We recognize parents as the primary educators of their children through supporting parental choice in education.

HB 19		This bill would provide students who participate in a special education program and have an individualized educational program the opportunity to chose what public or qualifying school they attended. The TCC supports parental choice in education, particularly for children whose needs are better served in specialized educational settings.
HB 575		This bill allows children who are eligible for pre-kindergarten to remain eligible if they are placed in foster care or another residential care program under the Department of Family and Protective Services. The TCC recognizes the importance of education as a means to end the cycle of poverty and supports maintaining a child's access to education. See also SB 113.
HB 1609		This bill would increase funding for the Communities In Schools program, which encourages children to stay in school. The TCC acknowledges the critical role that an education plays in ending the cycle of poverty and enhancing a citizen's contribution to society, and supports this effort to reduce the drop-out rate. See SB 127.
HB 2136		This bill would require certain school districts to disclose the names of the agencies, organizations, or other entities to which its counselors refer students. The TCC supports this bill because it creates greater accountability for counseling referrals in the public school system.
HB 3080		This bill would allow for the creation of a permanent Tuition Equalization grant program. The TCC recognizes the critical role that access to higher education plays in ending the cycle of poverty and enhancing a citizen's contribution to society, and thus supports measures to increase access to higher education.
SB 50		This bill would allow for the creation of the Texas Council on Early Childhood Education Career Development, which would function to create professional standards and educational opportunities for these educators. The TCC recognizes the importance of education and supports the creation of standards that would ensure high quality education from the beginning of a child's educational experience.
SB 1427		This bill would allow students to apply Tuition Equalization Program funds to both private and public higher institutions of education.The TCC recognizes the critical role that access to higher education plays in ending the cycle of poverty and enhancing a citizen's contribution to society, and thus supports measures to increase access to higher education. See HB 612.
SB 1506		This bill would create a pilot school choice program in districts with 90% of the students eligible for free and reduced lunch. It would allow low income parents to send their child to other public schools as well as qualified private schools. 90% of the per student funding would follow the child and 10% would remain with the public school the child is zoned to attend. The TCC supports this bill because it allows lower income families the same educational opportunities as upper income families. TCC recognizes the role of parents as primary educations of their children and supports programs that would allow parents more choices in their child's education.