Education is once again going to be the topic at the Texas Capitol. At Gov. Greg Abbott’s behest, the Legislature convened in a special session Monday to debate school vouchers.
A voucher measure — or a so-called education savings program — passed in the Senate during the regular session, but stalled in the House at the protest of Democrats and rural Republican lawmakers. Opponents say vouchers take valuable funds from public schools and don’t help the kids who really need it.
Advocates say parents have a right to choose which public or private school their child attends, and should receive a specific allotment — a taxpayer-funded subsidy — to fund the choice. They argue the money should “follow the child” and that doing so will boost any school that’s already thriving and, contrary to popular belief, won’t cripple public schools.
Many Texans already have the choice of public magnet schools or charter schools. Voucher programs take that a step further and allow public money to be funneled to private schools.
We believe this is a step worth exploring — on a small scale and with extreme caution. Some studies have actually shown academic declines in students who participated in voucher program s, while in some states, large portions of voucher money has gone to wealthy families with students already in private schools.
Abbott has pushed for vouchers: In a recent teleconference with religious leaders, he asked them to tell like-minded voters from the pulpit to contact lawmakers in their districts and ask for “educational freedom.” In April, he advocated for vouchers during a stop at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth. His tactics don’t appear to support what a test of vouchers should be all about: Providing another option for disadvantaged families whose homes are zoned for perennially low-performing public schools.
Expansive voucher programs have passed in a number of states — Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina — and it’s obvious Abbott wants to add vouchers to his list of legacy-making policies, in addition to last session’s property tax cuts. Given the recent debacle between Paxton, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dade Phelan — a tragic trio to be sure — the legislature must focus on the reason it’s there and not turn vouchers into a fight between the two chambers.
We understand the logic behind the case for vouchers, but evidence does not support more than a small-scale test.
We’ve said for years that the Fort Worth school district must improve its focus on academics. State tests show kids struggle to read and do math at grade level in the Fort Worth district and others that serve Fort Worth families. Enrollment in the Fort Worth district is in a steady decline. According to work by Star-Telegram education reporter Silas Allen, an analysis of STAAR test results shows Fort Worth public school kids’ reading scores have dipped in the last year.
All of this points to an education system in need of serious change, in Fort Worth and across the state.
But the size and diversity of Texas warrant an incremental approach to vouchers. Plus, Texas already has a vibrant program of school choice in magnet schools and charter schools, which are growing. Last year, Fort Worth charter schools reported more gains on the STAAR test from 2021 than public schools did. The Public Charter Schools Association boasts that in 2022, 78% of public charter school graduates were college, career or military read compared to the statewide average of 66%.
A pilot voucher program in Texas could target under-served populations in an urban area. That could help answer some questions: Does the program compete with charter schools or help them? Does it detract from public school enrollment and funds or does the competition force public schools to get better?
Politically, this could be a win for many: Rural lawmakers could relax, Republicans in favor could stand behind it, and Abbott could take the win and add a piece of legacy legislation to his final term.
In the end, what matters most is that children in Fort Worth and beyond have access to an educational program that prepares them for a successful life. If, after careful testing, vouchers provide to contribute to that, great. If not, let’s figure out what does.
Fort Worth Star Telegram
