Texas Education, Extend or Fix?

According to an article from the Austin American Statesmen, called Commentary: More school days? Not unless we address these areas first, Texas lawmakers are considering extending the school year by 30 days. The author David DeMatthews there are a handful of goof reasons that the lawmakers are considering this including, allowing low-income student to stay on track with their fellow high-income students, reducing the loss of information over the summer, and increase "school-contentedness" which lowers the chance of students becoming delinquents. But DeMatthews points out that these problems they are proposing be fixed are somewhat low-grade compared to the long-term problems we have like a lack of mental health professionals at schools, low  funding for the special needs programs and teacher's low salary.

I trust DeMatthew because he is director of the Texas Principal Leadership Academy and an associate professor of educational leadership and policy at the University of Texas so he clearly has intimate knowledge of the Texas school system. His intended audience is people voting on, or people who have a voice in the new legislation and he is providing an educated opinion on the matter at hand. 

I agree with DeMatthew because these long term problems, from the perspective of a former student, have been left behind, neglected, or halfheartedly solved. Although I agree with all of his statements, I think that the mental health and special needs funding are the most important and most immediate needs that should be addressed.