Responding to Gov. Greg Abbot’s plan to call a special session of the legislature in Abbott's continuing efforts to push for school choice, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, has created a new Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment, Phelan announced in a tweet.
“With a special session on education matters all but certain, the select committee will begin working immediately to develop a workable roadmap for legislation in the House,” Phelan's tweet said.
School choice has failed to pass the House twice this legislative session, once on an 86-52 vote, the Texan reported.
The special committee has been directed to make recommendations to ensure that “all Texas youths enjoy equal educational opportunity and the freedom to obtain a quality education, regardless of circumstance,” improve outcomes for public school students, meaningfully support educators and educational institutions and modernize accountability and assessment measures for schools educating K-12 students, according to Phelan’s official proclamation establishing the committee. He posted an image of it in his tweet.
While the language of the committee’s marching orders is generic, it is understood that approaches to school choice will be among the issues it will address.
The panel's 15 members include both proponents and opponents of school choice. It will be chaired by State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen. Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio, will be vice-chair, according to Phelan’s tweet. The committee is to make an initial recommendation by Aug. 11.
“Thank you @DadePhelan," Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, said in a tweet. “I was beginning to think I had been away from Austin too long :) I’m ready to get to work on education opportunities for Texas children!”
Phelan, in a news release quoted by Fox 7 Austin, said, "This committee will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education in Texas," adding that it will ensure that "our students have equal access to quality education while simultaneously supporting our dedicated educators and institutions.”
Abbott said back on May 14 that if the legislature didn't approve school choice, he would call a special session to consider it.
“Parents and their children deserve the time and effort this will take," he said in the May news release. “My staff and I will continue to work around the clock with the legislature to reach that goal. However, failure to expand the scope of school choice to something close to the Senate version or the original House version of the Senate bill will necessitate special sessions. Parents and their children deserve no less."
