John,

As we look forward to our upcoming Policy Forum this month, we recognize your generosity has enabled us to; obtain recent victories with the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE), continue to help to protect our national motto, “In God We Trust,” in our schools, and continue to make incredible strides for your and your family’s rights. 

On September 2, 2022, the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) voted 8-7 to delay the process for reviewing and revising the Social Studies standards. The SBOE plans to revisit the process in 2025. This decision comes after many parents and members of the public expressed concern over the radical content in the drafts presented to the board over the last few months. 

In addition to discontinuing the Social Studies revision process, the SBOE voted 13-0 to stop the drafts on ethnic studies that many testifiers complained included Critical Race Theory. These votes prove that we are making a difference. 

Mary Elizabeth Castle, our Senior Policy Advisor for Texas Values, gave the following public statement on the vote: “Today’s vote to stop the radical “woke” takeover of the Social Studies TEKS is a victory for parents and kids in Texas. Now, the State Board of Education has time to get it right and consider better TEKS that will continue to teach about patriotic historical values and Judeo-Christian heritage in American and Texas History.” 

And, we do indeed pray that we will get it right and continue to stand for what our children deserve. For more information on what was discussed at the meeting, and how Texas Values will continue to advocate for and provide updated information about this and other topics, you can follow our blog updates at txvalues.org/blog. Furthermore, on the education front, Texas lawmakers passed a law in 2021 that requires schools to display posters of the national motto if they are privately donated.        Victories in Education as we move to protect “In God We Trust” in Our Schools! (Over, please.) TEXAS VALUES This has recently been challenged as in recent news, North Texas school districts have accepted donated signs with the nation’s motto, “In God We Trust,” to display in their schools and could soon be hit with lawsuits based on the content of the displays. 

We will continue our 10 years of defending Christian values. 

• Passing the Texas Heartbeat Law (2021)
• Passing statewide religious freedom protection for churches (2021) 
• Protecting girls sports in high school (2021)
•  Protecting the teaching of Christian Heritage in Texas History & Social Studies (2018) 
• Cutting taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood & abortion-based sex education (2017 & 2019)
• Banning dismemberment abortions (2017) 
• Passing the Freedom to Serve Children Law (2017) 
• Passing the Pastor Protection Law (2015) 
• Passing the Merry Christmas Law (2013) 

Finally, we are excited as the 5th Annual Texas Faith, Family, and Freedom Policy Forum is September 23-24 at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin. The largest faith and family, educational, and policy event in Texas, it focuses on our core issues of religious freedom, life, and marriage and family through the lens of our Christian worldview. 

Senator Ted Cruz is the keynote speaker for the policy dinner and the 2-day event is featuring over 25 special guest speakers including Coach Joe Kennedy, who won the prayer case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Father Frank Pavone with Priests for Life. We will be excited to update you with all the details that come out of the forum in next month’s letter or you can follow along with the live stream at: txvalues.org. 

These victories, our strides the past 10 years and our efforts to host the Policy Forum, are possible because of YOU and YOUR continued to support our mission to keep Texas values intact and to ensure Texas is the best place to live, work, and raise our families. You have the opportunity TODAY to stand for the future of Texas so we can continue our much-needed work. Please give Texas-Big today by returning the enclosed reply form in the envelope provided or online at txvalues.org/donate.

Faithfully, 

Jonathan Saenz 

President, Texas Values 

P.S. Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. We are the leading state-based religious freedom organization in Texas and have led the effort to pass a state religious freedom law in the last four state legislative sessions. More information is available at txvalues.org.