Here's the story...

Public Schools in Texas have been underfunded for decades. 

Over 80% of K-12 kids in Texas attend public schools.

The Texas Legislature is in charge of providing funding for Texas public schools.

The basic annual per student allotment in Texas has been $6,160 since 2019 without any consideration for inflation.

Texas would have to allot $3,000 more annually per student just to be average among other states. (Just as an example, that would be an additional $42 million for Waco ISD.)

This year the lack of funding is particularly frustrating. The money was there, but it did not come to public schools.

School Districts here and across the state are being forced to make difficult budget cuts.

These deficits could have been avoided.

The Texas Legislature had a $32 billion budget surplus this year and still did not raise the basic per student allotment.

Why? Misplaced priorities...prioritizing the few over the many.

Governor Abbott refused to support additional public school funding until he could get approval for his School Voucher plan which would have provided an $8,000 annual per student allotment of public funds for students who want to attend private schools.

School Vouchers did not pass during the regular session.

Governor Abbott called four special sessions for the stated purpose of passing voucher legislation, but it still did not pass.

Vouchers did not have enough support within Abbott's own Republican party to get the votes needed to pass.

Meanwhile, public schools did not get the funding they need to provide quality education for the vast majority of kids in Texas.

Since the last special session, Governor Abbott has worked very hard and spent millions of dollars (much of it given by out of state donors) to defeat the members of his own party who voted against his voucher program.

Conclusion: It's time to make some changes.

Support for public schools/dislike for vouchers is a bi-partisan issue.

Greg Abbott and his supporters have for some reason prioritized passing a voucher program that will serve only a few students ahead of making needed investments in public schools that serve the vast majority of Texas children.

Greg Abbott and his supporters blocked funding for public schools even when there was a huge budget surplus.

They are so determined to have vouchers that they spent millions to defeat members of their own party in the Republican primary.

Our legislature needs to prioritize public schools that serve ALL kids. 

The only way we can make sure they do that is through our vote.

If we want the best public schools in the country, we cannot continue to elect people who say they support public schools, but then neglect to fund it, and prioritize vouchers for private schools over needed investment in public schools.

If we want the best public schools in the country, we are going to have to elect some different people -- people who will prioritize public schools.