Tomball-er
What to know: Tomball ISD’s superintendent makes more money than the President of the United States. Now, a new analysis reveals that: “The superintendent’s pay grew at an average annual rate of 9.4% between 2019 and 2026, while the average teacher pay grew by a much more modest 2.7% per year over the same period.”
The TPPF take: Superintendent compensation is sky-high, even while teachers and kids in the classroom are lacking.
“No public employee should get rich from their public service. And yet, certain ISD administrators are among the highest paid people in Texas, even while classrooms lack basic supplies,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “This entire situation is unfair and undermines public trust.”
For more on superintendent salaries, click here
Do It In Three
What to Know: Texas public universities would be required to offer students three-year bachelor’s degrees under a proposal announced by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The TPPF take: Graduating in three years, instead of four, reduces tuition and fees by 25 percent, producing an average total savings of $8,893 for in-state students enrolling in four-year universities.
“Student loan debt in America is at a historic high. At nearly 1.6 trillion dollars, student loan debt exceeds even national credit card debt, and this in a country fairly addicted to credit cards,” says TPPF’s Dr. Thomas Lindsay. “The three-year college degree, practiced in the United Kingdom for centuries, can reduce the cost of college by as much as 25 percent. In 2014, Purdue university began offering a three-year degree in its liberal arts majors. Texas public college and university students need and deserve the same.”
For more on higher education, click here
Welcome Hegseth
What to know: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will travel today to Austin, TX, as part of the Arsenal of Freedom Tour and to College Station, TX, as part of the Send Me Tour.
The TPPF take: Secretary Hegseth recently launched an important military readiness overhaul, enforcing strict physical fitness, weight standards, and gender-neutral combat requirements across all ranks.
“America’s military readiness crisis is real, and it’s gutting our combat capability across the force. Military readiness isn’t a slogan—it’s the bedrock of deterrence and victory,” says TPPF’s Ammon Blair. “Yet today, 68% of U.S. service members are overweight or obese, according to a 2023 report by the American Security Project. Fitness-related health costs and lost duty time exceed $1.35 billion annually, directly sabotaging operational effectiveness. That’s bad enough for active-duty forces—but for the National Guard, the situation is catastrophic.”