Teacher groups in Texas have opposed lawmakers’ attempts to create an office of inspector general (OIG) at the Texas Education Agency that would investigate any misconduct in public education and one lawmaker says the watchdog is necessary for accountability.
In 2019 and 2017, two bills SB 1886 and SB 933 were introduced in the Legislature and passed unanimously out of the Senate that would have established the office of inspector general at the state education agency.
However, both bills died in the House Public Education Committee as some teacher groups were opposed to the oversight.
Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) said in an email to the Lone Star Standard that the legislation is necessary and a large amount of taxpayers' money is at stake.
"Doing this is vital because the commissioner of education lacks explicit statutory authority to investigate and take action regarding instances of fraud, waste, and abuse by the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency, school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, regional education service centers, and other entities subject to the commissioner’s regulatory authority," Bettencourt said. "This makes an inspector general crucial to hold entities accountable for how your tax money is being managed."
Bettencourt pointed out the Texas Education Agency is one of the few state agencies that does not have an OIG, and with education amounting to 38.9% of the general revenue monies in the state budget, it "shows the need for an OIG."
He said the legislation would "ensure that taxpayer money is not being wasted and will give the agency the ability to root out fraud and abuse."
Bettencourt indicated that for years examples of criminal misuse of taxpayer funds and fraudulent test scores were reported in the Dallas, Katy and El Paso independent school districts. Houston ISD, he said, fired their auditor after he reported contracting irregularities to the FBI, he added.
"During the committee hearing on SB 1886 in the 85th legislative session, we heard shocking testimony from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who discussed several incidents which indicated the need for an inspector general, such as pay-to play schemes, threats of violence, and even district procurement officials being murdered execution style," Bettencourt said.
The Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) officially opposed the measure in both sessions. It is formally associated with the national labor union, National Education Association. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association supported SB 933 in 2019.
"What I found interesting is that TSTA opposed the bill, whereas the Texas Classroom Teachers Association were in favor of it," Bettencourt said. "I've authored many bills that uphold ensure the veracity of our education system. It started when I authored SB 1222 in the 84th session that gave TEA subpoena authority in cases of alleged misconduct of an educator's inappropriate relationship with a student. The TSTA were in opposition to that bill as well.
"The bill helps to ensure the integrity of the teaching profession, but they would rather there be obstacles to an investigation that could either exonerate the educator or find proof of the allegations."
Bettencourt indicated that TSTA filed a registration card against the OIG bills but did not give testimony, adding, "So I don't know their reasoning."
From his viewpoint, Bettencourt said he does not believe the TSTA represents all teachers' positions.
"I've heard from many teachers that their union does not take the same position as they do," Bettencourt said. "On all of the bills we have discussed, teachers have called to let me know they are supportive and don't agree with the narrative their union is putting out."
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