Texas Is Building Prisons, Not Classrooms

In Texas today, the state continues to invest more heavily in building prisons than improving schools—especially in Black and underserved communities. While school budgets face deep cuts, particularly in urban areas with high Black student populations, millions of dollars are funneled into expanding the prison system. This funding imbalance sends a troubling message to our youth: that the state is preparing for their incarceration, not their education. The blueprint must change. Investing in education, mental health services, and after-school programs—not more prisons—is how we shift the narrative and truly support our next generation.