The Mexican American Student Board Association is holding its annual conference in Austin this weekend. Officials wanted to have the conference in the Texas capital to voice their concerns to the state government.

This year's conference was the biggest turnout of participants in the organization’s 40 years of operation.

Board members from all across the state gathered to discuss effective teaching methods.

"Sharing ideas and experiences between urban and rural districts, between rural districts from different parts of the state, are incredibly valuable,” Rep. Rafael Anchia said. “Not only to these school board members, but also to the young people that are in these school districts."

Participants at the conference attended classroom session covering topics on bullying, college preparation, injury prevention and even starting mariachi bands.