Texas School Alliance

From Sunshine Review

The Texas School Alliance is a taxpayer-funded lobbying association in Texas. It is a 501(c)(6) organization.^[1] Founded in 1990, the TSA represents 29 of the more diverse, larger school districts that educate about a third of all Texas students on the whole, as well as one third of Texas minority students. ^[2] TSA opposes the use of public funds on school voucher programs. ^[3]

[edit] Income and expenses

Texas School Alliance

Year	Total Expenses	Total Income	Membership dues (included in Total Income)
2006 [1]	$376,028	$401,391	$376,220
2005 [4]	$360,149	$405,319	$387,100
2004 [5]	$353,752	$385,385	$375,200

Note: Tax years begin September 1 in the current year and end August 31 the following year.

[edit] Grading floors

The Texas School Alliance is opposed to the removal of grading floors, which prohibit school districts from awarding less than a certain percentage to a student for a grade. ^[6] These range from 50 to as high as 70 percent. ^[6] According to a spokesperson, doing so would infringe upon local control of schools and remove a safety net for weaker students and for students transitioning between schools. ^[6]

The alliance lost, however, as the Texas senate voted that school districts can no longer require a minimum grade for students. ^[7]

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Texas taxpayer-funded lobbying

The Texas School Alliance uses the services of Moak, Casey, and Associates and Hillco Partners. ^[8]

[edit] Membership

See Texas School Alliance membership list

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Form 990, Texas School Alliance 2006
2. ↑ Coalition to Invest in Texas Schools
3. ↑ 80th Legislative Agenda
4. ↑ Form 990, Texas School Alliance 2005
5. ↑ Form 990, Texas School Alliance 2004
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} The Dallas Morning News, "Texas Senate bill aims to stop no-fail grading in public schools", April 13, 2009
7. ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Senate backs elimination of 'no-fail' grading", April 21, 2009
8. ↑ Texas School Alliance, 2007-2008 Directory

v • d • e Texas taxpayer-funded lobbying associations Texas Association of Counties • Texas Association of School Boards • Texas Conference of Urban Counties • Texas Association of Community Schools • Texas Association of Midsize Schools • Texas Association of School Administrators • Texas Association of School Business Officials • Texas Association of Secondary School Principals • Texas Municipal League • Texas School Alliance • Texas Association of Realtors • Texas Association of County Officials

	v • d • e Lists of taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
By type	National organizations Cities • Counties • Schools • Police • Universities
By state	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming •