Rural Schools Set The Example for Education

Texas leads the nation in so many areas—energy, agriculture, job growth, and economic strength. But if we are truly serious about building the future, we must also lead the nation in education. We owe it to our children to make Texas schools the best in the country, and that has been my focus this session. Last month, I toured Aquilla ISD with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, and I was reminded once again how much potential we have in our rural schools. The question now is: will we invest, empower, and equip our classrooms to become #1?

That’s why I was proud to co-author House Bill 2, the largest investment in Texas public schools in state history. HB 2 directs $8.5 billion in new funding into classrooms, providing an average of $3,147 in additional support per student here in House District 13 over the next two years. It also delivers $4.2 billion for historic teacher pay raises and dedicates $430 million for school safety—because every child deserves a secure environment to learn and thrive. (Visit www.angeliaorr.com/hb2 to see what this means for your local school district.)

But money alone won’t make Texas #1. As a former school board member and a mother who raised both of my children in rural public schools, I know the difference between our classrooms and those in large urban districts. Here in rural Texas, our teachers are faithful stewards of their calling—not just preparing students for careers, but also teaching them values like love, forgiveness, and responsibility. Too often in liberal cities, classrooms have become breeding grounds for harmful ‘woke leftist’ ideology.

This is where faith in schools matters most. With Senate Bill 10, requiring the Ten Commandments in every classroom, and Senate Bill 11, restoring optional daily prayer and Bible reading, we are reinforcing the values our local schools already teach—and ensuring they are also introduced in urban districts where they have been neglected. To help foster this environment, I personally purchased Ten Commandments posters, and my team and I delivered them to schools across House District 13. These posters are a visible reminder of the values our nation and state were founded on. As Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

We also passed the Parental Bill of Rights (SB 12), which ensures families have a stronger voice in curriculum and extracurricular activities. SB 13 empowers parents to challenge inappropriate library materials, while SB 204 creates a handbook explaining every way parents can engage with their schools. Texas law now makes it clear: schools exist to serve families, not the other way around.

Finally, because distractions have become one of the greatest obstacles to learning, we passed House Bill 1481, banning the use of cell phones, smartwatches, and earbuds during the school day beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. This will restore focus in the classroom, protect student mental health, and help our kids succeed without constant screen addiction.

If we are #1 in so many other areas, there is no reason we cannot also be #1 in education. With unprecedented funding, restored faith, empowered parents, and classrooms focused on learning, Texas is on the path to lead the nation.

And here in rural House District 13, we will continue setting the

standard for what education should be.

Thanks for reading this week’s column! Make sure you stay connected and informed by calling our Capitol office at (512) 463-0600 or by following my social media page at www.facebook.com/AngeliaOrrForTX.

– Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr