Every state agrees, at least on paper, that only citizens should vote. The trouble is what happens between that principle and the polling place. New research from TPPF’s Chuck DeVore lays out just how much daylight exists between the two and offers a tested model for closing the gap. The federal voter registration form created...
Every state requires public school teachers to be “certified,” and most of that certification runs through a university school of education. New research by TPPF’s Kate Bierly asks a simple question: is that credential actually worth anything? The answer, backed by decades of data, is no. Teacher training used to happen in “normal schools.” The practical, two-year...
A decade ago, the typical Texas home value was about $181,000. Today, it’s ballooned to around $302,000. As home prices increase so too does the barrier to entry get higher. A recent study estimates it would take 7 years for a median-income Texas household to save up for a 20% down payment. But you don’t...
This week, Texas parents scored a massive victory when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block Texas’ landmark App Store Accountability Act (SB 2420). This decision affirms that states have every right to help families reclaim authority over their kids’ digital lives. Until now, parents trying to police harmful or inappropriate content have been forced...
If you’re tired of watching your property tax bill (or your rent!) climb every year, then you’re not alone. A new poll of registered voters in Texas shows that everyday Texans are fed up with runaway local government spending, debt, and taxes—and they want real tools to fight back. To the problem, Texans overwhelmingly say...
Texas is on the verge of a major education victory. The State Board of Education (SBOE) is expected to vote tomorrow on adopting improved Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards for social studies and the state’s first required literary works list. These proposals address two subjects that Texas students have largely struggled with in...