Testimony: Support SJR 12 so parents can engage in public school curriculum review and governance processes

Jennifer Allmon Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops I am testifying in support of SJR 12. As the primary educators of their children, parents have the right and responsibility to direct their children’s education. Most Texas parents, whether by choice or because a private or homeschool alternative is financially impossible, will enroll…

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Testimony: SB2 meets minimum of bishops’ criteria for parental choice in education

Jan. 28, 2025 Testimony by Jennifer Allmon,  Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops I am testifying in support of SB 2. SB 2 meets the minimum requirements of the bishops’ criteria for supporting parental choice legislation because it includes: Accountability through accreditation and the administration of norm-referenced assessments. Strong religious liberty and…

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How to promote resources for parental engagement

Parental Engagement in Public Schools is a resource guide for families with students in public schools. Please consider using the pulpit/bulletin announcement below, or the linked postcard-sized announcements (which can be printed or shared on social media) to make families aware of this resource. As the primary educators of their children, parents have the right…

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Parental Choice Toolkit

These graphics can be used in bulletins and other printed materials and on social media to promote parental choice in education. 1. DOWNLOAD the image you want to share. 2. UPLOAD the image into a new social media post. 3. COPY & PASTE the following text into the post: Join me in asking our #TXLege House Representatives to support parental…

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Contact your representative on parental choice

We need 75 votes in the Texas House to ensure parental choice. Contact your state representative and ask for more educational options for families who need it most. Please consider one of the following methods to contact your Texas House representative: 1. Customized contact by email or phone While this requires a few more minutes,…

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Bishop Olson testifies in support of SB8, parental choice

My name is Bishop Michael Olson and I serve as the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth that covers 28 counties in North Texas. I am here to testify on behalf of the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. We register initial support for the committee substitute for…

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Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops supports parental choice in education bills

AUSTIN — Recognizing education is one of the best means to escape poverty and that parents are best suited to determine the right educational choice for their children, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) supports a set of bills increasing parental choice in education. The bills have been filed by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, Sen.…

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Letter to Attorney General Paxton about Blaine amendments

The anti-Catholic history of Blaine amendments Today we submitted a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton outlining the anti-Catholic history of Blaine amendments and the constitutionality of  parental choice Education Savings Accounts in Texas. Thank you to Nicole Garnett and  the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative for assistance. Read the letter here

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88th Legislature Parental Choice Bills

88th Legislature Parental Choice Bills The bishops’ criteria for supporting parental choice legislation includes the following:    a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, ensuring students with the greatest academic and financial need are first in line;   academic accountability which requires accreditation and the administration of a norm- or criterion-referenced assessment each year (current practice…

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Support Family Educational Relief Program, SB 1968

My name is Jennifer Allmon, and I am the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of SB 1968. The Texas bishops believe parents are the primary and principal educators of their children and therefore must be free to determine the best educational environment for their children. To ensure quality…

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Support Parents’ Rights: Testimony in Support of SB 442

My name is Shannon Jaquette. I am the Policy and Education Analyst for the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops and I am testifying in support of Senate Bill 442. As the primary and principal educators of their children, parents have the right and responsibility to impart their values in all aspects of their children’s education,…

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Gratitude to Sanofi Pasteur on Ethical Polio Vaccines

Sanofi Pasteur, one of the leading providers of polio vaccines, recently announced it will only use an ethical animal cell line to produce its stand-along polio vaccines Pentacel and Quadracel. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops thanked Sanofi Pasteur. You can also, by writing them here.

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Sine Die Report for the 86th Legislature

Sine Die Report on Priority Bills in the 86th Legislative Session Educate: Throughout the 2019 session, we educated and mobilized the laity to take an active role in supporting the bishops’ agenda. Specifically, we have published online briefs—available here—of the topics on our legislative agenda to explain Church teaching and how to improve state law.…

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HB 3347: Support before- and after-school care

Michael Barba Associate Director of Public Policy The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops supports HB 3347. Analysis and Recommendation. Under HB 3347, the board of trustees of a school district can establish before-school and after-school programs for students in Elementary or Middle school. The programs would be maintained through public-private partnerships, and HB 3347 effectively makes…

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SB 2144: school finance reform needs student-centered equity

Michael Barba The Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops support SB 2144. This is the best first step toward addressing our school finance system, and runs parallel to our work: following the 2017 session, the bishops have charged the TCCB with providing recommendations upon how to improve the finance system. Our work will shed light on…

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HB 1799: Good cooperation to keep children safe in public and private schools

Lisette Allen The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops support of HB 1799. In our own operation of schools, we have established a program called Safe Environment, through which we train all staff how to recognize early signs of potential abuse and prevent it from occurring. We maintain policies governing adult-student interactions, including on social media.…

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HB 21: First step in addressing school finance reform

Michael Barba HB 21 makes adjustments to the finance system, especially by providing a new weight for dyslexic student and folding funds into the Basic Allotment. It is a first step toward addressing a fundamental problem in the system. The fundamental problem is that Texas collects revenue through a local property tax to fund a…

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Parents Prepare Children To Head Back To Texas Catholic Schools

Over the next three weeks, more than 80,000 students will return to the 265 Catholic schools in Texas to start the 2015-2016 academic calendar.  Anxiety tends to run high for both children and their parents at the beginning of every school year.  However, the Texas Catholic Conference Department of Education has a few simple tips…

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