After school voucher bill falls apart, supporters and opponents get ready for future fights
The Texas Houseโs vote to block education savings accounts disappointed voucher advocates and likely spelled doom for additional public school funding. Both bands say theyโll keep pushing for their priorities during next yearโs primary elections and the 2025 legislative session.
School voucher fallout leaves Texas Legislature with no clear sense on next steps
Vouchers were left without a clear path forward after a decisive vote Friday. Gov. Greg Abbott, who had threatened lawmakers with more special sessions to pass the proposal, seems to have turned his attention to punishing voucher opponents in next yearโs primary elections.
The Texas Houseโs new priority education bill offers concessions to sway voucher skeptics
The revised bill promises a significant funding increase for public schools and academic accountability measures for students participating in the proposed voucher program, two of the biggest requests from voucher opponents.
These home-schooling moms want to create a โmicroschoolโ for Black kids. They need vouchers to make it happen.
The mothers, who are counting on state legislators to reach a deal on education savings accounts, say their public schools were not equipped to create a learning space that is safe for Black kids.
Gov. Greg Abbott says heโll add teacher pay to the special session โ but only if lawmakers pass school voucher bill
Though lawmakers have drafted a bill to increase public school funding and teacher salaries, it cannot pass during the special session unless Abbott adds those issues to his agenda.
School voucher bill gets initial approval in the Texas Senate, heads over to a more skeptical House
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 2, which would infuse $5.2 billion to school districts to help them with teacher raises and rising costs. Gov. Greg Abbott said he would add those items to the special sessionโs agenda once lawmakers approve a voucher program.
Disability advocates argue against school vouchers in Texas Senate hearing
The Senateโs main โschool choiceโ bill would prioritize vouchers for children with disabilities, among other underprivileged groups. But advocates and parents raised concerns that voucher recipients who choose private school would no longer be protected by federal law.
Vouchers return this special session โ and school funding might be left out. Hereโs what you need to know.
Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to Austin to try again to pass education savings accounts, which would let families use state funds to pay for their childrenโs private schooling. Teacher pay was not part of his agenda.
Texas House committee report outlines possible path forward for school vouchers
The House blocked school vouchers during this yearโs regular lawmaking session, but a report released Friday shows some members might be willing to approve such a scaled-back version of the program that doesnโt compete with public schools for funds.
Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan join forces on property taxes. It might help the push for school vouchers.
Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes.
No teacher raises. A failed school voucher push. Armed guards. Hereโs what changed for public education this legislative session.
Lawmakers sacrificed school funding to block school vouchers, but the issue could be debated again in a special session. Districts will get new funds for school safety, though Uvalde families were ultimately left disappointed with inaction on gun restrictions.
Texas Senate committee revises school funding bill in last-minute bid to implement voucher program
Texas senators have latched education savings accounts to a school funding bill in a last-ditch effort to avoid a special session. But some House members are furious at the revamped version and have vowed not to let it become law.
In East Texas, skepticism over private school tuition assistance persists despite push from conservative leaders
Gov. Greg Abbott and other conservatives say families need options to escape โwokeโ education in public schools. East Texas parents and school leaders say the national talking points are off base.
Texas Senate approves education savings account bill โ but House signals a tough road ahead
A Texas House vote earlier in the day suggests Senate Bill 8 might be short of the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. Senators also passed a bill on Thursday that would give teachers a one-time bonus.
In audio, high-ranking TEA official admits public school funds could drop with voucher-like programs
โSchool districts, what they have to do if they lose a student, [is] be smart about how they allocate their resources and maybe thatโs one less fourth grade teacher,โ Steve Lecholop, a TEA deputy commissioner, said in a call with a parent that was secretly recorded.