ADVOCACY

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know HCE's district-funded campus budget is less than $40,000?

Did you know Spring Branch ISD is among the most severely underfunded public school districts in Texas?

Did you know your voice matters on issues that directly affect our schools — including school funding, redistricting, curriculum, and decisions made by our district and state leaders?

Did you know student absences cost SBISD approximately $51 per student, per day in state funding?

These are just a few of the issues our HCE Advocacy Team follows — and we would love for you to get involved!

Our goal is to educate and engage our community about the issues affecting Hunters Creek Elementary and Spring Branch ISD and help HCE families understand when and how to use their voices.

You don't have to be an expert on school finance or the Texas Legislature to be an advocate.

Learn more, stay informed, and use your voice to support our current and future Cougars.

WHY IT MATTERS

Our public schools continue to face significant challenges, and decisions made at the state and district level have a direct impact on Spring Branch ISD's bottom line each year — and ultimately on the resources available to our students and schools.

Texas' public education funding model has put pressure on the Spring Branch ISD budget for more than 20 years. A Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research report identified Spring Branch ISD as among the most severely underfunded public school districts in the State of Texas.

Spring Branch ISD created a School Finance Advocacy Team (SFAT) in 2022 to educate and engage our community about the state's public school finance model, its implications for Spring Branch ISD's bottom line, and to ensure our elected officials understand the needs of our district.

As we head into the 90th Texas Legislative Session in 2027, the HCE Advocacy Team will help keep our community informed about the issues affecting our school and share opportunities for families to get involved.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about public school finance and its impacts on Hunters Creek Elementary, and then use your voice to support our current and future Cougars, Spring Branch ISD students, and Texas public school children.

Spring Branch ISD Council of PTAs - https://sbisdcpta.org/newsletter/
Sign up to receive local advocacy information and alerts.

SBISD School Finance Advocacy Team (SFAT) - https://www.springbranchisd.com/engage/committees/sfat
Read up on the work and issues facing SBISD's School Finance Advocacy Team and learn how to participate.

Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Learn more about the research identifying Spring Branch ISD as one of Texas' severely underfunded school districts.

Texas PTA - https://www.txpta.org/legislative-priorities
Explore Texas PTA's current public education and school funding legislative priorities.

Who Does What in Texas Public Education? - https://texaseducatorsvote.com/who-does-what-in-public-education/
Learn who does what in Texas public education — from your local school board to the Governor's office.

KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Our elected officials make decisions that directly affect public education and HCE. Your representatives depend on your home address, and ZIP codes can cross legislative districts.

Texas House of Representatives

State Representative Mano DeAyala — District 133
Serves portions of ZIP codes including 77024, 77042, 77055, 77056, 77057, 77063, 77077 and 77079.

https://house.texas.gov/members/4135

State Representative Lacey Hull — District 138
Serves portions of ZIP codes including 77024, 77040, 77041, 77043, 77055, 77056, 77057, 77079 and 77080.

https://house.texas.gov/members/138

State Representative Penny Morales Shaw — District 148
Serves portions of ZIP codes including 77040, 77041, 77055, 77064, 77080 and 77092.

Texas Senate

State Senator Paul Bettencourt — District 7
Serves portions of the SBISD community.

https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=7

State Senator Molly Cook — District 15
Serves portions of the SBISD community.

State Senator Joan Huffman — District 17
Serves portions of the SBISD community.

https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=17

State Board of Education

Will Hickman — District 6

https://sboe.texas.gov/about-tea/leadership/state-board-of-education/sboe-board-members/sboe-member-district-6

Not sure who represents you?
Because legislative districts can divide ZIP codes, use your home address to find your specific elected officials.

TAKE ACTION

When can I get involved and voice my support for Hunters Creek Elementary School?

Right now!

Learn more about the issues affecting HCE and SBISD, attend or watch an SBISD Board of Trustees meeting, contact your elected officials, respond to advocacy alerts, and vote in local and state elections.

texas-pta-rally-day-2027-warm-coral

The 90th Texas Legislature convenes in January 2027. Throughout the session, we'll share opportunities to join other committed HCE and Spring Branch families and community members in advocating for public education and school funding issues.

Whether you have five minutes to respond to an action alert, want to attend a school board meeting, or are interested in joining other SBISD families in Austin, there is a way for every HCE family to participate.