The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Editorial Board recently commented on the school choice debate in Texas where Texas Republicans are advocating for $8,000 education savings accounts (ESAs) for most K-12 students, but face opposition in the House from rural district Republicans.
The House is considering two alternative ESA bills, but a recent budget amendment prohibiting the use of appropriations to support ESAs was approved. While rural Republicans take the stand that district schools can't afford to lose students, the Ed. Board says an ESA program could foster better school options, including more schools in rural areas. The real reason for House opposition from rural legislators is threats from teachers unions, who don't want any competition from other schools, even though some public schools may be failing, the Ed. Board suggests.
"The anti-choice logic also fails to consider that ESA programs could foster a better supply of schools in coming years. Why not advocate more schools in rural areas, rather than holding back choice for everyone else across the state?" the WSJ Ed. Board said.
According to the WSJ Ed. Board, the ESA proposal put together by Texas Republicans will grant $8,000 to most K-12 students. The bill was filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. The bill passed in the Senate with a vote of 18-13 but is undergoing opposition in the House, specifically by rural Republicans.
“Educating the next generation of Texans is the most fundamental responsibility we have, and I authored Senate Bill 8 to place parents, not government, squarely in the center of the decisions for their children. Giving parents the power to determine the best school for their child will encourage competition and innovation, ensuring that each Texas student has the opportunity to succeed,” Creighton said, according to the Texas Senate website, as reported by Forest Country News.
The WSJ Ed. Board mentioned a recent bill on school choice in Georgia, which failed as rural Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. A similar situation is happening in Texas, although the Ed. Board suggests the "real reason" behind the opposition is rural legislators' ties to teachers unions. The budget amendment, prohibiting any public funds to be used for vouchers, was "largely symbolic" although rural Republicans voted for it.
According to Just the News, the following House Republicans, Reps. Steve Allison, Trent Ashby, Ernest Bailes, Keith Bell, DeWayne Burns, Travis Clardy, Drew Darby, Charlie Geren, Justina Holland, Kyle Kacal, Ken King, John Kuempel, Stan Lambert, Brooks Landgraf, Andy Murr, Angelia Orr, Four Price, John Raney, Glenn Rogers, Hugh Shine, Reggie Smith, David Spiller and Gary VanDeaver, voted for the amendment which passed.
In the wording of the amendment, “Money appropriated by this Act may not be used to pay for or support a school voucher, including an education savings account, tax credit scholarship program, or a grant or other similar program through which a child may use state money for nonpublic primary or secondary education.”
If education savings accounts become reality, the WSJ Ed. Board said rural districts could see an increase in private schools providing more options for families. Those rural legislators opposed to choice take the stand that their districts cannot afford to see a drop in enrollment as students leave for private schools. But the Ed. Board said most students will only have their local public school, and if in some cases there are options, the students will be able to attend whichever school is best for them.
The Ed. Board cited a Heritage Foundation report on other school choice programs in Florida and Arizona that have proven to be successful. This report showed an increase in private schools in rural areas as well as more options for homeschooling and online schooling.
A January poll from the University of Houston found 62% of Texans living in rural areas are supportive of some form of school choice voucher option and 53% of all Texans are favorable of vouchers. The WSJ Ed. Board urged Republican lawmakers in Texas to follow Gov. Greg Abbott's lead to make education freedom a "top issue."
