Students and educators from secondary schools in the Diocese of Austin have collaborated to develop a platform that helps students understand issues facing Texas, learn about state legislation being developed and discussed, understand and model respectful, civil discourse, and learn who represents them at the state level. A Starting Point for Texas Students was inspired by A Starting Point which is a video-based civic engagement platform with a mission to create a bipartisan channel of communication and connectivity between Americans and their elected officials with the goal of creating a more informed electorate.

In our Catholic faith, there are seven themes at the heart of our social teaching

1) Life and Dignity of the Human Person
2) Call to Family, Community, and Participation
3) Rights and Responsibilities
4) Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
5) the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
6) Solidarity
7) Care for God’s Creation.

Our students are asked to consider three questions when researching different legislative topics and constructing questions - Who is making the decisions? Who is benefitting? Who is suffering?