Friends of Texas Public Schools will celebrate the people strengthening trust in Texas public education at its annual Friend of the Year Dinner, held for the first time in Austin on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the Etter Harbin Alumni Center. The dinner precedes the Friends Leadership Summit on November 13, with details on the Summit to follow separately.

For all the conversations we have about public education in Texas, something is missing: a shared vocabulary around the benefits of a Texas public school education offered throughout our ISDs.

Read the May e-newsletter here! Texas public schools just delivered something worth celebrating. Of the 405,019 students who made up the class of 2024, more than nine out of ten (90.7 percent) graduated within four years.

Read the April e-newsletter here! Every day, exceptional work is happening across Texas public schools. The challenge is not whether it exists. It’s whether it is seen and understood beyond the walls of a single campus.

Read the March e-newsletter here! There’s a lot of conversation right now about enrollment, funding, and new programs across Texas. Early data from the state’s voucher rollout offers one clear signal: Texas families continue to choose their neighborhood public schools.

Early data from Texas’ new voucher program offers a clearer picture of how families are responding. While public schools continue to serve the overwhelming majority of students, districts across the state are navigating increasing pressure from funding constraints and shifting enrollment patterns, and the rollout of vouchers adds another layer of complexity.

School leaders are navigating complex decisions around enrollment, funding, and long-term planning. In many districts, that work is being done openly, with communities invited into the conversation.

Read the February e-newsletter here! At a time when families are navigating more educational options, what they ultimately seek has not changed: safe schools, qualified educators, strong learning, and adults they trust.