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By Kelley Shannon
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Texas has made big strides in student achievement
|inid population growth and difficult local decisions about how
i spend available money, state Education Commissioner Shirley
^eeley testified in court Tuesday.
A strong testing-based accountability system and student gains
In those tests have made Texas a leader in education nationally,
(aid Neeley, the first witness for the state in the lengthy trial chal-
pnging the way Texas funds its public education system,
j Much of Neeley’s testimony centered around results of the
fexas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS. The exam
;administered at certain grade levels in public school. The TAKS
Jas been given for two years, having replaced another less rigor-
■us standardized test.
I Over the past decade, gaps in student test scores among whites,
Blacks and Hispanics have closed, Neeley said. She noted that dur-
pg that period. Hispanic enrollment has increased dramatically.
“We’re not going to stop until there’s no gap,” Neeley said.
Hundreds of wealthy and poor Texas school districts are argu-
Jig that the state does not allocate enough money for education
®nd that the existing finance system is unconstitutional,
idfl Attorneys for the state contend that Texas satisfies the mini-
icftium constitutional requirements and any changes to the share-
«he-wealth system should be made by the Legislature, not the
wourts. State attorneys have cited what they say are education im
provements in Texas in recent years.
Judge John Dietz, who is presiding over the trial and is expected
to make a ruling late next week, questioned Neeley about the lag
ging test scores for certain groups of economically disadvantaged
and limited English-speaking students.
“Wouldn’t you agree that it takes more resources to close the
gap?” Dietz said. “How do you close that gap?”
Neeley answered that in the Galena Park School District, where
she previously was superintendent, local officials used money al
ready available to open a “new arrival center” to help immerse lim
ited English-speaking into the programs they needed.
“Every educator would always wish they had more ... We just had
to do the right thing,” Neeley said.
Under questioning by assistant attorney general Jeff Rose, Neeley
later said Galena Park school officials had to find money for the new
arrival centers partly by cutting an outdoor adventure program.
Overall, she said, Texas is providing a good education for bilin
gual and limited-English students.
“We’re doing great things for all kids in Texas with what we
have,” she said. “And we are closing the achievement gap with what
we currently have.”
A total of $28 billion in state and local money is spent on educa
tion in Texas, with about 62 percent of that coming from local prop
erty taxes. Some school districts say because of a state-mandated
cap on local school property taxes they can’t raise enough money
to educate children. Other districts complain that the state doesn’t
pump enough money overall into education.
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Woman pleads guilty to drugging fetus
Despite I
By Betsy Blaney
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AMARILLO — A woman pleaded guilty
uesday to delivering crack to her unborn
■on, avoiding trial in a case that could deter-
■nine the boundaries of a state law intended
lo protect the unborn.
I As part of her plea agreement, Tracy
■Vard, 30, retained her right to appeal, said
■ter attorney, Joe Dawson. The deal averted
■rial over the question of whether a mother’s
■ctions can be prosecuted under a law that
■lassifies a fetus as an individual.
I Ward, who admitted smoking crack co-
gcaine in the days leading up to her son’s
pirth in early November, will be sentenced
Wednesday. She faces between two and 20
ears in prison on the second-degree felony
bharge of delivery of a controlled substance
lo a child.
Dawson said he has requested probation
and intensive drug treatment.
“She hopes the judge grants her the help
she needs,” Dawson said.
The plea deal came the day trial was
scheduled to begin.
Ward was prosecuted under the law that
exempts health care providers who perform
legal medical procedures, such as abortions.
It also exempts death or injury as a result of
legal drug use or an action by the mother.
However, Rebecca King, district attor
ney for several counties including Potter
County, said the law required prosecution,
and that the exemption for the mother did
not apply in this case. She said she would
welcome an appeal.
“If it wasn’t this one, it'd be another one,”
she said. “I’m going to be very interested in
a reading that shows me a legal out here that
doesn’t follow my interpretation.”
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Fish Camo
Fish Camp 50
Reunion
Weekend Events
Friday, September 10, 2004
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5 p.m. - 12 midnight Fish Camp History Display in the Memorial Student Center Flag
Room
Visit a display celebrating 50 years of history with Fish Camp. Sign the official 50th
Anniversary Guest Book and leave thoughts for future Fightin 1 Texas Aggie Freshmen
Classes.
6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Welcome Reception at The Association of Former Students
Kick-off the reunion weekend with refreshments, fellowship, and Fish Camp history
sharing.
8 p.m. First Yell featuring Bill Cosby at Reed Arena
Tickets through the MSC Box Office at (979) 845-1234
12 midnight Midnight Yell Practice at Kyle Field
Attend Yell Practice with current and former Fish Camp members; don't forget to wear
your favorite Fish Camp shirt. Meet in Cain Park at the Eagle Statue at 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 11, 2004
8 a.m. - 12 midnight Fish Camp History Display in the Memorial Student Center Flag
Room
Visit a display celebrating 50 years of history with Fish Camp. Sign the official 50th
Anniversary Guest Book and leave thoughts for future Fightin' Texas Aggie Freshmen
Classes.
2 hours before Game Fish Camp Reunion Tailgate Party at Simpson Drill Field
Plan to attend a fun filled Fish Camp Reunion tailgate party. There will be a
designated area for Fish Camp Reunion participants. Meal tickets will be sold
individually at the tailgate party.
2:30 p.m. Texas A&M Aggies vs. Wyoming
Cowboys Football Game
Tickets are sold through the Athletic Ticket
Office at (979) 845-2311
Brazos Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Michael T. (Tim) Ward, P.T.
TAMU 3 year Football Letterman & Class of ‘81
• Orthopedic Rehabilitation
• Sports Injury Rehabilitation
• Motor Vehicle Accidents & More
Monday-Thursday 7am-6pm
Friday Ham-5pm
2701 East 29th Street
Bryan, TX 77802
Office (979) 776-0247
Fax (979) 774-9515
A spokesman for the bill’s sponsor in the
Texas House said legislators intentionally
exempted mothers and that King has misin
terpreted the law. The change was intended
to address harm brought to by a third party,
said Scott Gilmore, chief of staff for state
Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the lawmakers and
appellate courts how this law is going to be
applied,” Dawson said. “There’s just a host
of issues that will be looked at (on appeal).”
Ward was charged after her son, Roger,
tested positive for cocaine. She admitted to
paramedics that she had smoked crack co
caine within an hour of calling for an ambu
lance to report problems with her pregnancy
in October.
Larry Cunningham, a Texas Tech Univer
sity law professor, said he believes a num
ber of people will be watching the appellate
court’s decision.
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