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Our Priorities

We at Texans for Education Reform believe that our education policy discussions should focus on a combination of policies, rooted in proven best practices, to make a real and lasting impact for all Texas school children.  No single solution is a cure-all for Texas public schools. Our comprehensive approach can produce the great leap forward Texas students need and deserve, right now!
 

Increase transparency regarding campus performance and provide solutions for parents, local communities, and the state to improve chronically failing schools.

  • A-F School Ratings: Rate each school campus on an A-F standard that everyone – particularly parents – can easily understand and measure.
  • Parent Empowerment: Strengthen the parent empowerment law by giving parents the means for intervention after two years versus after five years in chronically failing schools.
  • Local Control School District: Simplify the home-rule process (giving districts greater freedom to determine educational programs and administration) by making it streamlined and transparent, and restoring local control of schools.
  • Opportunity School District: Establish a special statewide turnaround school district to fix chronically failing schools.

Invest in the best teachers and teaching policies to improve student learning.

  • Teacher Development Framework: Strengthen the teacher appraisal framework to provide at least an annual evaluation that includes improvements in student achievement.  Align professional development to the needs identified in teacher appraisals giving educators a personalized, meaningful blueprint for excellence and mastery.

Make high performing public school options available to every Texas family.

  • Student Transfers & Transportation: Allow every student to attend the public school of their choice within their district by advancing district-wide transfer policies.  Increase transportation funding to support student transfers.

Implement proven education technologies and teaching innovations.

  • Course Access & Digital Learning: Increase the availability of approved online content, courses, and programs for all students.