If ESAs (Education Savings Accounts or vouchers) are good for Texas, why not make that separate, stand-alone legislation?
Why hold hostage funding that could begin to address the teacher shortage crisis, school safety, and the rising costs to educate all children due to inflation?
We understand private education is good for some students. However, we object to using public tax dollars for vouchers or ESAs. Here are just a few of our concerns:
ESAs will not address our most vulnerable populations, including those in failing schools, with limited resources, or needing special education services. There is no guarantee these children will be accepted or provided appropriate resources in private schools despite the bill’s “prioritization recommendations.”
ESAs will send public taxpayer dollars to private institutions with little to no state oversight or taxpayer accountability.
ESAs violate the separation of church and state. The U.S. Constitution prohibits any government “establishment of religion.” Tax dollars directed toward private schools of religious origin violate this principle.
ESAs will create a third, redundant, expensive, and unsustainable education system in Texas.
ESAs siphon money away from children attending public schools. The Legislative Budget Bureau estimates that they will cost the state at least $2 billion within two years, while districts across the state are scrambling to make ends meet and operating out of deficit budgets.
Finally, and simply put, the proposed increase in public education funding isn’t enough. It doesn’t come close to maintaining pace with inflation since 2019. Doing so would require an increase in funding by approximately $1,200 per student.
With the state’s record surplus, it is unconscionable that such limited funding has been provided to our public schools, and even that is being held hostage to everything else in this 177-page bill. Our students, parents, and teachers deserve better.
In short, Education Savings Accounts + Inadequate Public School Funding = Bad Math and Bad Policy.
Jennifer Easley
Texas PTA President
Michelle Jackson Texas PTA Executive Director
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