As is customary at the end of the season, I have been reflecting on where we were this time last year - still in the deepest throes of a global pandemic and awaiting updates to sexual health education standards that would affect the lives of millions of Texas students.

In preparation for the new standards to take effect next fall, we transformed the Texas is Ready coalition into a collaborative of partner organizations coordinating efforts to meet the needs of as many Texas school districts and communities as possible. As we speak, more than 1,200 school districts and charters across the state should be preparing to implement the new standards in the 2022-23 school year.

This past spring, we released the Big Challenges, Bright Opportunities report exploring the current landscape of adolescent sexual health across the state. Our research team engaged more than 60 organizations and 750 Texans through interviews, listening sessions and surveys.

Over the past year and because of the pandemic, we have held our training events virtually, including our 10th annual statewide Symposium, our 4th annual South Texas Summit in the Rio Grande Valley, and 17 webinars on a range of topics related to adolescent sexual health. We look forward to seeing folks in April 2022 at our annual Symposium in San Antonio, hosted in partnership with Healthy Futures of Texas.?

Now more than ever before, the need for our work is urgent - the next generation of Texans and their children and their grandchildren cannot afford to be kept in the dark about how to have healthy and consensual relationships, how their bodies grow and change over time, and how to avoid pregnancy until they are ready to become parents.?

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the Texas Campaign board and staff, a deep and heartfelt thank you for your continued support.