of the ruling at the district court level, all sides have known this is an issue that will again be resolved by the Texas Supreme Court. Texas is committed to finding solutions to educate every student in every classroom. However, it should be our state leaders making those decisions, not a single judge. Any revisions to our school finance system must be made by members of the Texas Legislature. The Texas Education Agency will continue carrying out its responsibilities in providing funding for our public schools based on the current system and ultimately the legislative decisions made at the end of this legal process.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Taught in Texas for 10 years, met many good hard working people but hated the TEA . Finally I walked. Went to Florida. Guess I got taught.
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He is a disgusting example of corruption.
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State leaders should, indeed, be making education decisions. But, they need to make LEGAL education decisions, not just any decisions that suit them. Surely Williams does not mean to say that he can make any decision he wants, even an illegal one, without legal oversight. This “single judge” is a prime example of our system of checks and balances in action.
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We have an interesting tradition of public education in the State of Texas.
For years any available science teacher opening was generally filled by a person with a
history degree who could serve as a coach on one of the football or basketball teams.
Our textbooks for years were mandated by a state panel, many of whom sought office
so that they could help put their ideological stamp for some time on the textbooks used in every single public school in the state. Those overburdened with logic might have perceptions that the ideal persons to select textbooks might be college professors who had to instruct graduates of Texas secondary schools and thus had the best grasp of their strengths and weaknesses in that subject area.
Logic has little weight in the governance of public education in The State of Texas.
Our school boards have interesting perceptions on governance. The Dallas Morning News once in two separate sections of the paper had coverage of two actions by the Richardson ISD:
a ) The Richardson ISD board of trustees voted to subsidize the football program by a seven figure amount as the the expenses exceeded the revenues of the program.
b ) The Richardson ISD board of trustees voted to partition the Texas Education Agency to allow an extension of the number of students per class in the first three grades of elementary school to save on expenses.
You no doubt have noted all those pages of classified help wanted ads seeking employees in the football industry, haven’t you????
It took over a decade of perseverance to overcome a Richardson ISD practice of withholding textbooks from newly hired green new graduates who were entering the teaching field until some two weeks prior to the first day of class.
This is the sort of public education which produces such leaders as Governor Rick Perry, who was soundly rejected by the Admissions Committee of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A & M, and who simultaneously now draws both a salary and a pension from the State of Texas, which is prohibited to other state employees.
You actually have the opportunity to have this individual as your next President!!!!
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