Texas Public Schools Week, celebrated this year from March 6-10, celebrates the many achievements of our public school system. We take this time to recognize the important goals of our education system and to applaud the dedicated public servants who educate our children. As an educator and a former school board member, I have witnessed first hand the tremendous effort our teachers pour into every class, every hour and every minute with their students, and it is fitting that Texas recognizes their dedication during this special week. We need to continue to press our state and federal government to provide the resources our schools and students need to learn and grow into well-educated, responsible citizens.
Public schools are the backbone of our education system.
Ninety percent of the school age population nationwide attends public schools. Good public schools providing the highest quality education to all students, regardless of their background or economic standing, are absolutely required for a strong and prosperous democracy. That must be our ultimate goal. Thanks to the hard work of teachers, counselors and administrators, we have made great strides in our pubic education system. In standardized assessment tests for primary and secondary students, Texas is one of the highest performing states in the nation.