The Texas Senate is expected to pass a “school choice” bill today, which would then move to the Texas House for consideration. Governor Greg Abbott is pushing for a universal voucher program that would provide $1 billion in subsidies for private school tuition and homeschooling. The program would benefit about 100,000 students, or 2% of K-12 students in Texas.
However, critics argue that the program is too expansive and the income threshold for eligibility is too high, allowing families making up to $105,000 for a family of two and $160,000 for a family of four to qualify as low-income. They argue that the focus should be on helping students in failing public schools who cannot afford other options.
Lawmakers are being pressured to pass the voucher program, but they should be cautious given the issues faced by Arizona’s similar program, including budget overruns and inequities in voucher usage among lower-income neighborhoods.
It is crucial for lawmakers to prioritize public school funding and teacher raises with the same level of concern as they are showing for the voucher program. Failing to do so could harm families, communities, and businesses in Texas.Governor Abbott believes that a voucher program is necessary to provide school choice for all students, but critics urge caution and a focus on helping students in failing public schools.
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