Last night Governor Greg Abbott called for expanding parents’ rights to educate their children at a parent empowerment night held at Covenant Christian Academy in McAllen. Speaking to a packed gymnasium of more than 350 parents, students, educators, and parent empowerment advocates, the governor noted that while funding per student in Texas is at an all-time high, more money doesn’t always mean better outcomes for all students.
Governor Abbott said, “Many children today are not as educated as you and I when we were young, inspired by the founding of our country and how it stands out from the rest of the world as a beacon of freedom and opportunity.” “We, as Texans, have an obligation to ensure that our children are taught why and how the United States of America became the greatest country in the history of the world. We will not use taxpayers’ money to teach our children to hate our country. Schools should not drive wake-up agendas, period. Schools are for education, not indoctrination. They should We have to reform the curriculum to get children back to the basics of learning, and we have to empower parents.”
During his remarks, Governor Abbott highlighted legislative efforts currently underway that would provide more funding for public education and increase teacher salaries, while also empowering parents to be the primary decision makers in their children’s education. The governor stressed the need to expand school choice options for all Texans, noting that the majority of Texans in urban, suburban and rural areas support these efforts.
He was joined by Governor Gloria Santillan Casas, trustee of La Feria Independent School District School District, Texas Public Policy Foundation Campaign Director Mandy Drogin, Christian Covenant Academy Director Milton Gonzalez, Christian Covenant Academy Director Dr. Maria Bridwell, and other parent empowerment advocates.
Hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition, Parent Empowerment Night brings together education leaders and stakeholders to discuss education reform and the growing need for parental empowerment in their children’s education.