Subject: Join Us in Advocating for Small and Rural Schools Across Texas

Dear Members and Former Members of the Texas Association of Rural Schools (TARS),

I hope this message finds you well. I'm reaching out to invite you, whether you're a current or prospective member of the Texas Association of Rural Schools (TARS), to join our advocacy efforts to create the strongest possible political impact for small and rural schools across Texas.

TARS' primary mission is to advocate for fair financial distributions and policies that directly benefit small and rural school districts throughout the state. With this mission in mind, we have developed legislative priorities for the upcoming 89th legislative session, which we believe address the most pressing and realistic issues for our school districts. Attached, you will find these priorities.

We encourage all school districts, whether members of TARS or not, to review these priorities and support the ones that resonate with your district's needs. To assist in your advocacy efforts, we have also provided a board resolution template that your district can customize and use when engaging with your elected officials. This template will help you communicate the importance of these legislative priorities to your state representatives and senators as they prepare for the 89th legislative session.

If you have any questions or need further assistance on these or other legislative issues, please don't hesitate to reach out. I would be happy to assist in any way I can.

I also ask that you consider joining TARS to help strengthen our collective voice in Austin. With over 750 districts serving fewer than 1,500 students and more than 900 districts serving fewer than 3,000 students, small and rural schools make up more than 75% of districts in Texas. However, we are often underrepresented in important legislative matters. Together, we can ensure that the needs of our districts are heard and addressed.

Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you all the best for a successful school year.

Respectfully,

Randy Willis

Executive Director

Texas Association of Rural Schools