The cost of living has escalated such that fewer choices are available. While that is true, Texas has always been limited in choices for public education for K-12. Texas legislature is investigating and promoting the use of school vouchers and educational savings accounts to offer parents school choice when selecting educational delivery for their child. Educational freedom is now being considered for all Texans.
Vouchers are state-funded programs that allow students” to use public monies to attend a private/parochial school. The state has set monies aside to pilot this program, and at present it is not being funded through new
taxation methods, but rather using monies already accrued in the state’s ESF (Economic Stabilization Fund) fund, to the amount of $1 billion dollars. ESF is often referred to as the Rainy Day Fund, and is used to prevent or reduce the sudden massive cuts to major infrastructure like schools and health-care. While often funded through taxes, it may be considered to be funded through oil and gas mechanisms in the near future. Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) are private savings accounts funded by a deposit from the state and managed by the parent. The present model in Texas would allocate $10,000 per child per year. To use an ESA, parents withdraw their child from public school and use their ESA funds to purchase specified educational services-a-la carte. Both programs are targeting special needs and low-income children, with the idea that these most vulnerable students need the most immediate attention to enhance success for them.
Vouchers/ESA’s allow parents to choose their child’s education.
Parents pay taxes for K-12 education. They should have input into how and where is the best place for their child to attend a school. Many folks argue that choice to pursue life’s basic necessity is an inalienable right. Education is a basic necessity in today’s era. Education is the only system that has
become so large and so bureaucratic that government has taken choice out of the equation for parents. One should not be dictated to as to where one attends school solely based on where one resides.
Vouchers allow parents the choice to find a school that best fits the needs of their child, allowing that child to perform better in school, at home and in their community.
School vouchers/ESA’s allow for competition in the marketplace Market-driven competition is a natural equalizer.
Public schools will be able to offer a better education and safer spaces for learning. Due to supply and demand this model will provide opportunity for public schools to refine and excel in areas where they perform the greatest and promote targeted program development in the public space. For example, school bands would be able to excel with the expanded pool of applicants for each position. It may mean that schools will have to look differently at how they allocate monies to each program. This can be done. Instead of looking aggregately at funding they may need to look per student.
School vouchers/ESA’s are often opposed by teachers, and rural communities claiming they are a threat to the current paradigm. Presently, Texas has over 5,156,972 thousand enrolled in a total of 8,161 schools in 1,022 school districts, accounting for almost 1/6 th of the inhabitants of Texas. State agencies recommend a teacher-to-student ratio of 11:1, more realistically the ratio lies around 17:1; demonstrating a significant need for more teachers. Texas currently shows about 6.0% of students attend private schools while over 5.9 million students attend public schools. Equalizing workload would benefit teachers/students, schools, and
communities alike.
School vouchers are not a new idea. As of 2024, there are 75 voucher-like programs across 33 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to EdChoice. There are estimates that almost half a million students in the U.S. benefit from vouchers/ESA’s, up from 19,000 only five years ago. In 1955, Milton Friedman, PhD, an educational economist noted it would result in “great widening in the educational opportunities open to our children.” (Friedman, M., 1955). Free-market drives competition, and competition often breeds excellence.
Vouchers/ESA’s increase satisfaction.
The research is still out that vouchers/Esa’s increase academic performance. What is clear is that lower teacher to child ratio’s increase academic performance. There is currently mixed findings on vouchers/ESA’s improving academic performance. More research needs to be done to show the correlation between vouchers/ESA’s to improved academic performance. I predict Initially, the adoption of vouchers/ESA’s will increase academic performance, but as rates level out for dispersion of students between public and private institutions more clarity will be revealed on its impact. What is clear is that parental satisfaction is enhanced with the adoption of school choice. Parents have lauded both methodologies for giving them access to opportunities outside of public schooling. This has to do with both exposure to unique programs like religious course instruction, as well as pace of delivery.
Financial oversight will be monitored closely.
A common criticism has been that programs that deal with such large sums of money are prone to corruption and loose financial oversight. The Texas legislature has assured the voter that this should not occur as oversight will be provided by the Texas Comptroller. The Texas’ voucher bill seeks to avoid other states’ mistakes and build upon their successes.
Presently, DISD is facing a $19 million dollar gap between needs and spending. Some of this shortfall is currently being addressed by the district, but the funds are finite and it is not sustainable long-term. The Texas
legislatures are providing options for how to shoulder the burden of education. Change is difficult but, if we do not change we are doomed to failure. We cannot fail our children. Children are our future and their success is dependent on our delivery of a quality education to them. Change has 4 distinctive stages. Contemplation-acknowledging the problem, but not ready to change yet. Preparation/Determination-getting ready to change. Action-changing our current behavior and Maintenance-maintaining the changed action. I believe we are all through the Contemplation Stage and in the Preparation/Determination Stage. We need to move to the Action Stage if we are to find solutions and outcomes. Is the voucher system perfect? No, it never will be if we don’t start and work to refine it as we learn. But we do know if we do nothing-we are on a failing path. Failing our children is unacceptable.
