On Tuesday morning, Texas Values sent a letter to Austin ISD addressing their choice to not observe and close schools on Good Friday in the 2025-2026 academic year. Instead of observing Good Friday, Austin ISD schools will be closed earlier in the week on a Tuesday in order to observe Caesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Day. Wednesday night, Austin ISD released a statement to KXAN doubling down on their position to remove Good Friday from the school calendar so that students can celebrate Cesar Chavez/ Dolores Huerta Day earlier in the week.
Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations for Texas Values said:
“It appears that Austin ISD is trying to slight the religious holiday of Good Friday by denying the opportunity for staff and students to have the day off, which has been a very common practice in Austin ISD and other school districts in Texas. Many churches hold religious services on Good Friday and students and staff should be able to have the day off to attend or prepare for those events. Instead, students will be off in the middle of the week to celebrate political heroes Austin ISD has deemed important. They could celebrate both but their placement of Dolores Huerta over a commonly celebrated Christian holiday sends the message that they place political viewpoints over religious freedom.”
Read the letter Texas Values sent to Austin ISD here.
Texas Values is asking the school district to amend their calendar and reinstate Good Friday as a staff and student holiday as it has been in the past school years. Texas Values believes that the school district still has the time and ability to edit and approve a new calendar for the Spring semester in 2026. |
|
|
Election Day polls are open from
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 4. |
|
|
The 2025 General Election features a special election for 17 proposed Constitutional Amendments approved by the 89th Texas Legislature. |
|
|
For an amendment to be incorporated into the Texas Constitution, it must secure a simple majority, which means receiving over 50% of voter support. Texas School Boards General, Senate District 9 Special General, and Ballot Measures may be on your ballot depending on location. Find your voting location here and get your free Voters Guide here. View a Guide to the 2025 Constitutional Amendments published by Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The constitutional amendments on the ballot must receive a vote. One of the proposed amendments relates to the Texas Constitution acknowledging parental rights. Please follow Texas Values Action for more updates on Facebook and X pages. You can also send an email to [email protected] if you have additional questions.
Polling hours vary by location but generally run from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. most days, with some extended options—check VoteTexas.gov for specifics in your county. |
|
|
✅ Vote Your Values, Texas! ✅ |
|
|
Come be inspired at the 2025 Texas Values Faith, Family, & Freedom Gala with Coach Joe Kennedy who won the football prayer case at the U. S. Supreme Court and Kelly Shackelford, President of First Liberty Institute, who represented Coach Joe Kennedy at the U. S. Supreme Court. Because of our Coach Kennedy Supreme Court victory, a bad legal precedent is gone. This victory brings a powerful revelation — the days of Americans hiding their faith in public are over!
Senator Angela Paxton will be our Master of Ceremonies and you'll also have the opportunity to meet College Athlete Brooke Slusser who stood firm to against having to compete against a male and share a locker room, hotel, and apartment with him, while he pretended to be female. Enjoy an incredible evening with like-minded friends—it’s the perfect opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations. Together, we can embrace the power of our voices, champion freedom, and ensure our representation in government! Highlights include: Special presentations, a look ahead into 2026, and the 11th Annual Kelly Shackelford Award. |
|
|
Texas Values board member Kelly Shackelford recently met with President Donald J. Trump following The Religious Liberty Commission meeting, where Kelly serves as a member. |
|
|
Host Jonathan Saenz, President & Attorney for Texas Values, and Special Guest Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, & Chief Counsel for FirstLibertyInstitute and Member of the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty discuss the Coach Kennedy Law and Mr. Shackelford’s role on the Religious Liberty Commission!
|
|
|
"We’re here to make sure that people have free representation, that our first amendment rights are preserved.
Religious freedom is our first freedom, if you lose that freedom you’ll lose all freedoms and our founders understood that.
We’re required to give a report directly to the President of the United States by July 4, giving specific recommendations of what we’re asking him to do that will secure and advance religious freedom way into the future." ~ Kelly Shackelford
His interview is available to view on our YouTube Channel and on our Facebook page.
Catch the weekly Texas Values Report at any time, day or night, and on additional podcast sites: Facebook, Apple, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Spotify, TuneIn and, YouTube.
|
|
|
October is National Respect Life Month — a time to celebrate the precious gift of life and affirm the dignity of both mother and child. Every life has value. Every story matters.
View the Texas Abortion Update: "Closed for Business" during our Faith Fest panel discussion with Dr. Abby Johnson, Faith Elwonger, and Chelsey Youman on our YouTube Channel.
To learn more, visit LoveThemBothTexas.Com
|
|
|
Update on Education Freedom Accounts! Portal Launches Feb. 6, 2026.
|
|
|
The Texas Comptroller’s Office continues to make progress on preparing for the launch of the Education Freedom Accounts program in Texas. New details of the contract have been released. The portal where parents will be able to log into and apply for the Education Freedom Accounts will launch February 4, 2026. The funds for the program will be available in July of 2026. Our partners at Texas Home School Coalition will be hosting a webinar on the Education Freedom Accounts so that parents and students can understand the details of the program and the legislation that was passed this year, Senate Bill 2. You can register for the online webinar here. Please consult the Texas Comptroller website for updates on the program. |
|
|
Victory! World Aquatics places 5 year ban on 47 year old Man “Ana” Caldes from Women’s Swimming. Caldes caused a stir when he competed in a US Master competition in San Antonio, Texas earlier this YEAR! Texas Values is currently working with a TX female swimmer affected and we will be providing updates soon. |
|
|
Looking for a speaker with expertise on the legislative process and the latest updates? |
Our speakers are happy to come to your church, civic group, or political organization to update you on new bills / laws passed and policy updates for Texas! Let us know how one of our speakers can make your next event a memorable and informative one by contacting us here. |
|
|
Sign Up For Texas Values University!
Are you ready to “graduate to an advanced level of citizenship?” Texas Values University is a groundbreaking one-of-a-kind online education program that starts today and is here to help you learn, love, and lead like Jesus—on the issues of faith, family, and freedom. With Texas Values University, you will receive expert information from decades of experience from Texas & National Leaders like Riley Gaines, Kelly Shackelford, Dr. Abby Johnson, Rick Green, and more!!
Be a part of this incredible, innovative journey and make a lasting impact on your community and beyond. Join us today! |
|
|
Visit Texas Values' friend and big supporter Jim Day, owner of two shooting ranges, Eagle Peak Shooting Range and Garland Public Shooting Ranges! Eagle Peak Shooting Range is nestled in the hill country northwest of Austin, and is located at 20026 Lindeman Ln, Leander, 78641. Garland Public Shooting Range is northeast of Dallas, and is located at 2606 Pleasant Valley Rd, Garland, 75040. Both shooting ranges are open 10AM - 6PM, EVERY day, Monday-Sunday, every holiday, every single day.
Visit eaglepeakshootingrange.com to support our good friend Jim Day; owner of shooting ranges, who shares your values. |
|
|
Texas Values is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at TXValues.org
1005 Congress Ave. #830 Austin, TX 78701 |
|
|
|
.png)
