Genie Mitchell and Patty Martin chair this committee.

The committee has focused on legislation introduced in the 88th Texas Legislature which runs from January through May 2023.

The committee has urged support of HB45, which Texas State Representative Christina Morales (D) re-filed House Bill 45, along with joint authors Representatives Alama Allen (D) and Gene Wu (D). The bill would make Ethnic Studies count towards high school graduation. Our members were urged to email our State Representative Eddie Morales and our State Senator Cesar Blanco in support of the legislation.

Ethnic Studies Courses are proven to reduce drop-out rates. The courses referred to in the bill were approved by both Republican and Democratic Texas State Board of Education representatives unanimously. Currently, these courses are only electives. It is time for our History to count toward graduation requirements.

Led by Genie, the committee has:

posted regular notices of bills before the Texas Legislature on our Facebook page;  
provided information about our public education agenda; 
furnished details on the Legislature’s public education budget;
outlined controversial issues regarding school vouchers;
asked our members to make phone calls to members of the House Education Committee on numerous proposed bills; 
and initiated postcard campaigns to public officials on legislation important to us.

The Education Action Committee also organized a special monthly meeting of the Jeff Davis County Democratic Party on April 15th to hear John Porras, the Regional Advocacy Director of Raise Your Hand Texas. John discussed the critical work of his non-partisan, non-profit organization. Raise Your Hand Texas works to raise the voices of parents, teachers, community leaders, business owners, and students who care about the future of public education.

Communication made easy: 

Email to Texas Legislators: 

   Cesar Blanco, Texas Senator District 29    district29.blanco@senate.texas.gov
   Eddie Morales, Jr. Texas Rep. District 74    district74.morales@house.texas.gov

Email, Phone Calls, Postcards, and Editorials to News Outlets:

       Big Bend Sentinel        editor@bigbendsentinel.com    
       Office Mgr.* Mary E.        432-729-4342

       Mountain Dispatch     news@MountainDispatchNow.com
       Editor•Tate Dillard            432-426-3077

Info/Issues/Sources relating to Public Education:

League of Women Voters Texas        LWVTexas.org

Raise Your Hand Texas – RYHT                
John Porras, Area Representative    LjPorras@ryht    text  806-787-8122

Dr Melissa N Ortega TX SBOE Member Representative Dist. 1
2100 George Dieter P.O. Box 962792, El Paso, TX
MelissaTXSBOE1@gmail.com
drmelissaortega4txsboe1.com