Why voting for pro-public education candidates in the primary elections is crucial to the future success of our public schools. Due to redistricting, the primary election has more impact on who gets to the legislature in 2013, so your vote actually matters MORE now than it will in the general election.

1. Cast Your Ballot for
Texas Public Education
Now!
Why voting for pro-public education candidates in
the primary elections is crucial to the future
success of our public schools.

2. If you care about public education in
Texas, there’s one simple thing to
remember as we approach the primaries:
Your vote matters!

3. How?
Two big reasons:

4. 1) Your vote helps someone get elected
Sound obvious? It’s not. Due to redistricting, the
primary election has more impact on who gets to
the legislature in 2013, so your vote actually
matters MORE now than it will in the general
election.
Ironically, primary elections (especially local
ones) usually have a very low voter turnout. The
good news is that if you do vote, your vote will
have a lot more impact on who ends up forming
public education policy in our state. If you don’t,
someone else’s will.

5. Voting in the primaries is important
Your vote in the primary is not “a symbol.” It’s a
powerful political action with significant
consequences. It helps determine who forms policy
in our state. By waiting until the November
election, you significantly decrease the value of
your voice.
Why vote now? Because it matters now. During
the primary election on May 29 your vote could
change the outcome. By November many
candidates will be running unopposed, so you will
only have one option. Exercise your rights and
responsibilities now, or pay the price of having no
options later.

6. 2) Your vote has a direct impact on policy
Electing lawmakers who don’t support Texas
public education has negative consequences on
the public education system, whereas electing
legislators who are supportive of Texas public
education has positive consequences.
It’s that simple.
Education-related policy gets passed regardless
of who gets elected to the legislature, but who
makes up the legislature has a real impact on
public education.

7. We need to reflect on...
Whether the legislators who pass education
laws truly represent our positions.
Whether we are electing candidates who
believe that public education requires
adequate resources to function.
What constitutes a true public education
candidate, so that we can make informed
decisions at the ballot box.

8. How do you know if your candidate
agrees with you on public education
Financial management: What is their plan to provide
adequate funding for all Texas public schools?
Human capital: How would they help schools recruit and
retain highly qualified teachers?
Student achievement: How do they think we can better
prepare our students with the skills and knowledge they
need to succeed after high school graduation?
Engagement: Which PTA/PTO leaders, school board
members, and superintendents have they talked with to
find out their legislative concerns?

9. Pro-public education legislators
accomplish great things
Early Childhood: In 2009, legislators passed an increase of $25
million for the Early Start Grant Program. This program provided
school districts with funds to expand their pre-k program from a
half day to a full day for low-income, military and foster
children.
AP Incentive Program: Success in AP classes is tied directly to
students enrolling in college and successfully completing a degree.
Recognizing that, the legislature appropriated $28 million in 2009 to
incentivize more schools to offer AP courses and to cover costs of AP
exam fees for Texas high school students. As a result we’ve seen AP
programs flourish in parts of the state with many low-income families.

10. But because there were people in
office in 2011 that did not prioritize
public education, we ended up
cutting $5.4 billion from the public
education budget, including:
Technology allotment $271M
Full day pre-k grants $223M
Teacher incentive pay $345M

11. The members who cast the votes to
cut public education were
representing someone.
Are you sure it was you?

12. For the benefit of our
children and our future,
pro-public education
candidates need to be
elected.

13. If parents, educators, and citizens
want to have influence on public
education in Texas,
we have to VOTE!!