Raise Your Hand Texas: Public school finance needs to be added to special session call

AUSTIN, Texas - Raise Your Hand Texas is a non-partisan nonprofit organization supporting public policy solutions that invest in Texas’ 5.4 million public school students. On its website the group says it envisions a world-class public school system that fuels a brighter public future for all Texans. “Our statewide advocacy team works in communities throughout the state to raise the voices of parents, teachers, community leaders, business owners, and students who care about the future of public education,” the website states.“Our advocacy work and your voices, alongside current research, inform the policy recommendations we make to Texas lawmakers.”Michelle Smith, executive director of RYHT, wishes Gov. Greg Abbott would take on board some of the group’s policy recommendations. Specifically, adding public school finance to the call of the current special session.Abbott has said he will not add public school finance to the call unless and until the Legislature has passed education savings accounts, which are otherwise known as vouchers. RYHT opposes vouchers.In an audio interview, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service asked Smith about her group’s wishes for the special session and to analyze the current situation at the state Capitol. The Senate has passed a school voucher bill. The House has not and wants school finance added to the call.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.