Issue Position: Protect Public Education

Issue Position

Restore $5.4 billion the Legislature cut from public education last Session. Every school district lost an average of $500 per student, and after making severe cuts in staffing and programs, many will have no choice but to raise local property taxes to replace some of those funds. The Texas Constitution requires the state to provide a quality public education for all Texas children. I will work to ensure the state does not abandon our Founding Fathers' promise.

Support private sector economic development by ensuring an educated and "Career Ready" workforce. As the Austin area continues to prove, an educated workforce is key to attracting employers to our state. Higher and vocational education investment must be a top budget priority if our state is to continue attracting and growing new jobs.

Revisit and reign in standardized testing by using more meaningful and rational approaches to making sure our students' educational needs are being met. We are gutting our public schools by ratcheting up the focus on test scores at the expense of a quality instructional experience resulting in a subpar education for our children.

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