Writing for the North Texas Daily, Kyson Barber explains why the Texas voucher program slated for next school year will damage education in Texas.
Senate Bill 2, which allows taxpayer money to be diverted from public schools to private education, is a political choice by Gov. Greg Abbott that will harm an already struggling Texas public education system.
In May, Abbott signed SB 2, which founded the Education Savings Account. The account provides parents with an amount equivalent to 85 percent of the funding a public school would receive per student, using taxpayer dollars to fund private school education for students. This bill disproportionally hurts students with disabilities, marginalized communities, lower-income families and students.
The program, which goes into effect during the 2026-27 school year, has been one of Abbott’s main focuses since 2022, and he finally passed it after strong-arm techniques by Political Action Committees, outside billionaires and President Donald Trump.
Abbott claims that the program will give parents more choice and greater control over their students’ education. However, it will likely lead to less accessibility, significantly worse public education and segregation of race and class due to private schools historically being known as “segregated academies,” according to ProPublica.
The state government funding private school vouchers by using taxpayer money takes away funding from public schools. According to Texas Public Radio, the average school district has approximately $14,000 per student to spend on operating expenses, with smaller districts only having around $11,000.
The lack of funding for public education is already causing severe issues and should not be exacerbated by the voucher program. The Texas public education system is financially struggling, leading to budget deficits, the cutting of programs and less resources for children who need them.
Private schools, with less oversight and regulation, are also not required to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Private school institutions are not required to provide Individualized Education Programs and do not have to accept students with disabilities in the first place, compared to public schools.
Different schools have different policies, and some private schools accommodate students with disabilities and offer programs tailored to their needs. However, many private schools do not have such programs or lack the comprehensiveness of public schools.
Students with disabilities are not the only ones harmed by the private school vouchers. These policies have consistently and historically hurt marginalized communities.
Read the full post here.