Ellen Jones: Proud of Texas schools ...

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Viewpoints: "I am a moderate Republican, but, at this point, I am almost ashamed to admit it. I always believed that this party stood for local control, but party leaders in Austin seek to control when schools start and how they should spend their limited resources.

Each district in Texas is unique, and its locally elected trustees and staff know best how to spend educational resources to get the best results from their students. The state has set up strong accountability measures that allow each district to monitor progress without the need for any additional 'reforms.' If each child in Texas is to be 'given a chance in life,' as Gov. Rick Perry has noted, schools should be funded to the full extent necessary to make this happen."