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HB 2: Public Education Funding
The Show so far… HB 2 is the Texas House’s overall funding bill for public education. It is quite comprehensive and quite long. It has been debated on the House Floor and was passed and sent to the Texas Senate on April 17, 2025. Key Provisions of the version of HB 2 that was passed…
Read MoreHB3/SB2: Vouchers/Education Savings Accounts (ESA)
The Show So Far…4.18.2025 The TX House and the TX Senate each developed their own versions of a voucher/Educational Savings Plan (ESA) bill. The House version is HB 3. The Senate version is SB 2. The Senate passed their bill back in February. More recently, the House Public Education committee substituted the Senate Bill (SB2)…
Read MoreVouchers to come up for debate on the TX House Floor on Wednesday, April 16 – Time for a few more emails and calls!
Here is a list of TX House Representatives who are thought to have enough concern for public school that it might be possible to convince them to oppose the House Voucher Bill. One possible strategy is to ask that they oppose vouchers or at the very least require that vouchers be placed on the ballot…
Read MoreSupport for Teachers: Increasing the Basic Allotment – The show so far…
(In 2022 Governor Abbott commissioned a Teacher Vacancy Task Force to make recommendations for improving teacher recruitment and retention in Texas. The members of the task force included teachers and school system leaders from school districts all across Texas, including one teacher (Pam Fischer) from Waco. You can see the Task Force Report here: Teacher…
Read MoreSummary: Senate Bill 2 – School Vouchers
Status SB2: Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program. Summary of Bill (This is my summary as I understand the bill. I am not a legal scholar. If you see something you think I have misinterpreted, or something that needs to be corrected, please let me know! – ABT) How much money…
Read MoreAnd so it begins…Senate Bill 2, School Vouchers
In Senate Bill 1, the proposed budget, The Texas Senate set aside $1 billion for fiscal year 2027 to pay for an “Education Savings Account” (school voucher) program should one be passed this session. Interestingly, since the money is designated to be spent in 2027, not split across the two years of the biennium, that…
Read MorePat Curry says Private School Vouchers Support Workforce Education. I don’t think that’s how it works.
By Ashley Bean Thornton I was very interested to read the Pat Curry Q & A in the Waco Trib, especially his comments on workforce education and Education Savings Accounts (also known as school vouchers). Ninety percent of the students who attend Waco public schools are considered low-income, that means they are from families…
Read MoreSchool Vouchers: Clarifying some Vocabulary
By Ashley Bean Thornton As you are having conversations with your fellow voters about School Vouchers, it’s important to clarify some of the most common school voucher vocabulary. Here’s a little guide. What is the difference between a “School Voucher” program and “School Choice” or “Parent Choice” programs? – In many cases these terms are…
Read MoreDid you know?: Most school vouchers do not help low-income kids
By Ashley Bean Thornton School Vouchers (also known as Education Savings Accounts, “Parent Choice” and “School Choice”) are often presented as a way for low-income families to “escape failing public schools.” We know from voucher programs in other states, however, often the reality does not match the promise. In Arizona for example, according to a…
Read MoreDid you know?: Most School Voucher Money Ends up Going to Religious Schools
By Ashley Bean Thornton School Vouchers (aka Education Savings Plans, “School Choice,” “Parent Choice,” etc.) are programs that allow parents to receive money from the state to use toward paying for private schools. In the last legislative session, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would have allowed parents to receive up to $8,000 per…
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