Raise Your Hand Texas Community Leaders Fellowship

RE: District Partnership Acknowledgment

Thank you for joining the Raise Your Hand Texas Community Leaders Fellowship. We are excited to have you join the 2026-27 Cohort. This document outlines the shared commitment and anticipated collaboration between Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT) and the Partner School District (referred to as “the District”) for the Community Leaders Fellowship.

The Community Leaders Fellowship is an 18-month program that equips community teams aligned with local independent school districts with skills to effectively advocate for public education in their own communities and at the State Capitol.

It is also designed to strengthen collaborative community engagement across the School District and foster mutual understanding of local needs and state policy to inform and support the educational mission, thereby growing essential community support for our public schools.

The Community Leaders Fellowship 2026-27 Cohort

The Fellowship Cohort, composed of District staff members and members of the broader community, will undertake 18 months of focused learning and community engagement around the issue of Texas public education advocacy. This program will build individual expertise as well as collective strength, preparing members to effectively champion local school issues, both as respected local leaders and as skilled statewide advocates.

Each Member of the Cohort is expected to:

• Lead Thoughtful Engagement: Guide efforts to more deeply inform the broader community about public education issues, and to listen and better understand what matters to local stakeholders regarding schools.
• Develop and Present Learnings: Develop and present to the District ideas, along with a list of possible legislative priorities and recommendations, based on their research, listening, and active engagement across the community.
• Become Skilled Advocates: Learn the most effective tools and strategies to advocate for their District and the success of their local community.

Focus Areas:

• Deepen understanding of State education policy.
• Build leadership skills in legislative processes, local governance, effective advocacy, and effective communication.
• Cultivate relationships with legislative offices, local elected officials, and the broader local community.
• Champion advocacy efforts for identified local priorities in coordination with the District, particularly throughout the 90th Legislative Session.

The District’s Partnership

The District agrees to partner with and support its staff members participating in the Community Leaders Fellowship Cohort.

The District commits to:

• Valuing Leadership Development: Acknowledge the value of their staff members’ (who participate in the Cohort) development as community leaders and advocates, and support their engagement in Fellowship activities, including attendance at the two statewide meetings—the Summer Retreat in 2026 and the Spring 2027 event in Austin.
• Supporting Community Work: Partner with or actively support the Cohort in conducting their community-based work in a manner consistent with federal and state law, which may include:
  • Supporting listening circles or other community dialogue efforts, where appropriate and relevant to District interests.
  • Considering allowing the appropriate use of school facilities for Fellowship activities, consistent with District policies and facility use agreements.
• Considering Recommendations: Commit to strongly considering recommendations and legislative priorities issues developed by the Fellowship Cohort during the process of developing the District’s own legislative agenda for the next Legislative Session.
• Coordinating Public Relations: Support the public recognition of this community work by coordinating with Raise Your Hand Texas on the appropriate use of the District’s name and logo in all relevant press releases, social media, and communications related to the Fellowship.

Raise Your Hand Texas’ Commitment

RYHT will operate the Fellowship program in a nonpartisan manner and in accordance with all applicable legal frameworks.

RYHT commits to:

• Program Design and Management: Design, manage, and execute the Community Leaders Fellowship Cohort program with a curriculum focused on effective community engagement, advocacy best practices, and a deep understanding of public school governance and policy.
• Training and Support: Provide appropriate training, coaching, and support to Cohort members, including conducting high-quality listening circles and community dialogues that gather honest, relevant feedback.
• Communication: Maintain regular, transparent communication with the District’s designated liaison, sharing updates on the progress of the Cohort’s community work and legislative advocacy efforts.

Financial and Logistical Management (RYHT)

Raise Your Hand Texas is responsible for the primary financial and logistical management related to the Fellowship Cohort, including:

• General Activities: General Cohort activities are funded by Raise Your Hand Texas. The District has no expectation of funding or use of local funds for the Cohort’s general activities.
• Statewide Events: For the two statewide meetings—the Summer Retreat in 2026 and the Spring 2027 event in Austin:
  • Raise Your Hand Texas will provide hotel accommodations and meals for Cohort participants.
  • Raise Your Hand Texas will not arrange or cover the cost of travel for Cohort members to and from these two statewide events.

Please Note: A limited amount of subsidized travel cost assistance may be made available to Cohort groups traveling from a significant distance, subject to Raise Your Hand Texas’ discretion and available funds.