Make it Matter Monday
- lesliehall9
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
Learn
Rep. James Talarico asks the author of HB 3, the Texas voucher bill, questions about details of this bill. The answers are very interesting. It's worth listening to if you want to understand what's really in this bill.
Do
Have you seen or saved a cool graphic that explains vouchers, how vouchers have impacted other state budgets or student outcomes, etc. We're gathering resources for one of our local Texas Congressman who is fighting vouches at the federal level and would love some help.
Drop what you got in our folder. Or help us fill up our article and video clip lists for them.
Share
Share this video of Dr. Josh Cowen, from Michigan State University, who has been studying vouchers for two decades. He found vouchers have caused "some of the worst academic results in the history of the field."
Spilling the Capitol Tea
House
Last Tuesday was the big hearing at the Texas Capitol about HB 3, the voucher bill. There was nearly 22 hours of testimony, going until almost 6:30am the next morning, that was overwhelmingly against this bill and undeniably angry about the lack of funding for public schools. Th House Public Education Committee did not take a vote to move HB 3 out of committee. It's not dead, but it took a beating. It'll come back up for a vote at some point.
I am so incredibly proud of the dozens of y'all who came down to register, testify, or simply support our efforts throughout the day. Our Testimony Team of 20 PTA folks from across our district wrote, honed, and delivered one powerful story after another, moving hearts and, hopefully changing minds, until the bitter end (literally, Jen Kost was the last speaker at 6:30-ish am). Keep an eye open for clips because there were so many incredibly powerful and honest testimonies.
By the way, if you want to feel good about your fellow Texans, read any of the 12,551 comments written by folks all over the state. Share it with your friends and family around the state, if they are ever misled into believing the people of Texas want vouchers.
The House will meet again on Tuesday, 8am, Reagan Bldg, Rm. 140, to discuss a number of bills. I honestly don't know about any of them except HB 1481, which Rep. Talarico and Rep. Buckley both authored, which prohibits cell phone use during instructional time. There is another bill, HB 222, authored by Rep. Talarico, about the school safety allotment and how it can be used.
I don't think this will be a very long hearing and I highly encourage everyone to look through the bills and go down to register your opinion on them. ACPTA doesn't have an official position on any of them so it's up to you and take your kids, sit in the hearing for a bit, and let them know you're paying attention. Wear your school or PTA t-shirt.
Senate
Next week the Senate will meet on Tuesday at 11am in Room E1.028 to hear a handful of bills.
Feel free to go down and register an opinion on any of these. You can also leave a written testimony (13 copies) or register for public testimony (2 minutes).
Last week we were fierce. This week it's okay to rest. It's a marathon so pace yourself. But if you're up for it and in town, take advantage of the opportunity to go to the Capitol, visit with your local reps, and maybe drop a few postcards or letters off to some of the House Pub Ed committee members.
--Daphne
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