school vouchers

Late Thursday night, Arlington ISD became the latest school district to join a lawsuit against Education Commissioner Mike Morath because of concerns their ratings will drop drastically under the state's updated system.

Dallas Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, speaking at a chamber event on public education on Tuesday, told the room of business leaders a voucher program will mean less money for public schools.

Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes.

Advocates for public school funding in Texas expect a special session where the governor and state senate will again push for a program to fund private schools with public funds. The advocates say that will hurt the state and 5.5 million students.

Texas senators have latched education savings accounts to a school funding bill in a last-ditch effort to avoid a special session. But some House members are furious at the revamped version and have vowed not to let it become law.

Abbott says if a school voucher bill isn’t expanded to include more students, a special legislative session will be the result.

A bill to give Texas families public funds to avoid integrated schools almost became law in 1957.

The Texas House Public Education Committee is expected to vote Wednesday on legislation to create education savings accounts. The vote is happening with little notice and no public testimony.

Political pitches for school vouchers, or “education savings accounts,” cite “school choice” and “education freedom." The same arguments helped sell public charter schools in the 1990s.

The House budget contains a provision preventing public money to be spent on private schools — but will it stay that way?

Senate Bill 8, which would give parents state funds to pay for private schools, was approved by Texas Senators on Thursday.

School vouchers aren’t a new idea. But over the past couple decades, voucher programs have expanded from small experiments to statewide policies.