Are you angry enough yet?
The latest data on the voucher program is out, and more than three-quarters of applicants are students already enrolled in private schools. Approved vendors even include out-of-state providers, like a homeschool program based in Florida. At the same time, the funding increase for public schools barely scratches the surface of what districts actually need.
And here’s the part I can’t ignore: every Republican in the Texas House and Texas Senate voted for voucher legislation (except Gary VanDeaver and Dade Phelan).
Public schools are being asked to do more with less, again, while Texas ranks near the bottom in per-student funding, (LOUISIANA SPENDS MORE PER PUPIL THAN WE DO), despite being one of the wealthiest states in the country. That disconnect isn’t just frustrating- it’s a reflection of priorities.
Meanwhile, districts across the state are being forced to make real cuts: eliminating key programs, reducing staff, and in some cases closing or consolidating entire schools. And it keeps getting worse, not better.
If you’re frustrated, don’t just sit with it. Make a plan to vote this November, and pay attention to what happens and vote in the run offs next month (as well as local school board elections happening now). And if you already voted, ask yourself whether the people you supported are truly representing your stance on public education.
Public education shapes everything- our workforce, our communities, and the future of this state. The students in our classrooms today will be the ones leading, building, and caring for the next generation.
We can’t keep accepting this.