Raise Your Hand Texas believes in creating a world-class school system that fuels a brighter future for all Texans. To do so, we must continue to invest in our students through high-quality programs and increased funding, ensure public dollars remain in public schools, ensure our teachers have the support they need, and enhance public accountability. Let’s build the future of Texas, together. This work takes all of us, because the future of Texas is in our public schools.
Measure What Matters
Texas has long been a national leader in innovative approaches to school accountability. However, our current accountability system places too much emphasis on standardized testing. The Texas Legislature can continue to lead the way by reducing the high-stakes nature the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) holds in the Texas Education Agency’s A-F district and school rating system. Texans deserve an accountability system that more accurately reflects the many contributing factors of a good school and quality education. Our schools do more than administer the STAAR test, and our students are more than one test on one day. It’s time to Measure What Matters.
Public Dollars Must Remain in Public Schools
Students, parents, communities, and businesses rely on public schools to provide high-quality education and ensure a bright future for Texas. Vouchers divert public education funds to private schools, neglect our most vulnerable students, and lack transparency when it comes to spending and outcomes. The Texas Legislature must invest in the only education system capable of serving the large and diverse student population of Texas.
Teachers Make the Difference
High-quality teachers are strongly linked to student achievement, significantly increasing high school graduation rates, college completion rates, and salary earnings. However, a myriad of challenges exacerbated by the pandemic and public attitude towards education are pushing teachers out of the profession. Now more than ever, the Texas Legislature should support retention, recruitment, and development practices that strengthen our teacher workforce. When Texas supports its teachers, Texas supports its future.
Money Matters in Education
Over the last three years, Texas has seen double-digit inflation, placing a tremendous amount of pressure on our educators and students. The federal stimulus funds expire in 2024, and the current school finance formulas are not flexible enough to keep up with ongoing demands. Texas lawmakers will have a substantial amount of funding this legislative session – over $27 billion in additional general revenue and over $13.6 billion in our state’s Rainy Day Fund. Investing in public school students should be a priority every session, because the future of Texas depends on well-funded public schools.
