The False Promise of School Vouchers

To the Editor:

School vouchers are not about the quality of private schools. Many private schools are wonderful. School vouchers are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle the public school system. There are many issues that make school vouchers the wrong choice for Texas.

Article I, Section 7 of the Texas State Constitution states, “No money shall be appropriated, or drawn from the Treasury for the benefit of any sect, or religious society, theological or religious seminary; nor shall property belonging to the State be appropriated for any such purposes.” Allowing public funds to be used for religious schools would be unconstitutional.

Article VII, Section 1 of the Texas State Constitution states in part, “… it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provisions for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.” Our forefathers in 1876 recognized that public education was an absolute necessity that must be fiercely protected and defended as much as our freedoms of speech and religion.

Over time, the state’s obligation to fund public schools has shifted to local independent school districts (ISDs.) In 2011, the legislators cut the state’s share of public school funding by over $4,000,000,000, which legislators knew would either lead to an increase in local property taxes or a decrease in the quality of education ISDs could offer. Schools districts sued, but the cut was upheld. The State Supreme Court did, however, find that the state funding system was severely in need of reform. Despite the court’s finding, there has been no reform to the funding. Instead there has been a continued attack on public schools and continued attempts to remove or limit local oversight of school districts.

Vouchers are one such attempt. Here are just a few of the problems with vouchers. First, vouchers will not allow low income students to go to private schools as the average annual cost of private schools is higher than the amount that would be provided. Second, funds used on vouchers would not have the same level of budgetary scrutiny that school districts have. Third, by stripping locally-elected school boards of the power to set standards and establish budgets for their communities, parents could easily misuse the funds allocated for vouchers.

Although there are many good private schools, keep the following in mind:

• Private schools do not have the same oversight and accountability as public schools.

• Private schools do not have to accept every student.

• Many private schools do not provide the same level of services for special populations including GT students.

• Private schools do not have elected school boards sworn to uphold the Texas Education Code.

School vouchers are the latest move in a years-long, systematic effort to defund and dismantle our constitutionally- provided free public education system. The legislature, encouraged by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, has been working to undermine the public confidence in local schools. Vouchers are in violation of the state constitution and are not in the best interest of our students and our future.

If you wish to voice your opposition to vouchers, join others on Oct. 7 at noon at the state capitol in Austin. More information about the rally can be found at https://www. texansforpubliceducation. com/rally2023