It’s time to gather at the Capitol on April 16th! HB2 (funding) and HB3/SB2 (vouchers) are up for a vote!

Click here for email and phone numbers for all House Representatives

Here are sample email and phone scripts:

Sample Letter to Legislators. Feel free to edit and personalize.

Dear House Members (or name of legislator):

As a parent of 2 children, I urge you to vote NO on HB3/SB2 (private school vouchers). Our local school district has faced relentless budget shortfalls due to chronic underfunding. This has led to the loss of vital programs and made it increasingly difficult to attract and retain talented educators. Texas is one of the largest economies in the world, yet we rank among the worst states in per-student education funding. This is unacceptable. Our students, teachers, and communities deserve better.

HB3’s proposed voucher program will only make matters worse, siphoning even more money away from public schools and deepening the crisis.

Instead of diverting funds, we must properly fund our schools and tie future increases to inflation. With no increases from the legislature since 2019, most school districts, including my own, are facing severe deficits due to inflation. We need to catch up by funding $1,300 more per student in HB 2 (school funding), not the inadequate $220 currently proposed. I recommend you look at HB313 (Goodwin) and HB595 (Howard) for reasonable approaches to school funding.

The future of Texas depends on a strong public education system. It is both a moral duty and an economic necessity to ensure every child receives a quality education. I urge you to stand with Texas families and invest in the future by increasing funding in HB2 and rejecting HB3.

Sample Phone Script for Legislators. Feel free to edit and personalize.

Hello,

My name is (name) and I am calling to urge Representative (insert name) to vote no on the voucher bill (HB3/SB2) and to increase funding in HB2. I am a parent of two children in public schools and our district is suffering because of huge underfunding by the state. Private school vouchers would not provide choice for most Texas children, but would drain billions of dollars away that are needed by our public schools. Please tell the Representative that, because of inflation, schools have 20% less in buying power than in 2019, and we need $1,300 added to the basic allotment to catch up funding. The current small amount added in HB2 won’t even cover current inflation. I vote based on support for public education and I will remember who has supported the success of our children across Texas.

Thank you!

 

 

It’s still early, but Texas lawmakers have already filed 2,300 bills before the start of the legislative session. 17% of these, or about 400, are education-focused, making education the leading topic so far, with crime, health and social services rounding out the top four. We’ll post important funding, testing and community schools bills in this space.

For an overview of what has already been filed, read this article from the Houston Chronicle (1/14/25): “We read through Texas’ 2,000 filed bills this session using A.I. Here’s what to know.”

School Funding

HB351 (Goodwin): This bill would adjust public school funding to keep up with inflation.

HB1657 (Cunningham): This bill would provide an Educational Savings Account/Voucher for certain children.

Testing and Accountability

Community Schools

SB235 (Johnson): Relating to a public school campus’s election under a campus turnaround plan to operate as a community school.

SB558 (Johnson): Relating to the establishment of a grant program for school district or open-enrollment charter school campuses that are designated as full-service community schools.