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Family Newsletter
By Nayeli Santoyo & Collaborators ● Oct 05, 2023
Smart Brevity® count: 4.5 mins...1168 words
Hello Families! 👋🏼
Welcome October! 🎃🍂
📣 There’s still time to participate in the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Talent Show, and “Join the Fiesta.” 🎊 It’s open to all Austin ISD students and parents—so have fun and share your dance, music, singing or art with us.
The last day to submit is today, October 5th. Winners will receive prizes at our Award Ceremony. Good luck! 🎉
🗓Did you know, you can subscribe to the Austin ISD calendar and never miss out on an event?
This week is “Austin ISD Custodian & Groundskeeping Appreciation Week” and we want to thank all of Austin ISD custodians & groundskeepers for all the work they do to keep our buildings clean and beautiful! 💛
…and before we start, I want to remind everyone that Monday, October 9 is a student holiday and staff development, which means no school for your kids. 🎒
Now, let’s get into this edition of Appitol News…
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1 Big Thing: Gov. Abbott calls special legislative session
Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week a special 30-day session of the 88th Texas Legislature to begin October 9.
Why it matters: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has made it clear that the Senate won’t approve increased public school funding unless legislators approve private school subsidies, also known as vouchers or education savings accounts.
By the numbers: Texas ranks 43rd nationally in per-student funding.
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The legislature only added about $2.6 billion during the regular session earlier this year.
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Lawmakers set aside $4.5 billion for public education that can only be spent if a bill is passed to spend it.
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Half a billion dollars is also set aside specifically for private school subsidies.
Level set: We would have needed legislators to increase school funding by $14 billion just to return to pre-pandemic funding levels, adjusted for inflation.
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We’re seeing massive increases in the cost of utilities, fuel, insurance, food, employee compensation and other expenses necessary for operating our school district.
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There’s also the strain on our budget from unfunded mandates such as HB 3, which requires an armed officer at every campus.
What's next?: We’ll be watching closely as the legislature considers these important topics and hope you’ll follow along as well.
Find out who represents you at the Capitol by visiting Who Represents Me? and entering your address.
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There’s still time to refer students for Gifted and Talented services
Families and staff have until Friday, Oct. 6, to refer students for Gifted and Talented services this school year.
How can you tell if a child may be gifted? According to the Texas Education Agency, it’s a child who:
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Exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area.
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Possesses an unusual capacity for leadership.
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Excels in a specific academic field.
Why it matters: We want to provide every child with access to opportunities that best support their talents, skills and potential.
What they're saying: “For some students, being identified as GT, means they’ll be better challenged and get more support in finding their Austin ISD joy,” said Dr. Elizabeth Severance, director of Advanced Academics.
The referral and screening process: Families, teachers and other school staff can fill out the referral form.
What’s new this year: Austin ISD received a federal grant for universal nonverbal screenings, which allow students to participate in a nonverbal assessment without the need for a referral.
Go deeper: Find out more about our Gifted and Talented Services.
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Hispanic Heritage Month profile: Richard Moya
This is the third in a monthlong profile series spotlighting Hispanic heroes and pathbreakers who have influenced Austin ISD.
By Paul Stinson
As Austin ISD continues its celebration of Hispanic History Month, we profile Richard Moya: Korean War veteran, civic leader, and Mexican-American political trailblazer.
Austin ISD alum: Raised in East Austin, Moya was enrolled in Zavala Elementary School, a school whose origins trace back to efforts in the 1930s by segregationists to build a school designated for children of Mexican descent.
Fought for his country, then his community: Moya served in the Korean War as a Sergeant 1st Class. After his return home, he began a 15-year career as a professional printer before taking up the post of investigator for the Travis County Legal Aid Society.
Political pioneer: Moya etched his place in local lore after becoming the first Mexican American elected as Travis County Commissioner of Precinct 4, serving the Montopolis and Del Valle neighborhoods.
In his own words: Read a 2013 interview posted at the Voces Oral History Center at the University of Texas.
Go deeper… Moya, who passed away in 2017, is honored locally by Travis County Parks with a 92-acre Eastern Travis County span of playgrounds, nature and bike trails that carries his name. Learn more about Richard Moya Park.
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General Marshall Middle School Grand Opening Celebration
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9th Annual Central Texas Dyslexia Conference hosted by Austin ISD. Starts this Friday, October 6 and its free.
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🍎 Austin ISD has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with different events that recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to our history and culture. 🎉
🗓 This Wednesday I attended an event with panelists, all members of Austin ISD, including Interim Superintendent Matias Segura, and one of the questions to the panelists was—What is your favorite Spanish word and why? So… it got me thinking about what is my favorite Spanish word and why?🤔
💛 And among so many favorite words, "familia" came to my mind. A word that when I hear it reminds me of my Mexican roots, especially the traditions and the feeling of peace and harmony when we are all together.
📣 Now, it’s your turn to share with us your favorite Spanish word and why?
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