Across the Lawn – November 2, 2023
Raise Your Hand Texas has a front-row seat to the Capitol. From our vantage point, public education policy issues have never been more important, and this is why we must make every session a...
Across the Lawn – October 26, 2023
Raise Your Hand Texas has a front-row seat to the Capitol. From our vantage point, public education policy issues have never been more important, and this is why we must make every session a...
Advocating for Public Education During Special Sessions
Legislators often share that they benefit from constituents’ ideas and perspectives. The unique viewpoints of others help them do their jobs well, and know the most pressing issues of their communities back home. Educators,...
Texas Teachers are talking. It’s time we listened.
For years, Texas teachers have told us what they need: higher pay, better classroom resources, and smaller class sizes. We can't afford to lose teachers, and it is becoming harder and harder to retain...
Across the Lawn – October 13, 2023
Raise Your Hand Texas has a front-row seat to the Capitol. From our vantage point, public education policy issues have never been more important, and this is why we must make every session a...
What Makes a Session a “Special Session?”
Here’s What to Expect When Lawmakers Return in October 2023 The Texas Legislature typically convenes in odd-numbered years for 140 days, setting a two-year state budget and passing new laws impacting Texans’ lives and...
Empowering Texas school boards through public education advocacy training
Raise Your Hand Texas held its inaugural Trustee Advocates Program Summit earlier this month, welcoming more than 20 school districts that collectively represented more than 550,000 Texas students across the state. Summit speakers included...
Investing in Teacher Mentorship Leads to Stronger Classrooms
An increased investment in mentorship is essential at this point in the Texas teacher workforce crisis. It is imperative that we retain new teachers in the field and provide the best possible instruction to...
Senate Bill 9 Written Testimony by JoLisa Hoover
Raise Your Hand Texas submitted the following written testimony in response to the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Public Education Hearing on May 9, 2023, regarding Senate Bill 9. Raise Your Hand Texas will...
Texas Teachers Share Salary Concerns with Elected Officials
They know the stakes are high, and the urgency in their voices is unmistakable. “As a single mother, I worry,” said Deetrice Thomas, a teacher from Duncanville ISD. “I have a college degree and...
