Texas leaders have launched a new push called the Texas Turning Point Plan, which aims to grow Club America chapters on every public high school campus. The announcement came during a news event at the Governor’s Mansion, where state officials shared their goal of expanding the network of Turning Point USA programs in schools.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stood with a senior director from the group to outline the vision. They said the state will not force schools to start the clubs. Still, Abbott made it clear that he wants school leaders to avoid blocking interested students. He said he expects action if anyone tries to prevent a new chapter. He also said that any school that stops the formation of a Club America group should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
This plan follows earlier talks between the state’s education commissioner and Turning Point USA staff. They met in private weeks before the public launch to explore ways to expand the group’s presence. Soon after, the lieutenant governor pledged campaign funds to support the effort and to speed up the growth of the program.
Turning Point USA was started by a well-known conservative activist who drew praise from supporters and criticism from many others. His death earlier this year led to a sharp rise in national attention. After the news of his passing, Texas leaders accused some teachers of posting harsh comments about him online. The state has now opened many investigations into the reports. These actions have raised questions because teacher speech has certain protections. The agency usually reviews more serious claims, such as threats or harmful behavior.
The group has long focused on college campuses, where it promotes civic engagement among conservative-leaning students. It also runs an online list that highlights professors with viewpoints the group sees as too political. This list has drawn concern from some educators who say it created negative pressure and encouraged harassment.
Club America is the high school version of the group. According to the program’s website, these clubs aim to help students take part in discussions about civic life, learn basic ideas about society, and take part in projects that connect them with others. Organizers say they have received many new requests to start chapters, and they claim that some students have faced resistance from school officials.
Other states with Republican leaders, including Oklahoma and Florida, have also formed partnerships with the group. These states allow students to launch clubs with help from Turning Point staff. One former state leader in Oklahoma even threatened school accreditation if administrators blocked the clubs. At the same time, some parents and students have started petitions against the presence of the group. They worry that the national organization spreads ideas they see as harmful. A civil rights group has described Turning Point as pushing fear-based messages, but the group rejects that description.
The push in Texas comes at a time when state leaders are trying to shift public education in a more conservative direction. Recent laws have required classrooms to display certain historical texts, and new limits have been set on teaching about race and past injustices. These changes have already brought legal challenges.
During the launch event, Abbott said the new partnership is not tied to a single political party. He compared it to other student groups often found in schools. He said it is about values and understanding the ideas that shaped the country. When asked whether he would support a similar plan for left-leaning causes, he admitted that he was unlikely to do so. Still, he said students could legally create such clubs on their own. Earlier this year, he signed a law that restricts student groups focused on LGBTQ+ topics.
As the program grows, some experts are asking whether using state resources to support a political-leaning group is allowed. They say it is not yet clear whether the plan crosses legal limits, but it should be watched closely.
Texas leaders say more than 500 schools already have Club America chapters. Turning Point USA hopes to expand to 20,000 chapters across the country. Some educators in Texas say the group may fit better on college campuses, where students are more mature. They worry that high school students may be more open to pressure and may not have the same ability to judge political messages on their own.
