AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION TALKING POINTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS
2021 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION Introduce yourself. Include that you are an agricultural science teacher and a constituent. Explain the importance of funding public education. Give reasons why career and technical education is important: Data shows 95% of CTE students graduate from high school while nationally, the average is 85%. 91% of all high school graduates who earned two to three CTE credits in high school enroll in college classes. CTE graduates who pursue careers after high school have similar income opportunities as any other educated group of their peers, and similar rates of pursuing post-secondary education. CTE offers students career readiness training and allows students to gain specific as well as general knowledge skills. Public speaking, communication, citizenship, critical thinking are skills provided in all CTE curriculum. The median annual range for agricultural workers is $66,000 Talk about opportunities for student youth group participation to further develop their abilities. CTE funding should stay at 1.35 weighted funding to make sure technical equipment and supplies can be purchased to provide the learning opportunities for our students. Keeping at least 55% of the weighted funding locked in to directly funding the necessary items for CTE classes is necessary to make sure it is not diverted to other uses in the district. It was at 58% in previous budgets. TRS and Health benefits for Retirees must be fully funded. Emphasize the importance of maintaining cost of living increases and TRS as an entity being fiscally responsible.
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