Texas Community Colleges: Liberals' Nightmare, Conservatives' Dream

While the left is busy coddling snowflakes in their safe spaces, Austin Community College and 49 other community college districts across the Lone Star State are doing the real work—preparing the next generation for actual jobs! Located everywhere from big cities to small towns, these two-year institutions are giving Texans the skills they need to succeed, not the victimhood mentality taught at those fancy four-year lib-factories.

Just look at the numbers: Texas' community college districts are educating a whopping 678,000 students—more than those ivory tower universities! About 130,000 degrees were handed out in 2023 alone. And get this, they're doing it at a quarter of the cost of those public four-year colleges that teach courses like "Underwater Basket Weaving" and "Gender Studies 101."

Community colleges are the true embodiment of the American dream: work hard, succeed, and excel regardless of where you come from. They ensure businesses have the skilled workers they need—none of that "diversity, equity, and inclusion" nonsense that's all the rage on the left.

Our legislators, for once doing something right, invested a historic $683 million in community colleges last year, making them more affordable and accessible. Texas can show the nation what community colleges can achieve—without all the woke fluff.

Next year's legislative session needs to fully fund these reforms and keep up with student demand. The success of places like ACC depends on it. We also need to make sure a "credential of value" means something real—jobs that pay well, not just participation trophies.

Community colleges can also help modernize our high schools. More dual credit courses mean students can earn real, useful credentials while still in high school. We're even looking at ways to use the overlap between public school and community college finance laws to make this happen.

It's about time community colleges got the recognition they deserve. I recently spoke at the Texas Association of Community Colleges meeting in Austin, and let me tell you, the enthusiasm was infectious. The leadership at these schools is top-notch.

Check out our work to transform Texas’ community colleges at https://texas2036.org/community-colleges.

We're at a pivotal moment for our community colleges. Let’s make sure they get the support they need to carry out their mission—leaving the leftists to their "safe spaces" while we get to work.

David Leebron is president of Texas 2036 and CEO and former president of Rice University.