Policy
Raise Your Hand Texas believes through equity and innovation we can create a world-class school system that fuels a brighter future for all Texans
Where We Stand
We have established seven core policy priorities — our true north — that guide our long-term work strengthening and supporting public schools in Texas.
Public Dollars Must Remain in Public Schools
Only public schools, which educate 94 percent of students in Texas, can effectively and efficiently meet the state’s demands for a well-prepared workforce and well-informed citizenry.
Vouchers divert scarce public education funds to private schools, which are not required to comply with federal protections for students with disabilities or report and track spending and student performance.
We support keeping education tax dollars in public schools and investing in quality public school choice and innovative programs.
Money Matters in Education
A high-quality and well-funded public education system is essential for every child to reach their full potential.
Texas ranks in the bottom ten states in per-student funding with a student population that is over 60% low socioeconomic.
We support a public school finance system that provides equitable outcomes for all students regardless of race, socioeconomic status, language proficiency, disability, or zip code.
State Share Video
Teachers Make the Difference
The quality of our education system and the long-term viability of our economy are inextricably linked to the effectiveness and diversity of our teachers.
Inadequate pay and a lack of respect for teachers have caused fewer young people to enter the profession in recent years. Compounding this challenge is the need for better teacher preparation and less reliance on alternative certification programs.
We support enhancing teaching as a career, attracting and preparing a strong teacher workforce, and retaining quality educators in the field.
Serving the Whole Child Promotes Learning
Every Texas student needs a safe and healthy educational environment in order to meet their full academic potential.
Texas is ranked 41st in overall child well-being, including indicators related to economic well-being, education, health, and certain family and community traits.
We support meeting the needs of individual students through high-quality pre-Kindergarten, mental wellness services, and other wraparound supports.
Student Growth and Performance Should Be Measured Fairly
Texas public schools should be held to appropriate standards of academic performance by an accountability system that accurately reflects the continuous improvement of students.
The state’s accountability (A-F) system is disproportionately based on a single end-of-year test that does not adequately consider a student’s academic growth. Additionally, it is the only measure of accountability ratings in grades 3-8.
We support real-time assessments that inform instruction, measure individual progress, and serve as one of multiple measures reflecting a student’s entire educational experience.
Texas Communities Deserve an Equal Playing Field
Charter schools and traditional schools should be held to the same high standards while serving all students within their communities.
Charter schools were founded on the promise of fostering locally developed, innovative approaches to educating children, especially with our most at-risk students, and some charter schools remain true to this vision. Unfortunately, for many Texas communities, the rapid expansion of charter schools has resulted in taxpayer inefficiencies, unequal access for students, and a parallel system of publicly funded schools.
We support equitable funding as well as expansion and accountability policies that require publicly funded schools to equally serve all students within their communities. All schools should promote local innovation and respond to the communities in which they operate.
Prepared Students Ensure a Brighter Future For Our State
Texans deserve a public school system that creates a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting tomorrow’s challenges.
Only 20 percent of Texas 8th grade students in 2006 graduated from college by 2017. As such, Texas struggles to keep pace with current workforce demands and cannot solely rely on importing talent from other states.
We support research-based pathways to meet individual student needsas well as increased support for transitioning into college, career, or the military.
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Michelle Smith, Ph.D.
Vice President of Policy & Advocacy
msmith@ryht.org
(512)617-2134
Bob Popinski
Director of Policy
bpopinski@ryht.org
(512)617-2553
David Anderson
General Counsel and Policy Analyst
danderson@ryht.org
(512)617-2129
See our full list of experts
@RYHTexas
During trying times, Texans are building a stronger future for our kids.
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