DFER TX
POLICY PRIORITIES.
Guided by our core values, DFER Texas has identified the following six key focus areas and policy priorities as critical to maximizing student opportunity, equity, and outcomes.
POLICY PRIORITIES
Guided by our core values and focus areas, DFER Texas has identified the following policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session that will improve the outcome of Texas students.
Strengthen the Teacher Workforce
Strengthening Texas’ teacher workforce is essential to ensure every child has access to a well-prepared, certified educator, addressing critical challenges in teacher retention, preparation access, and compensation to reverse the alarming trend of underqualified hires and build a stable, skilled educational foundation for Texas’s future.
Invest in Early Education
Investing in early education is crucial to help Texas’ youngest students recover in reading and math, providing a strong academic foundation that can address widening achievement gaps and lift outcomes for historically underserved communities.
Increase School Funding
Investing in school funding is essential to equip Texas districts with the resources needed to meet rising operational costs, comply with safety mandates, and support students’ diverse learning needs—especially as they face budget shortfalls, inflation, and declining enrollment.
Spur Meaningful Innovation
Embracing meaningful innovation in Texas education is vital to meet the diverse needs of our 5.5 million students, ensuring that every family has access to high-quality, tailored public school options that support students’ unique strengths and circumstances statewide.
Protect Assessment and Accountability
Accountability in schools is essential for providing transparent, reliable data that empowers families, informs leadership decisions, and drives targeted support to improve outcomes for all students, ensuring that Texas continually raises the bar on educational quality and equity.
Support Postsecondary Access and Completion
Expanding postsecondary access is critical to bridge the gap between high school graduation and workforce readiness, ensuring Texas students leave the K-12 system prepared for postsecondary success and aligned with meaningful career pathways that support the state’s future economic needs.