172 Texas school districts. One shared purpose: making sure the real story of public education gets told.

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Friends of Texas Public Schools is a nonpartisan statewide network built for districts that believe public education deserves better champions than it has. We work at every level -- from connecting superintendents across the state to putting a $1,000 grant in the hands of an outstanding teacher in your district.

Member districts are part of all of it.

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What Your District Gains

 

✓ Convene: A seat at the statewide table

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Friends brings together superintendents, campus leaders, higher education partners, workforce leaders, and community organizations through our annual Leadership Summit and Friend of the Year Dinner -- and through the Friends Leadership Advisory Council (FLAC), a working group of district leaders who help shape Friends' statewide direction. When your district joins, you're in that room.

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✓ Translate: Tools that help your community understand what you're building

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Trust in public education isn't automatic. Friends gives districts practical tools to build it:

The Friends Trust Framework (developed with BraveEd) -- a working model for strengthening relationships with staff, families, students, and communities

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The Texas Benefits List (publishing in 26/27) -- a parent-survey-driven resource articulating what Texas public schools make possible, ready to use in your communications

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✓ Activate: Visibility and direct support for your people

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Your district's students and educators deserve a statewide stage. Friends creates those moments:

Celebrate Texas Public Schools -- a four-region CTE student contest platform (produced with We Go Public and TSPRA) that gives your students visibility beyond your zip code

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Friends Teacher of the Year Award -- recognition for an outstanding educator from a member district, with a $1,000 classroom grant and a celebration at the Friend of the Year Dinner

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Student scholarships -- annual opportunities for graduating seniors in member districts

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Back-to-school classroom wishlist fulfillment and Teacher Appreciation Week gift cards -- direct support for the educators working in your schools every day

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✓ Amplify: Your stories, distributed statewide

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Friends distributes the stories of member districts -- students, teachers, programs, milestones -- across our statewide channels: video, social, editorial, and partner networks. When something remarkable is happening in your district, Friends helps make sure Texas knows about it.

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Investment

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Annual district membership: $500.

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Friends works with corporate sponsors to underwrite memberships for districts that need budget support. Select that option on the membership form.

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For Individuals & Families: Become a Friend.

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You don’t have to work in a school to fight for one.

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Supporters like you are essential to shifting public perception, growing momentum, and showing that Texans still stand behind public education.

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• Individual — $25

• Family — $50

• Connector — $100

• Advocate — $250

• Champion — $500

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Simply fill out the form below to enroll for the school year.​ We’re excited to welcome you!

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HB 1495: 0% of your membership dues goes to directly or indirectly influence or attempt to influence the outcome of legislation or administrative action.

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Ready to Join?

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Or schedule a 30-minute conversation with our Partnerships and Engagement team to talk it through first.​

Reach out HERE and let's talk.

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