A well-funded public education system ensures our public schools are equipped with the resources needed to provide every student with the high-quality education they deserve.
Raise Your Hand Texas is working to educate Texans about critical public education issues. We engage Texans in advocacy efforts to support public policy solutions that invest in Texas’ 5.5 million public school students. We work in communities throughout the state to educate, engage, and activate advocates who care about public education – all while keeping five values in mind: integrity, democracy, courage, equity, and pragmatism.
We are building a stronger future for every Texas student by uniting communities to advocate for thriving public schools.
The future of our state will be determined by the success of our public schools, and a strong, well-funded public education system is the foundation of opportunity and economic prosperity.
During the 89th Legislative Regular Session, lawmakers took steps to improve public education, but more work is needed. An $8.5 billion school funding bill provided a much-needed pay raise for teachers and an increase to the basic allotment. Still, Texas lags behind other states in public education, ranking in the bottom 10 in per-pupil funding.
In the 89th Legislative Second Special Session, lawmakers created the Student Success Tool, replacing the STAAR test. This new assessment system is a change for our state, but it still leaves the same fundamentals of Texas’ A-F accountability system intact, with 80% of schools still rated solely on one test on one day.
We can do better. Texas citizens and their elected leaders must fully invest in an education system where every student has the resources to thrive.
The Texas identity has always been defined by a never-ending pursuit of greater opportunity and prosperity for our citizens. Yet despite having the second-highest GDP of all states, Texas lags behind in public education, ranking in the bottom 10 in per-pupil funding. This lack of investment has real implications for our students’ individual and collective potential, our state’s economy, and our ability to remain globally competitive.
Texas educators continue to make admirable strides despite numerous obstacles, including limited school funding, rising expectations and mandates, a constantly shifting accountability system, and a rapidly expanding student population—many of whom are living in poverty or still learning English. Teachers deserve the resources and support to focus on providing students with the high-quality education they need.
A strong public education system is the foundation of opportunity and economic prosperity. Well-funded schools prepare students for an evolving economy and society, building skills in STEM and the humanities, encouraging innovation and critical thinking, and supporting social-emotional development. This is why Texas citizens and their elected leaders must invest in an education system where every student has the resources to thrive.
Our work is mission-driven and focused on empowering Texans in communities all across our state to drive change. We are guided by our core principles of educating Texans about critical education issues,
engaging Texans in advocacy efforts, and activating Texans to hold elected officials accountable. Our efforts led to some positive changes during the recent legislative sessions, but more work needs to be done. Dive into our 89th Legislative Session Recap.
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