The gist
The students are going to Austin through Pearland Day, which is an annual trip to Austin hosted by the Pearland Chamber of Commerce to meet with legislators and visit the capitol, according to the Pearland Chamber of Commerce’s website.
The students will be split into two groups, which will be led by PISD Deputy Superintendent Kelly Holt and Charles Allen, PISD’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, the news release notes. The students will visit 10 different legislative offices to present their legislative priorities.
The details
The legislative priorities were curated by the students through research and discussion with district officials, according to the release.
According to the news release, the student-generated legislative priorities include:
- School food and nutrition: advocating for increased state funding to ensure all students have access to nutritious meals
- GPA standardization: supporting a uniform GPA calculation system for dual language and career technical education programs, with local waiver options
- State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness testing reform: reducing STAAR test pressure through flexible scheduling and alignment with classroom learning
- Standardized teacher curriculum and grading: pushing for state guidelines that balance consistency with local adaptability
- Post-graduation skills and financial literacy education: mandating a post-graduation skills class focused on financial literacy and life skills
- School transportation funding: securing increased state funding for safe and reliable student transportation
- Advanced Placement coursework and conservative state bans: opposing legislation that restricts AP courses and advanced academic programs
- Censorship in sexual and gender education: protecting comprehensive sexual and gender education from state censorship
- CPS officer on school campuses: placing Child Protective Services officers on school campuses for timely intervention
- Cellphone access in public school: advocating for guidelines that balance technology integration with minimizing distractions, and ensuring a safe and effective learning environment for all students that do not result in a ban
"This is an incredible opportunity for our students to experience the legislative process firsthand and to make their voices heard," PISD Superintendent Larry Berger said in the news release. "We are immensely proud of their dedication and their commitment to civic engagement."
Remember this?
Community Impact previously reported on PISD’s legislative goals as a district. Those included teacher retention, school safety, school funding for programs and reform of academic assessments, among others.
