Status: LAW!!!!!!!
Parents Have the Choice!!!!!!
Congratulations to our Texas Campaign Directors
Julie, Kim and all those who have been dedicated
to this cause over the last year!!!!
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!
Texas House bill HB 314 and Senate bill SB 403
Campaign Director: Julie Robinson (texastwinlegislation@gmail.com
Here’s the blog for the Houston Chronicle columnist who wrote the last story on the bill: http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/
Thanks again! I’m eager to hear similar news from all the other states with pending legislation.
Julie
May 15, 2007
The Governor has now signed the Texas Twin Bill into law!! It will go into effect immediately!
Here’s the text of the bill: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB00314F.htm
For Texas parents:
All requests for classroom placement must be made in writing. If the multiples are found to be a disruption, the principal can find the appropriate classroom placement. The parent can appeal this decision with the school board and the multiples will remain in the same classroom during this process.
Thanks Kathy!
Julie
Dear friends who have put up with these emails for far too long,
I wanted to share that The Texas Twins Bill is now a TEXAS LAW. That's right, Governor Perry signed it today. Now families enrolling or continuing their children's education will no longer have to deal with ambiguous school "policy" or with well-meaning, but misinformed, school officials who claim that most multiples can't thrive, develop naturally or become independent if schooled together. The law also recognizes and supports the unique bond many multiples have, and secures its place in healthy emotional development during schooling, BUT MOST importantly, it gives parents the first say as to whether their multiples are schooled together or not. Of course there is built-in protection for the school, teachers and administrators if the classroom setting doesn't work out, but the parent's first choice is the default.
I am *so* proud to have been part of this process, and to have such a strong support system backing me up.
Many, many thanks to all of you who sent email, showed up at committee hearings and who helped me keep the faith over this last year.
Cheers!
Kim
MAY 9, 2007
Our twin bill has passed the House and Senate floors unanimously and has now
gone to the Governor to sign into law!
I hope the next time I email will be
to report the Texas Twin Bill has now become a reality. It shouldn't be long
now!
JULIE
March 17, 2007
I'm so excited to announce that both House bill HB 314 and Senate bill SB
403 have passed unanimously through their respective Education Committees.
The Senate Education Committee has also passed the motion to move the bill
to the Local and Uncontested bills calendar. So, we will skip the Senate
floor completely once the Calendar Committee reads our bill, and join the
House bill on the House floor.
I wanted to pass on a link for an article on our Texas Senate bill in the
Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/07/legislature/4640085.html
House bill HB 314 has been scheduled for the Public Education Committee hearing on Tuesday, Feb 13th at 2:00pm at the Texas State Capitol in room E2.036. This hearing is open to the public and all are welcome to attend and support this bill. We also have Senate bill SB 403 filed by Senator Leticia Van de Putte. If you reside in Texas, please send a summary of your experience with the schools to texastwinlegislation@gmail.com. We also need parents interested in testifying at the hearings in Austin. This is a vital part of the process to make this legislation a reality for all multiples and an opportunity to share your story with Texas legislators.
May 17, 2007
Mom's mission pays off
A mother's effort to change state law paid off this week when Gov. Rick Perry signed legislation empowering parents to decide whether twins or multiples are assigned to the same school classroom.
Up until now, school districts had the final say on whether to separate multiples or to place them in the same classroom.
"It's a historic day for parents of multiples as Texas is the 2nd state to pass the 'twin bill,'" Julie Robinson said after Perry signed House Bill 314 into law. .
"I'm so thankful that this law will help all those who have faced opposition with their schools, and all of those who will never have to endure it.
"It is an honor to accomplish this on behalf of all multiples, but it will always be the 'Joshua and Sophie Bill' to me," she said.
Joshua and Sophie Robinson are her two-year-old twins.
Julie Robinson spent more than one year building support for the legislation after she and her husband, Scott Robinson, moved to the Austin area from Houston. She gave Texas lawmakers a petition with more than 1,700 signatures of parents of multiples supporting the bill.
Many school principals require parents to separate twins despite any research validating such policy, Robinson said.
During a legislative committee earlier this session, Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, asked: "Doesn't it strike you as odd that we have to change state law to make this happen?"
The new law authorizes parents to request that the school place multiple birth siblings in the same classroom or in different classrooms. Such a request must be honored unless the placement is determined to be disruptive or the placement would require additional classes.
Posted by Gary Scharrer at May 17, 2007 11:03 AM
Comments
That is sooooo AWESOME!! I told my wife who is a twin and she said that she wished they had that for her. Great job! You ROCK!!
Posted by: John Lane at May 17, 2007 12:05 PM
For everyone reading this, let Julie's accomplishment serve as a reminder and inspiration that if you want something badly enough- you too can ennact change. This bill passage was a relentless pursuit for 15 months and fraught with challenge that most of us wouldn't have had the fortitude to see through.
I am humbled and so incredibly proud of you Jules. Everyone that will benefit should remember that one mother did this because she wouldn't take no for an answer. Parents of multiple owe her a sincere thanks to her efforts.
Posted by: JSR in ATX at May 17, 2007 02:52 PM
My husband and I thank you! We were dreading the "automatic separation" policy at our elementary school. What a huge relief! THANK YOU!!!
Posted by: Laura Rhodes at May 26, 2007 10:49 AM