- On the airwaves: Don’t miss OSOD’s Executive Director Carrie Griffith on the Texas Take and Texas Public Radio talking about statewide school closures and the impact of private school vouchers and unlimited charter school expansion on Texas public schools.
- Keep Austin Schools Independent: OSOD is supporting Austin advocates who have launched the Keep Austin Schools Independent (KASI) coalition to oppose a potential takeover of AISD. Learn more at the KASI website, and follow the work of CVPE in Houston ISD and FORT in Fort Worth ISD who continue to organize against the state takeover of their districts.
- Different rules for different schools: OSOD testified against proposed new rules that would prioritize new charter schools with no track record or financial accountability rating to receive transfer of tax-financed real property from closed charter schools.
- Governmental Oversight: OSOD was invited to testify to the House Committee on Governmental Oversight on our experience requesting public information on Texas’ voucher program. Our Public Information Requests have helped break important stories and keep Texans informed about who is benefiting and how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
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News You Can Use
Find more news and resources at https://osod.org/news/.
- Vouchers: According to the Houston Chronicle, 24% of voucher recipients haven’t used their voucher funding. The Chronicle and the Houston Press profiled some of these families who faced unexpected barriers to using a voucher, from hidden fees to a lack of private schools that serve children with disabilities.
- Charters: KSAT reported that 54% of full-time charter school teachers were uncertified last school year – nearly seven times the rate at public school districts. OSOD’s Facing Facts report found that charter schools are not only significantly more likely to hire uncertified teachers but also have higher rates of teachers with less experience and have a higher teacher turnover rate.
- State takeovers: The Texas Tribune published an explainer of Texas’ state takeover law as parents and community members continue to question the undemocratic takeover of local school districts. The Houston Chronicle reported that online college-prep courses inflated HISD accountability scores under the takeover, even though TEA has concluded those courses are largely ineffective.
- School closures: We released an updated school closure map with over 170 campuses approved or announced for closure since 2023. The map shows that 40 school districts across the state have made the difficult decision to close campuses.
Our Schools Our Stories
Texans support our public schools because public schools support our communities. This month, we’re highlighting public school districts, leaders, and students who are stepping up and giving back. View the full Our Schools, Our Stories collection and submit your story to add your school to the map!
- Graford ISD is sharing ways to donate to firefighters who are battling the devastating Ross fire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties, along with disaster assistance resources for anyone affected by the fire.
- East Central ISD’s basketball team is taking teamwork to the next level by working together to build homes for local families.
- San Angelo ISD showed up at the YMCA to give away free books and backpacks to community members.
- Plainview ISD seniors kept the legacy of former students alive by saving a carving of the district mascot that was donated by a previous class of graduating seniors. Welding students, Ag students, and the Student Council worked together to save Spike.
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For our schools and our democracy,
Maggie Stern
Director of Community Engagement