Parents in Texas got disgusted 15 years ago when the Legislature almost passed a voucher law. They organized the Texas Parent PAC, which is a highly effective voice on behalf of public schools and more than five million students.
The website of Texas Parent PAC has a list of the endorsed candidates, both Democrats and Republicans.
Their guiding principles are a model for parents, grandparents, and civic activists in other states.
I recently heard from Dinah Miller, co-founder and co-chair, who explained the PAC’s origins. She wrote:
Texas Parent PAC formed in 2005 after taxpayer-funded private school vouchers failed to pass the Texas House by only one vote. Five PTA moms called a press conference during PTA Summer Seminar in Austin and announced we were forming a political action committee to elect better talent to the Texas House who would oppose vouchers and support public schools. We recruited Diane Patrick from Arlington who had local and state school board experience to run against hostile Texas House Public Education Committee Chair Kent Grusendorf who had been in office 20 years. We beat Grusendorf in the primary along with others and then CONTINUE READING: Texas Parent PAC: A Model of Action for Every State | Diane Ravitch's blog