88th Texas Legislative Session

The Texas Legislature will convene for its 88th regular legislative session from January 10, 2023. Prior to and throughout the session, this page will be updated with information that pertains to GCISD and the legislative session.

State Legislators Representing Grapevine-Colleyville ISD include:

Senator Tan Parker (District 12)
[email protected]
(512) 463-0112

Representative Giovanni Capriglione (District 98)
[email protected]
512-463-0690

GCISD Legislative Priorities

View/print PDF of GCISD's legislative priorities

School Finance

  • Support attempts to lessen the burden of recapture (Robin Hood) on local communities and eliminate recapture on any voter approved tax rate increase to allow school districts to keep 100 percent of funds generated from voter approval.
  • Support an adequate and equitable school finance system that raises the basic allotment to account for inflation and covers the cost of current and future state mandates (ex. HB 4545).
  • Support an increase of funding in order to base funding school districts on enrollment rather than attendance, which better reflects how public schools are staffed and operated.
  • Support an increase of funding GT allotment and special education costs to include covering the costs of the identification of students, filling critical positions, and diagnostic testing, and administrative support.
  • Advocate for truth-in-taxation regarding the relationship between rising property values and the corresponding decline in state funding and to keep public funds in GCISD.

Assessments & Accountability

  • Support reform of the state accountability system to one that minimizes the impact of STAAR as the primary factor, while recognizing the strengths and uniqueness of each student, school, and district and more accurately demonstrating the effectiveness of a school or district.
  • Support modifying requirements for all students to test only online and allow for a paper test accommodation when it aligns with routine accommodations on a student's IEP/504 plan.

School Safety and Security

  • Support the allocation of funds for new security measures on campuses, including equipment, infrastructure, personnel, and counseling support to protect students and staff.
  • Support incentives for districts that proactively implement security enhancement measures not yet required by the state but that contribute to better securing our schools.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention

  • Support financial aid and other programs to incentivize entering the profession.
  • Support increasing educator and staff compensation and improving employee retirement benefits.
  • Support increasing the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) pension from the state to ensure the system is appropriately and adequately funded to provide a sustainable retirement program for public education employees.

GCISD's Legislative Priorities

View/print PDF of GCISD's legislative priorities

Expand each topic below to read the priorities the GCISD Board of Trustees has adopted, highlighting ways legislators can support public education in our community.

School Finance

  • Support attempts to lessen the burden of recapture (Robin Hood) on local communities and eliminate recapture on any voter approved tax rate increase to allow school districts to keep 100 percent of funds generated from voter approval.
  • Support an adequate and equitable school finance system that raises the basic allotment to account for inflation and covers the cost of current and future state mandates (ex. HB 4545).
    Support an increase of funding in order to base funding school districts on enrollment rather than attendance, which better reflects how public schools are staffed and operated.
  • Support an increase of funding GT allotment and special education costs to include covering the costs of the identification of students, filling critical positions, and diagnostic testing, and administrative support.
  • Advocate for truth-in-taxation regarding the relationship between rising property values and the corresponding decline in state funding and to keep public funds in GCISD.

Assessments & Accountability

  • Support reform of the state accountability system to one that minimizes the impact of STAAR as the primary factor, while recognizing the strengths and uniqueness of each student, school, and district and more accurately demonstrating the effectiveness of a school or district.
  • Support modifying requirements for all students to test only online and allow for a paper test accommodation when it aligns with routine accommodations on a student's IEP/504 plan.

Teacher Recruitment & Retention

  • Support financial aid and other programs to incentivize entering the profession.
  • Support increasing educator and staff compensation and improving employee retirement benefits.
  • Support increasing the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) pension from the state to ensure the system is appropriately and adequately funded to provide a sustainable retirement program for public education employees.

School Safety and Security

  • Support the allocation of funds for new security measures on campuses, including equipment, infrastructure, personnel, and counseling support to protect students and staff.
  • Support incentives for districts that proactively implement security enhancement measures not yet required by the state but that contribute to better securing our schools.

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