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and fun. Sometimes when the weather was warm the children went to Rockport School barefoot. They learned from their teachers with or without shoes! Education reform in Texas truly began with the 1949 Gilmer-Aikin Law. This law like The New Deal laws of the 1930's affected Rockport School. In the post-war world, it was acutely realized that a new and crucial change had begun in civilization and perhaps because of the grave international situation, the time was ripe for public education in Texas to be modernized [Kuehlem p. 1]. In the spirit of progress, Texas and the nation turned their efforts to rebuilding communities and their schools during a post-war economic boom. The Baby Boom generation began as birth rates soared. The need for and demand for first rate schools was obvious with more and more children to serve. [Kuehlem p. 2]. The new legislation enacted crucial changes. First, the State Department of Education became the Texas Education Agency. The State School Board changed from 9 to 21 members and the State Commissioner of Education position was established. There were many reforms within the Gilmer-Aikin Law, but one especially had a direct impact on Rockport School. The financial viability of Texas public school districts varied greatly and the new system abolished the traditional "per capita" system of distributing state funds and in its place adopted a plan based on the "economic index." For equity, it was assumed that each district's percentage of the county tax roll would be a fair measure of the ability of each county and district to raise revenue for school support. The new Minimum Foundation Program assisted the low economic areas to maintain a higher