Thomas Ratlif

P.O. Box 232

Mt. Pleasant, TX 75456

State Board of Education

Vice-Chairman

tel: (903) 717-1190

www.thomasratlif.com

Public School Parent Bill of Rights

There's an old saying, Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I hope Governor
Abbott receives this suggestion in that vein. After reading the Governors constitutional
convention proposal earlier today I want to applaud his desire to maintain a separation of
powers and uphold the conservative principle of government closest to the people is the
most accountable to the people. I would like to imitate this proposal with the following
list that mirrors his concepts.
1. Prohibit the Texas Legislature from regulating activity that occurs wholly within one
school district.
2. Require the Texas Legislature to constitutionally fund public schools.
3. Prohibit TEA from creating state law.
4. Prohibit TEA from pre-empting locally adopted school district policy.
5. Allow 2/3rds of ISDs to override a Texas Supreme Court decision.
6. Restore the balance of power by limiting the power of the state to powers expressly
delegated in the constitution providing for a "system of public free schools".
7. Allow 2/3rds of ISDs to override a state law or regulation.
Every public school in Texas is governed by seven locally elected school board trustees.
It's time Texas trusted the ballot box that elects school boards as much as we trust the
very same ballot box that elects the Texas legislature and the United States Congress.

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