By St. Rep. Jim Jackson
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Unfortunately I do not believe all comments come from concerned or from well meaning people. Sometimes it is strictly about money. And that is typical of how many people judge any government or government program or service. Merely throwing money at a problem does not necessarily lead to improved outcomes.
But for some success is measured on how much tax money is spent not on results.
The quality or lack thereof of the Texas System of Public Education draws differing views and conclusions from concerned and well meaning people … including students parents educators and even politicians.
Sometimes there is honest disagreement on how to measure results but results can be presented in a way to prove a predetermined position or for some perceived personal enrichment.
This is called making the facts suit your case.
Politicians are probably the worst at manipulating facts and anyone can find a study or facts to manipulate and prove any position.
With that in mind I was struck by an article in the June edition of Texas Lone Star a publication of the Texas Association of School Boards. On the 
cover there is a definition of fiction;
- 1.) An imaginative creation or pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented.
- 2.) A lie.
- 3.) The notion that Texas Public Schools are not getting the job done.
The Texas Story is remarkable in it continuity. The states standard-based reforms have evolved over the past 25 years as Texas has consistently and incrementally ratcheted up the expectations for students teachers & schools alike.
How did this come to be? What pieces needed to be in place for standard-based reforms to take place in Texas? What type of leadership drove and sustained these reforms?
Achieve hopes the answers to these questions can help other state leaders wherever they may be on their road to reform replicate successful strategies and accelerate school-system reform on their home turf.
WOW! Maybe while so many are trying to figure out and convince others what Texas is doing wrong we should take a minute to celebrate what we do
right!
But we must also continue to improve.
To do that it is time to admit that students with differing abilities backgrounds commitment and efforts will not all achieve equal results in school or in life.
Hopefully HB3 passed in the 81st Legislature is the beginning of an effort to recognize differences while encouraging every student to be successful by achieving the maximum of their ability and effort.
State Representative Jim Jackson serves House District 115 in the Texas Legislature which includes Addison Coppell most of 
the Dallas County portion of Carrollton most of Farmers Branch and parts of Dallas. Jackson is also a member of the Texas Conservative Coalition the conservative caucus of the Texas Legislature. For further information contact Represenative Jacksons office at 512-463-0468.
