Gov. Mark White of Texas has called the state legislature into special session to consider his $2.9-billion, three-year tax package to fund school-improvement efforts. (See Education Week, May 23, 1984.)
The education-reform measures, which include plans to raise teachers’ starting salaries and institute a merit-pay plan, are expected to be considered in a session beginning early this week.
During the legislative session, television advertisements urging the public to support the reform and tax plans will run throughout the state at an estimated cost to the Gover-nor’s office of $300,000, most of which comes from private donations.
In the wake of a State Supreme Court decision barring the imposition by schools of fees for extracurricular activities, a California legislator has withdrawn his proposal to levy a tax on tickets and broadcast rights for professional sports events to provide some $50 million annually for high-school athletics and other programs. (See Education Week, May 2, 1984.)
Senator Dan McCorquodale said the court’s ruling that extracurriculars are “an integral component of public education” raised questions about the legality of the proposed tax.
