Wendy Davis, for Texas Public Education

Wendy Davis spoke yesterday at the Texas State Teachers Association Building, after the planned outdoor rally became impossible due to rain and strong winds. Coming directly from a Senate Committee on Education hearing, she made her remarks about the future of education with heartfelt intensity. She (politely) excoriated Mr. Gregg  Abbott for his Plan for Education, pointing out that if his plan were adopted as written there would be no Head Start program, and only a limited number of children would receive preschool, and those children would be selected by testing! She noted that Abbott and his people have tried to say that the plan doesn’t advocate universal testing of preschoolers, but she quoted directly from his proposal and, even if it avoids the phrase, there is no doubt that universal testing is exactly what it requires…
    Ms. Davis advocates universal preschool, and making equal education available to every public school student in Texas. She also praised the small number of schools that have early college courses available to provide an introduction to college work and also earn credits. This should be available across the state, she believes.
    She currently trails Abbott in the polls.