Senator, state education board member consider debate on CSCOPE
The chairman of the Senate Education Committee has accepted an offer from the vice chairman of the State Board of Education to debate a controversial series of lesson plans in Texas that have pitted hundreds of school districts against social conservative and tea party groups. Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, agreed Wednesday to debate State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant. The senator suggested it be held in Tyler on August 24. Patrick has been a critic of the CSCOPE lesson plans, while Ratliff has defended the lessons and the right of any school district in the state to use them in class.“The CSCOPE curriculum was an ill-conceived program, shrouded in secrecy,” Patrick said. “When I shined the light on it during the legislative session, it could not withstand close scrutiny. All the parties agreed the program would be dismantled. But a lawyer, a few supporters and Mr. Ratliff have tried to renege on the deal and resurrect this program.” His reference was to the decision of CSCOPE’s governing board to quit releasing the 1,600 lesson plans on Aug. 31. But hundreds of school districts already have the curriculum or will be downloading it before the new school year, angering critics like Patrick. In addition, the general counsel for the Texas Education Agency said the lesson plans are now
