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Texas is the Lone Star State for a reason. We stand apart as a model for the nation.
We have the fourth-highest high school graduation rate in America. We are second among Hispanic and African-American students, and first among economically disadvantaged students. And Texas has more public high schools ranked in the top 100 than any other state.
In addition to improving early education and higher education last legislative session, we provided a record amount of badly needed funding to unclog our congested roads. We delivered the most robust border security effort of any state ever. And we cut taxes and eliminated unnecessary license fees.
We made Texas freer, stronger, safer and smarter — all without breaking the budget.
This session, because education is essential to preserve liberty, we must continue to provide our teachers — some of the best in America — with the tools they need to help our students succeed.
I support Education Commissioner Mike Morath and all he is doing to improve our schools. He’s making our schools more connected than ever to the internet. He’s developing math innovation zones to improve student performance. He’s deploying reading and math academies that make our teachers even better.
We’re also working to address the growing demand on our charter schools. They do a great job and deserve more funding.
Both the House and the Senate are right to tackle the vexing challenge of school finance now rather than putting it off.
But school finance is not about financing our schools. Nor is it about lining the pockets of the lawyers and lobbyists who capitalize off the backs of our students.
It’s about providing our kids with the best education possible.
With a sense of urgency, we must create better ways to fund education.
And when it comes to education, we need to remember that one size doesn’t fit all. Parents, not government, are best positioned to make decisions about their child’s education. Parents should be empowered to choose the school that’s best for their children.
No child should be in the wrong school because of his or her zip code. Every child should have a chance to succeed in life. All children should have the ability to attend the school that’s best for them.
Thirty states have school choice. I want to make Texas the 31st.
We must also continue to invest in early education. Eighty percent of all voters agree: Texas should fund optional high-quality pre-K education. They want our children on the path to reading and math literacy by the time they finish third grade.
Last session, we brought high quality standards to a pre-K system that desperately needed meaningful improvement. The purpose is to set high standards, evaluate their effectiveness and eliminate what doesn’t work.
To ensure that pre-K works rather than wastes taxpayer money, we must again adequately fund high-quality pre-K.
Finally, we must continue to invest in the Governor’s University Research Initiative to attract internationally renowned researchers to our leading universities. Their research spurs economic development and creates even more jobs that Texans deserve.
To find out more about the priorities for the session ahead, visit http://gov.texas.gov/initiatives.
I look forward to working with my legislative partners to ensure we continue to elevate our education system and broaden the path to prosperity for all Texans.
Greg Abbott is governor of Texas.
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