<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Friends of Texas Public Schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[Friends of Texas Pub]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:44:36 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.friendsoftxpublicschools.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Friends of Texas Public Schools to Honor Texas Champions for Public Education at 2026 Friend of the Year Dinner]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/2026-friend-of-the-year-dinner</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a919ee38739c58a868cfb6e</guid><category><![CDATA[Events]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:50:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_5ec386252d67478fbe2b5aeafa2c31c2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_712,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can you name the benefits that public schools provide students?]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/public-school-benefits</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a8f3717710171b57275a599</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:04:36 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[May 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[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. ]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/may-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a199b58c144ecaf274f0c86</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_732b6fefb7e645368e2ee59c38054505~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[April 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/april-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1998eb145da5e3830980eb</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 13:56:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_cb67de5b50574ea280ec1a2d853411c8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Scott Milder</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[March 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/march-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea38f5ab5395dde608e477</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:26:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_ea5ab7f70e564d7b8388e183ba97fe4f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Early Voucher Data is Telling Us]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/what-early-voucher-data-is-telling-us</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea34cec992063310d25993</guid><category><![CDATA[Data Points]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:10:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_3c26f3bc6a6746909eb94523e3d625ce~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leading with Questions: How Transparency Builds Trust in Public Schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/leading-with-questions</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c3cbbfa0626dd190099c29</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:58:22 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Dr. Quintin Shepherd</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[February 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/february-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69baa8bd9f707efd84e493f8</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:35:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_40b602c5b3de4986a75440418ba25c79~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Building Trust in a Time of More Educational Options]]></title><description><![CDATA[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.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/building-trust-in-a-time-of-more-educational-options</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6994b79048e1ffd8ef772e1e</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:19:18 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[January 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the January e-newsletter here! If you’ve heard sweeping claims about declining enrollment, school choice growth, or “families fleeing public schools,” this episode offers a more grounded look at what’s actually happening and what’s harder to measure.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/january-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6984f8eb840b9b8e1d2cd04f</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:22:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_cb28aaf0e778491099fe8cd83dcf5bef~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[December 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the December e-newsletter here!  As we close out the year, we keep coming back to one word: trust. Trust is what makes a community rally for its schools. Trust is what allows leaders to communicate with clarity and confidence.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/december-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695d4a135194fa58188a3ffb</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:54:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_dcc1d73c378f4c84bd98282fb016407d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Scott Milder</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[November 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the November e-newsletter here! Texas public schools continue to prove that strong fiscal stewardship and student-centered decision-making go hand-in-hand. The Texas Education Agency has released the 2024–2025 FIRST ratings (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), and the results tell a clear story...]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/november-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6931c5934a313d7af5615af4</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2025 17:40:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_d26114f2db8d4143b00541eb779a059d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[October 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the October e-newsletter here! Our mission has always been to celebrate and defend the people and institutions that make our communities strong, our neighborhood public schools, and the leaders who serve them.

]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/october-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692f138ad566b35f04af6224</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:50:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_11175b4b351f4fcfae60166f4fbf736c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[September 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the September e-newsletter here! When TEA released its latest A to F ratings, communities saw headlines about “failing schools” and “D-rated districts.”]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/september-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68dfc6f13d4aa73574f206ff</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:01:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_8cd52aec5b824e35bc45b8a8ec9e7f17~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2025 Friend of the Year Award Recipients]]></title><description><![CDATA[Friends of Texas Public Schools is proud to announce our annual Friends of the Year Dinner, a celebration of the immense value public schools bring to our state’s 1,000+ public school districts.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/2025-award-recipients</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68dc0120ee77babc0427f42f</guid><category><![CDATA[Events]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:41:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_dd6859f5b19e451bac9741d77dc4389e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Accountability or Misdirection? What New School Accountability Ratings Really Mean for Texas Public Schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Texas Education Agency’s latest A–F school ratings made headlines about “failing schools,” but the story is more complex. While 1,337 campuses received D or F grades, 31% improved year over year and F-rated schools dropped by half. Families deserve context, not confusion, about what these grades really mean.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/accountability-or-misdirection-texas-ratings</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a8629812a9126f7a99e9d4</guid><pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:15:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9c7df_5545ec995bf64206a7218424054d9d42~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[August 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the August e-newsletter here! Texas has many reasons to be proud, one of them is the hard work happening every day in our public schools. The newest STAAR® Reading Language Arts (RLA) results are in and grades 3 through 8 are scoring higher than ever.

]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/august-2025-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a471fa85b8b114f080b067</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Data Points]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:55:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/55b9c4_1d0b3db3272345a785834c525092b3d1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[May 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the May e-newsletter here! Texas public schools are reaching more students—and helping even more of them graduate.]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/may-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">684c59f4b9c483ed6ad0047c</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:13:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f8d74_82d5eebacae647d5bd511d911496762c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop Moving the Goalposts]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Call for Fairness in Texas Public Education Accountability]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/stop-moving-the-goalposts</link><guid isPermaLink="false">681b6a4930aede3a862ab7e2</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 14:32:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f8d74_1a4d361501a34105b30d824e7c00e3bf~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Scott Milder</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[April 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read the April e-newsletter here! The results are in, and there’s encouraging news for Texas public schools. The latest 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores reaffirm what many of us already know...]]></description><link>https://www.fotps.org/post/april-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6814d559f071215edfaaa252</guid><category><![CDATA[Data Points]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 02 May 2025 14:33:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f8d74_ea01ca1895f84208a292b9188645612c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Friends</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>