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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD. We found 7 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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University Partnership Allows Video Recording of Students
A partnership with Sam Houston State University (Item 8.C) allows student teachers to video record in classrooms for training purposes. The agreement states these videos, which may incidentally capture students, will be stored on a secure platform for ten years. Parents have a right to know if their children are being recorded and to provide explicit consent for that recording and long-term storage.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Pull Item 8.C from the Consent Agenda. What is the exact parental notification and opt-in process for the video recording of students allowed under this MOU? We demand a policy of explicit, written parental consent before any child is recorded.’
💰 Impact: Your Child’s Privacy
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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Vague ‘District of Innovation’ Policy Changes
The board is set to approve a bundle of 13 local policy updates (Item 8.G) under its ‘District of Innovation’ plan, which allows the district to bypass certain state laws. The agenda does not include the text of the proposed changes, preventing public review of modifications to policies on board meetings, teacher evaluations, and the public complaint process.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Pull Item 8.G from the Consent Agenda. The public has a right to see the redlined changes to all 13 policies before you vote. Post the full text of the proposed policy updates immediately.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Board Oversight
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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Undisclosed Update to ‘Board Policy 127’
The agenda includes an item to approve updates to ‘Board Policy 127’ (Item 8.H) but provides no description of the policy’s subject matter or the proposed changes. Approving an unidentified policy update without any public documentation is a significant transparency violation.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Item 8.H, “Approval of Board Policy 127 Updates,” must be removed from the agenda. The Board cannot vote on a policy that has not been identified or provided to the public for review.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Policy Change
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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New ‘Conceptual Math’ Curriculum Adopted
The district is highlighting a new ‘conceptual mathematics’ curriculum from vendor Amplify for grades K-5 (Item 4.A). This model moves away from memorizing standard algorithms toward ‘student-centered sense-making’ and problem-based inquiry. Parents need to know if there is independent, long-term evidence that this new method is more effective than traditional math instruction before it is expanded.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK FOR THE DATA: Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Regarding the new math curriculum highlighted in Item 4.A, please provide the independent, non-vendor-funded studies showing that Amplify Desmos Math and Progressions by Alba produce superior long-term math outcomes compared to our previous curriculum. What is the plan if STAAR and MAP scores decline?’
💰 Impact: Unproven Academic Efficacy
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Data Sharing Agreement for ‘Homeless and Unaccompanied Youth’
The district is entering an agreement (Item 8.D) with Region 13 for the ‘Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth’ program. This requires the district to conduct ‘needs assessments’ and provide student data to the regional service center to support ‘students experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied youth.’ Parents need to know what specific data is being collected and shared, and what services are being provided to students, potentially without parental consent.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-OUT ALERT: Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Regarding Item 8.D, what specific student data will be shared with Region 13? What does the “annual needs assessment” entail, and can parents review it and opt their children out?’
💰 Impact: Student Data Sharing
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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District-Sponsored ‘Whole-Brain Child’ Parent Training
The district’s Learning & Innovation department hosted a district-wide book study for parents on ‘The Whole-Brain Child’ (Item 10.A). While framed as support, these programs position the district as the authority on parenting and can be used to promote specific psychological or SEL-aligned ideologies to families.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK FIRST: Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Regarding the “Whole-Brain Child” book study, what was the cost to the district, and what are the qualifications of the staff leading these parenting sessions? The district’s role is to teach academics, not to instruct parents on how to raise their children.’
💰 Impact: District Overreach into Parenting
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 7) |
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District Expands Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs
The district’s CTE Advisory Committee is actively expanding practical, career-focused programs for over 2,100 students (Item 10.A). New offerings include Automotive Service Excellence certifications and pathways in high-demand trades like electrical, HVAC, and architecture, directly connecting education to local workforce needs.
How to Lock It In
AMPLIFY THIS WIN: Show up to thank the Board for prioritizing career and technical education that prepares students for real-world jobs. Email the Board of Trustees (contact info on the district website, linked above): ‘Thank you for expanding valuable CTE programs. This is exactly the kind of practical, high-value education our students need.’
✅ Why It Matters: Return to Real-World Skills
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“We do not co-parent with the government.”
Moms for Liberty is the nation’s largest grassroots organization fighting for parental rights. Through national members and local chapters, our work ensures parents, not the government or radical activists, make the decisions concerning the upbringing and education of their children.
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AWARE
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