School Vouchers passed in Texas
Will the school funding bill pass the Senate this Thursday? Learn how to make an impact
All things underlined are hyperlinks to sources or actionable items.
Texas public school funding has been up for debate this entire legislative period all the while private school vouchers passed. Let me correct myself, Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) will be available as early as November 2025, which are accounts for families to use public tax dollars for funding tuition to private schools. Unfortunately, the allotted amount does not cover tuition costs of most private schools in our area and the options are all religious. ESAs (vouchers) will have destructive impacts on our public schools causing a larger deficit in the budget for districts like Lewisville ISD. The budget has already forced LISD to make the difficult choice to close five school buildings next year (a strategic decision made so that all teachers could have a contract for the next school year) and release all contracted social workers. There will continue to be a cascade of challenges for Lewisville ISD and many other districts. The state is eager to defund and destabilize our public schools who aim to serve any and all. I could go on about this devastating news, but the reality is dwelling on what has already been done just keeps us busy from taking action to make an impact on what happens next. There is something you can do to help Texas Public Schools and your child’s classroom. One more paragraph before action steps…
On Thursday May 15 the senate will address HB2 which would increase the basic allotment per student by $220, expand Pre-K programs, and allow for grant/incentive programs for districts and teachers. We need to flood our representatives’ phone lines to encourage them to pass this bill. There is a lot wrapped up into this legislation, and really I do not align with the teacher incentive programs, and yet I am pressuring my representatives to pass this bill for the sake of funding public schools. (And maybe the teacher incentive program will help teachers…we hope because teachers need SOMETHING). I support this bill and public education because on a foundational level I want all students to be educated freely and appropriately; a standard that private schools fail to meet. Private school is a private option that excludes populations based on income, religious background and disability. Secondly, our representatives promised Texas parents worried about the defunding of public education that if vouchers passed they would be sure to pass the school funding bill. I was in the room at the Capitol when the House Education Committee reassured concerned families and teachers that they supported public schools. I am just looking to hold my representatives accountable to their word. Supporting public schools would look like the Senate passing HB2 as passed by the House with opposition to any funding cuts. Join me this next 48 hours in pressuring our representatives to stay true to their word, fund public schools and protect your communities right to a free and appropriate education.
Contact your Texas representatives! (takes less than 5 minutes with these resources)
Head over to Who Represents Me? to find all of your representatives on a local, state and federal level. We are focusing on contacting our Texas Senators and House Representatives (NOT Ted Cruz, John Cornyn or Brandon Gill-these are all federal representatives and are indicated by ‘US’ with their title). Identify your TEXAS SENATOR and use the script below! Tip: in the menu options select ‘speak to a member of the staff’ rather than level a comment. Phone calls are more disruptive to their offices and more effective at pressuring the representative to listen to the public. I have also learned that when leaving a voicemail you need to leave your full address for your comment to be tallied and if you speak to someone directly you only leave your name and zip code. Utilize that knowledge how you need to for safety.
GOOD NEWS: Senator Tan Parker is in full support of HB 2! A member of his staff informed me of his support when I called on May 13th, so if you contact his office give them a big ‘thank you’ for supporting public education!
If you’re ready to make your phone calls, here is your script:
Hello, my name is __________ and I am a constituent in zip code ____________ (leave full address if voicemail). I am calling to ask my senator to support the school funding bill, HB 2, as passed by the House and oppose any cuts to the bill. Please let them know I will be watching their vote on this very closely. Thank you for your time and consideration.
If you do not have 5 minutes for a phone call (because May does get absolutely insane), use this generate letter to email your representative instead!
Stay informed about the progress made by following sources on Texas education policy like Raise Your Hand Texas and @howdypolitics on any social media platform.
2. Contact your Federal representatives! (there is a resource that makes calling daily easy!)
Utilize the app 5 Calls to find your federal representatives and keep up to date on legislation being proposed. This app uses your location to identify your federal representatives. This app organizes top issues and legislation being proposed that our representatives impact. It will inform you of details and then the number to contact your representative with a provided script. 5 Calls allows consumers to get information on all kinds of topics. Personally, I am focused first on education. In an effort to not burn out, I make at least one call to each office a day about education funding and more calls on days when I have more energy to give. Will you join me in the commitment to at least one call a day to some representative about any cause that matters to you?
Currently, our federal government is “considering the Education Choice for Children Act (ECCA), Senate 292/ House of Representatives 833, a bill that would divert $10 billion per year from public education to fund private school vouchers through a 100% tax credit” (5 Calls). You can call your representatives to voice your opposition. I added to the script by including the harm that is being done to public schools on the state level and our local school districts like LISD cannot handle more cuts to their budget if the goal is to remain minimally functional.
You’re probably in need of some good news after all that information! It looks like STAAR is officially on the chopping block like many parents, students and teachers have been advocating for over the years. While the massive once a year (for multiple subjects) test may be going away, expect that something will be replacing it. Find more information in this article.
During time when it feels difficult to continue advocating for the marginalized because of all the harm being proposed through legislation, I hope having a few resources to stay informed with actionable items paired to the information will support you through this time.
Stay educated Cruise Capable loves.
