Who Cares About Our Youth? Rep. Penny Morales Shaw Says Texas Must Invest in Families Before Crisis Strikes

By Jeffrey L. Boney, The Block News Contributor

For Texas State Representative Penny Morales Shaw, caring about young people in the state of Texas means much more than reacting after tragedy occurs. It means making intentional investments in children, families, educators, and communities long before problems escalate.

That message was the driving force behind Houston Community Media’s third and final installment of its Who Cares About Our Youth? series, where Rep. Morales Shaw shared her perspective on the issues affecting children and teenagers across the Greater Houston area and throughout Texas.

Drawing from her experience as an experienced attorney, legislator, and a single mother who has raised four children along the way, Rep. Morales Shaw said those experiences continue to shape how she approaches public policy. She believes strong families create strong communities, and that government has a responsibility to strengthen—not weaken—the systems that help families succeed.

“Our youth are one of the most important investments we can make,” Rep. Morales Shaw said, noting that today’s children become tomorrow’s workforce, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders.

Rather than viewing education as an isolated issue, Rep. Morales Shaw emphasized that student success is directly tied to broader challenges that require supporting the entire family, including family income, affordable childcare, healthcare access, worker protections, housing stability, and economic opportunity.

One of the concerns Rep. Morales Shaw  raised was what she described as an increasing tendency to rely on punitive approaches instead of preventive ones. She pointed to policies that allow very young children to be handcuffed or arrested on school campuses, saying those experiences can have lasting psychological effects and contribute to what many refer to as the school-to-prison pipeline.

“The message we send our children matters,” Rep. Morales Shaw indicated, emphasizing that every child deserves to believe they can achieve success regardless of their circumstances and that schools should create an environment of confidence, belonging, and opportunity.

According to Rep. Morales Shaw, educators today are being asked to do more with fewer resources. One of the primary things she  repeatedly returned to was what she sees as one of the greatest obstacles facing Texas students—inadequate and inconsistent public education funding.

“They’re being squeezed between increasing responsibilities and decreasing support,” Rep. Morales Shaw explained.

Rep. Morales Shaw stressed that properly funding public education is about much more than classroom instruction. She said parents, teachers, and school administrators throughout her district continue expressing concern about shrinking resources, school closures, reduced academic and extracurricular programs, increasing teacher workloads, and the continued strain placed on classrooms. Without those supports, she argued, schools are left trying to solve increasingly complex challenges with limited resources.

Rep. Morales Shaw also discussed the inequities that exist between wealthier school communities and those serving economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. While some campuses are able to supplement funding through active parent organizations and fundraising efforts, many families simply do not have the financial capacity or available time to generate additional resources.

“When schools are properly funded, every child has a better opportunity to discover their talents, develop their potential, and pursue their dreams,” Rep. Morales Shaw explained.

The conversation also touched on student mental health and youth violence. Morales Shaw believes both issues are closely connected to whether schools have the resources necessary to identify struggling students before problems become crises.

When asked how members of the community and the media can help make a difference, Rep. Morales Shaw emphasized the importance of listening directly to families and sharing the stories that often go unheard.

According to Rep. Morales Shaw, legislators need to understand what children, parents, and educators are experiencing every day—not just through statistics, but through real-life conversations happening in neighborhoods across Texas. She believes that path forward begins with strengthening families, adequately funding public schools, supporting educators, expanding access to essential services, and ensuring every child—regardless of zip code, neighborhood, or background—has a meaningful opportunity to succeed.

As Houston Community Media concluded its Who Cares About Our Youth? series, one message emerged consistently from all three lawmakers who participated. Whether discussing education, public safety, mental health, economic opportunity, or family stability, each agreed that the future of Texas depends on the investments made in today’s children.