Gov. Abbott advocates for parental rights in Bryan

Austin, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott spoke last night to defend the rights of parents to choose the best educational opportunity for their child at a Parent Empowerment Night at Brazos Christian School in Bryan.

“The foundation of our country is freedom, and that freedom, when it comes to raising children, depends most of all on parents,” Governor Abbott said. “Parents deserve the freedom to choose the best educational path for their child. We must reform the curriculum to bring children back to basic learning, and we must empower parents. Parents should have access to the curriculum, school libraries and what their children are taught. And we will do it with our Parents’ Bill of Rights. No one knows what is better for a child’s success than their parents. When it comes to education, parents matter. This is so important to the future of our state that in this session I have made the issue of freedom of education an emergency issue.”

Speaking to more than 200 parents, educators and students, the Governor stressed the need for curriculum reform in Texas schools and parent empowerment so Texas parents can help their children succeed. The Governor also promoted the expansion of publicly funded education savings accounts to give every parent the freedom to choose the best school and educational opportunity for their student’s needs.

The governor was joined by Representative John Rainey, Texas Public Policy Foundation Campaign Director Mandy Drogin, Brazos Christian School Principal Jeffrey McMaster, and other parent empowerment advocates. Organized by the Coalition for Parent Empowerment, Parent Empowerment Night brings together education leaders and stakeholders to discuss education reform and the growing need for parent empowerment in their children’s education.

In his 2023 address to the state, Governor Abbott announced freedom of education for all Texans as an emergency clause in the 88th Legislative Session. Read the emergency clause on the governor’s freedom of education for all Texans.