State Board of Education softens stance on vouchers after previously rejecting ‘school choice’ policy

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The State Board of Education moved Thursday night to reverse its earlier decision to ask lawmakers to reject vouchers or anything that cuts “public school funding.” It looks like the board can remain neutral on the “choice of school” policy.

[At parental rights event, Gov. Greg Abbott sheds light on how he’d implement “school choice” policy]

The 15-member council already voted on its legislative priorities at the end of November, including phasing out school vouchers. But some board members, such as Keven Ellis and Tom Maynard, thought the board would be wise to stay out of the voucher fight this spring. Members voted 8-5 to tentatively remove this language from the priority list. The final vote will take place on Friday.

“There will be a very rich and active debate in the Legislature on this, and so I thought it appropriate to revisit this issue and allow this rich and active debate to take place in the Legislature,” said Ellis, chairman of the board. who was nominated by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The board’s decision comes after Abbott expressed his clearest support for school choice policy late Tuesday, saying Texas needs to create an education savings account program.

It was also the first board meeting with a new, more conservative composition since the November elections. All four new conservative members advocated the removal of “critical race theory” from schools, although no school in Texas teaches such a course. The board has recently come under fire for moving to the right in recent months following a delay in revising social studies curriculum standards.

School Choice is a term used to describe programs where parents receive public money to send their children to schools outside the state’s public education system.

Some Republicans in the Legislature believe they may expand school choices this year as some parents were unhappy with public schools due to pandemic response requirements and the way race and history are taught in the classroom.

School choice is already practiced in Texas, as parents can send their children to free charter schools or transfer schools within or outside their district.

In this session in the Legislature, Senator Mays Middleton, R-Galveston, submitted Bill 176 to the Senate, which would have been the most extensive school choice legislation in the state if passed. This will create an education savings account program that will allow parents to use public funds to pay for their children’s education in a private school, online tutoring or private tutors.

Democratic members of the State Board of Education wondered why the priorities were raised again when they had already voted in November ahead of the session that they would take a stand in favor of public education and against vouchers.

“I’m just wondering what’s happened since November, aside from pressure from the governor to change minds about wanting to provide support for our public schools, because let’s be clear: This will require both our charters and our ISDs,” a Democratic Party board member said. Aisha Davis.

Imelda Mejia, director of communications for the Texas Freedom Network, a far-left watchdog group often involved in public education issues, said the council had “lost its way.”

“Failing to stand up to those who are trying to use tax revenue to subsidize private and religious schools is a stunning betrayal of the more than 5 million Texas public school students,” Mejia said.

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