Get ready to rally on Wednesday, March 15 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Texas State Capitol!  Texas schools struggle with cuts and underfunding, even as property taxes soar. We support a proposal to send $1.5 billion from the state that will help, while a broken school finance system is fixed, and oppose measures, such as vouchers, that transfer funding from public to private schools. That's why we're rallying on March 15th!

Our struggling schools face punitive sanctions and an A-F grading system that do more to harm than help schools. We believe community-based supports that build up, like Community Schools, is the right way forward. That's why we're rallyingWednesday!

We believe every student, no matter their situation or family background, deserves a great education and a caring and safe school. That's why we're rallying!

We hear so much about 6% of schools failing children, but we hear nothing about the 94% of schools doing great jobs. We are rallying to show support for the 94% getting the silent treatment. Students representing various districts will be allowed to convey three to four excellent things happening at their school or district. 

If you live in driving distance of the State Capitol, get in the car or on the bus, grab your family and friends and some posters, and change the future for Texas children. We have an amazing group of speakers, the media will be out in force, and legislators will be listening.

Leading up to the rally, we'll also have several calls to action as committee hearings get going on key legislation.

Agenda

11:00 am Ben Bolt HS and San Diego HS Mariachi groups play in alternating song fashion

11:15 am Colby Nichols of TREA will be informing audience members about how to speak to their legislators

11:30 am  Welcome Comments

11:38 am Odem-Edroy Drummer

11:42 am Representative Abel Herrero

11:50 am San Diego HS Mariachi Group

11:55 am Executive Director Blake Cooper of Friends of Texas Public Schools

12:10 pm  Ben Bolt HS Mariachi Group

12:15 pm  Don Rogers of TREA

12:25 pm  Max Thompson on Rally's Purpose

12:40 pm  Banquete Drumline

12:45 pm  Concluding Remarks

12:48 pm Colby Nichols of TREA to inform audience members about how to speak to their legislators for any that may have joined us later