Jim Dunnam - State Representative

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Jim Dunnam Announces Committee to Tighten Oversight on Stimulus Expenditures - (2010-03-18)
Jim Dunnam appoints Subcommittees on Education, Energy and Transportation As part of the work of the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, Chairman Jim Dunnam announced the formation of three subcommittees today to more tightly focus oversight on Stimulus expenditures in the areas of Education, Energy and Transportation. Representative Carol Kent of Dallas will chair the Education Subcommittee, which will include Representatives Garnet Coleman of Houston and Vicki Truitt of Keller. Representative Solomon Ortiz, Jr. of Corpus Christi will chair the Energy Subcommittee, along with members Jim Pitts of Waxahachie and Craig Eiland of Galveston. The Transportation Subcommittee will be chaired by Representative Drew Darby of San Angelo, and include Representatives Kent and Myra Crownover of Denton.
Read More ›› by: - 2010-03-18 comments Category: Energy, Transportation, Public Education, Tags: Energy, Transportation, Public Education,

Jim Dunnam Comments on Governor Perry's Decision to Not Compete For Race to the Top Education Funds - (2010-01-13)
Chairman of the Select Committee talks about its impact on public schools in Texas State Representative Jim Dunnam (D-Waco), Chairman of the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, released the following statement in response to Governor Perry's decision to not apply for federal "Race to the Top" education dollars: By throwing in the towel before the competition has even begun, Governor Perry has officially won the race to the bottom. The Governor and I have our policy differences - I passed a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools in 2001 while he actively pressured members to vote against it. I criticized him in 2005 when he used federal funds to create a divisive teacher incentive pay program. However, the one thing that he and I should both agree on is that our schools need as much support as possible. There's a pot of as much as $700 million dollars in grant money that the Governor doesn't want our state to compete for.
Read More ›› by: - 2010-01-13 comments Category: Public Education, Higher Education, Tags: Public Education, Higher Education,

Jim Dunnam Discusses School Curriculum - (2009-12-03)
Op-Ed: What Should Be Required for High School Graduation? Whether I'm out in the district talking to constituents, on the floor of the Texas House, or at home with my kids, everyone has something to say about high school graduation requirements. In recent years, the state has mandated more and more courses, leading to our current situation - four mandatory years of English, math, science, and social studies and strict elective requirements for most students. This approach has raised concerns about course flexibility, the opportunity for vocational training, and the lack of local input. It's my opinion that rigid course requirements are not good for our students. Our schools need to accommodate all of our children - whether they're aiming for a four-year university, a community college, a technical school, or a high school diploma. Remember that Texas has three pathways to graduation: Minimum HSP, Recommended HSP and Distinguished Achievement Program. Students pursuing the Minimum plan are required to complete 4 credits of English, 3 of math, 2 of science and 2½ of social studies as core curriculum. The Recommended and Distinguished plans require the four-by-four curriculum plus additional academic courses such as foreign language. Last session, I voted to pass a major public education bill that begins to scale back course requirements. House Bill 3 adds flexibility to the state's "Recommended" program by re
Read More ›› by: - 2009-12-03 comments Category: Public Education, Tags: Public Education,

Jim Dunnam Calls for a Special Session - (2009-11-24)
House Democratic Leader strives to fulfill his commitment to retired teachers Jim Dunnam, the Texas House of Representatives Democratic Leader, on Tuesday called on Governor Perry to call a special session to allow the Legislature to fulfill its commitment to retired teachers and state employees and give them the $500 one time supplemental payment we intended for them to receive. Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott, on Monday issued an opinion (GA-0746) that effectively denies the supplemental payment the 81st Texas Legislature approved in May 2009. The Attorney General's ruling states that since the General Appropriations Act requires a "conclusive opinion that such one-time payments are constitutionally and statutorily permissible" and because the appropriation raises questions about compliance with article III, sections 44 and 53 of the Texas Constitution, it is "Impossible for us to conclusively opine that such payments are constitutionally and statutorily permissible." As a result, Senate Bill 1 of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) will instead increase the state contribution rate to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. In May 2009, the Texas Legislature approved a one-time supplemental payment of up to $500 for certain TRS retires. The legislation stated that if the Attorney General did not rule that the payments were constitutionally and statutorily permissible, the amounts would be transferred to the teacher Retirement System to increase the state contribution rate.
Read More ›› by: - 2009-11-24 comments Category: Public Education, Tags: Rick Perry, Retired Teachers, 13th Check, Public Education,

Jim Dunnam Announces Cash for College Booklet for Texas Students - (2009-11-13)
Representative hopes booklet will make college more affordable for families Today, State Representative Jim Dunnam announced the publication of CASH FOR COLLEGE, 6^th Edition. CASH FOR COLLEGE is a comprehensive guide of scholarships, grants and loans for college students. The booklet, which now runs over 127 pages, contains information on the importance of a college education, types of financial aid, tips on applying for financial assistance and over 100 pages of specific scholarships, grants and loan programs offered at the national, state and local level. Rep. Dunnam first began publishing and distributing CASH FOR COLLEGE in 1999. Over the past ten years, Jim has distributed over 75,000 copies of the guidebook locally. Each year, the guide is updated with the help of local high school counselors, with a goal of providing college-bound individuals with an in-depth resource to fight the mounting costs of a college education. This update is particularly useful this year, as tuition rates are raising all over the nation, especially in Texas. CASH FOR COLLEGE is a cooperative effort by Rep. Dunnam and the Austin American Statesman. In the past, CASH FOR COLLEGE focused locally on McLennan County seniors and colleges. The 6^th Edition has been expanded to add sections on scholarships
Read More ›› by: - 2009-11-13 comments Category: Public Education, Higher Education, Tags: Public Education, Higher Education, College Tuition,

Jim Dunnam Discusses Changes to the Texas Tomorrow Fund - (2009-09-14)
Op-Ed: Texas should honor its commitment to our families Comptroller Susan Combs dropped a bombshell on parents, grandparents and other loved ones in late August when she announced that participants in the Texas Tomorrow Fund will now receive a much lower-than-expected return on cancelled contracts. Promised a payout based on current public university costs, parents will now only receive the amount they paid into the fund for contracts canceled because the child dies or obtains a scholarship. To add insult to injury, an administrative fee will be subtracted from the total, putting Texas families at risk of getting back even less than they put in. The Texas Tomorrow Fund was created to provide Texas parents a safe and stable way to plan for their children’s education. It assured families that despite rising costs fueled mostly by tuition deregulation, they could still afford college. It encouraged us to invest in our children’s futures. It was, literally, a contract they made with the State of Texas. One of the strongest selling points of the Texas Tomorrow Fund was that the money invested would be returned with interest should the children receive a financial scholarship or not pursue a college degree. It relieved parents of the financial risk of college accounts and motivated stud
Read More ›› by: - 2009-09-14 comments Category: Public Education, Higher Education, Tags: Public Education, Higher Education,