The single most effective step a person can take toward a better life is getting a great education, and Texas has made a concerted effort toward creating better, more accountable schools to make a great education easier to achieve during a time of increasingly global competition.

While a quality education provides a strong foundation for everyone, quality education for all collectively provides a strong foundation for the state's entire economy. In Texas, our fertile business climate continues to attract employers from around the nation and around the world, largely due to our versatile, talented and hard-working workforce that can fill any position employers need.

By investing in resources and leveraging technology to prepare today's students for the challenges of the new workplace, Texas can maintain its edge in cultivating and attracting the employers of the 21st century.

Under Gov. Perry's leadership, Texas has become the first state in the nation to make the college preparatory curriculum the standard for all students, and has won nationwide acclaim for its high academic standards and efforts to battle the school dropout problem.

Action Items

»  Gov. Perry recently proposed expanding the Virtual School Network by creating the Texas Virtual High School that will provide students who have dropped out of traditional high schools an opportunity to earn a high school diploma without returning to a bricks and mortar school. Additionally, this expanded network will give students additional access to classes their schools may not offer, dual credit opportunities, and flexibility to help keep students in school.
»  In 2011, signed HB 2910 creating the T-STEM Challenge Scholarship that will provide competitive awards to regional partnerships between community and technical colleges and local employers to help attract, retain and graduate  STEM students.  Gov. Perry originally announced his proposal to create this scholarship in October of 2009.
»  The T-STEM Challenge Scholarship builds on the Texas High School Project (THSP), a multi-million dollar public-private partnership designed to improve outcomes for economically disadvantaged and at risk students through innovative programs such as High School Redesign, Early College High Schools and T-STEM Academies. To date, THSP has served 83,000 students in 172 schools across the state. These efforts combined with new proposals, will provide multiple avenues for Texans to earn their diploma.
»  In 2007, Gov. Perry supported the creation of Texas' Dropout Recovery Program. Nationally recognized, the program recruits students who have already made the decision to drop out and offers them an avenue to complete their degree and enroll in college. The program provides maximum flexibility and is highly individualized based on students' needs. Most promising, the program has been equally successful across all demographic groups.
»  Providing parents and students the opportunity to attend the school that best fits their needs is paramount to providing students a superior educational experience. Whether a student chooses to attend one of the state's more than 400 charter schools, one of our state's public schools or are educated at home or in a private school, Gov. Perry believes that having these option is a critical component of creating a robust education system. According to US Charters, Texas has the second highest number of students in charter schools.

News & Announcements

• Wednesday, January 30, 2013 • Dallas, Texas • Press Release
  Gov. Perry: Technical Skills Expand Opportunities for Texas’ Workforce
  
  Rick Perry visited the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he discussed the State of the State and his priorities for the 83rd Legislative Session, particularly his proposals for ensuring Texas has a skilled and capable workforce.
  » Read the Speech: Gov. Perry: Technical Skills Expand Opportunities for Texas’ Workforce
• Tuesday, January 29, 2013 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Tax Relief, Infrastructure and Education: Priorities to Keep Texas Strong
  
  Gov. Rick Perry delivered his State of the State address to the 83rd Texas Legislature, highlighting our state’s strong economic outlook, and outlining his priorities to keep Texas on an upward trajectory. He called on the Legislature to provide at least $1.8 billion in tax relief, invest in the state’s water and transportation infrastructure and improve access and choice in both public and higher education, including providing South Texas access to the Permanent University Fund. This is Gov. Perry’s seventh State of the State address.
  » Read the Speech: Tax Relief, Infrastructure and Education: Priorities to Keep Texas Strong
• Wednesday, January 09, 2013 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Gov. Perry, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, Speaker Straus Focus on Guiding Principles for 83rd Legislative Session
  
  Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus met to discuss priorities for the 83rd Legislative Session, primarily their commitment to budget transparency and the conservative fiscal policies that have made Texas a national leader in job creation and prosperity. They also reiterated their focus on working with the Legislature to address the growing demands on our state’s infrastructure, strengthen education for our skilled workforce, and provide tax relief for Texans.
  » Read the Speech: Gov. Perry, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst, Speaker Straus Focus on Guiding Principles for 83rd Legislative Sessi
• Tuesday, January 08, 2013 • Austin, Texas  • Press Release
  Gov. Perry Addresses 83rd Legislature: Fiscally Conservative Policies Lead to a Strong Texas
  
  
  Gov. Rick Perry urged Texas lawmakers to remain faithful to the conservative fiscal principles that have kept the Texas economy strong, allowed for tremendous job growth, and helped the state weather the national economic recession. On the heels of a strong revenue estimate, the governor urged lawmakers to take a hard look at providing tax relief. He addressed both the Senate and House of Representatives on the opening day of the 83rd Legislative Session.
  » Read the Speech: Gov. Perry Addresses 83rd Legislature: Fiscally Conservative Policies Lead to a Strong Texas
• Thursday, December 20, 2012 • Austin, Texas • Press Release
  Gov. Perry Calls for Moment of Silence in Memory of the Victims at Sandy Hook Elementary
  Gov. Rick Perry issued a proclamation declaring a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, to coincide with the Day of Mourning called by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy in memory of the 26 victims of last week’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Gov. Perry is also encouraging places of worship and buildings that are able to ring bells 26 times to honor each life that was lost.
 « Prev  1   2   3   4   5   6   Next »  Last