The gift of interim charges

The opportunity of interim charges

Around the Texas Capitol, sometimes you hear folks say “the best thing about our biennial legislature is even-numbered years.” Now, some people might think the meaning behind that saying is that even-numbered years (that is, the years when the Texas Legislature doesn’t typically meet) are the only time when lawmakers can’t do any damage. Others might think that is a reference to the elections that occur in even –numbered years.

But we at the Texas School Coalition know that even-numbered years represent opportunity: the interim gives legislators a chance to study and carefully consider issues that are important to our state, so that they can propose and pass more thoughtful legislation that is meaningful to Texans. And the issuance of interim charges is the first step in that process. The interim charges from the Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the House provide a guide map for the issues that will receive attention and focus during the interim hearings leading up to the 87th Legislative Session in 2021.

Now that the interim charges have been released in both chambers, we have compiled a table to provide an overview of the topics to be studied, so that you can see where charges overlap and where one chamber may be tasked with studying a particular issue, while the other is not.

Please use the links below to access the two-page table overview, as well as the full set of interim charges (or the version that contains the full language of the charges, but edited down to only contain those that relate to public education).

We will keep you apprised as interim hearings are scheduled to study these charges. The Senate Finance Committee will meet Tuesday afternoon to take up their charge related to spending limits, the business personal property tax, and monitoring of the implementation of HB 1525, relating to the sales and use tax. Click to watch live after 1:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Download Interim Charges Overview

Full Senate Interim Charges

Abbreviated Senate Interim Charges for Public Education

Full House Interim Charges

Abbreviated House Interim Charges for Public Education

Spotlight: Carthage ISD

In order to help our members districts get to know each other better, we will be regularly profiling different districts in our updates. It's an opportunity for you to learn something you may have in common or to learn something new and unique about your peer districts.

School District: Carthage ISD

Superintendent: Mr. John Wink

Region: 7

Location: Carthage in Panola County, is located in deep East Texas. We are 38 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana; 30 miles south of Longview, Texas; and 65 miles east of Tyler, Texas. Carthage ISD covers 630 square miles with bus routes covering 2,450 miles each day.

Student Enrollment: 2,700 students Pre-Kindergarten – High School

School Campus Configuration: Carthage Primary serves PK-1; Libby Elementary has grades 2-3; Baker Koonce Intermediate houses 4-6; Carthage Junior High serves 7-8; and grades 9-12 are at Carthage High School.

What are your district's points of pride?

New Performing Arts Center with 2,038 seating capacity to host regional events
Outdoor Classroom at Libby Elementary
Outdoor Garden at Baker Koonce Intermediate with support from OT Students
Six times State Football Champions
Technology Students Association – 2nd in State and 8th in National Awards in 2019 with 13 State Championships overall
CHS-TV is one of the top high school broadcast programs in Texas
Education Foundation funded over $180,000 in grants in 2019
Champions Closet created in 2019 to provide clothing and toiletries to students in need