David, I know that it’s difficult - but if there’s anything you can do to keep tuition from rising, please do it. We need to make sure that public schools are adhering to tight budgets. They need to cut down on as much administrative cost as possible to make college more affordable. I would not mind paying a slightly higher tax if it went to subsidize school costs more (as long as the school are doing their own to cut costs). It’s essential for Texas’ future to give the opportunity to education to poor as well as rich.

I kind of like this idea. In fact I think it’d make sense if tuition prices were capped at the freshman rate for each enrollment class…

https://www.texastuitionpromisefund.com/OFI529/

Encourage professionals to teach. We need scientists teaching science, mathematicians teaching math. College shouldn’t be the first time that someone learns from a specialist in whatever subject they are learning.

Give recognition or awards to educators that have great cost-cutting ideas for their schools, and then implement those ideas across the state.

I just read an article in the Dallas News of your visit to the Dealey Montessori and International Academy where they are working with middle school students on critical thinking skills.  I have been retired for some years but my heart still lies with middle school students.  My entire teaching career was in middle school, as a teacher and a principal.  I became a principal when Dr. Meno was superintendent of schools. He, also, believed in middle schools.  There was a big focus on middle schools and teaching strategies for middle school students, as well as money for training. After he left, that seemed to fall by the wayside.  I was involved in that push for many years and saw a great improvement in my teachers, their methods of teaching adolescents, and in the students.  I am out of public school but still in a related field and I don’t seem to see much interest and focus on middle schools anymore.  That is why I was thrilled to see that someone in Austin is beginning to realize that middle school is not just a “holding pen” for adolescents until they are old enough to move on to high school. They actually are capable of critical thinking.  I am sending the article to my former superintendent and the principal of my former middle school. I just wanted you to know this is a much needed movement.