Educational Vouchers are up for a Vote in Texas- Here’s 5 Reasons Vouchers are a SCAM and 5 Things You Can Do to STOP Them

5 Reasons Vouchers are a Scam 

1) It’s fiscally irresponsible and will cost taxpayers and parents more across the board. 

-The proposed spending is over 2 billion, but the budget that’s being broadcasted is 1 billion.

-This is a tax and spend program that will reallocate money from public schools that are currently underfunded as well as accept money from private companies, like publishers, who want more control in the school system.

-When school funding is cut, programs that are free or reduced now will start charging parents like private schools currently do. Hello massive extracurricular fees that will even further exclude low income students.

-There is nothing in place to prevent private schools from raising their rates and charging more for extras than they currently do.

-Texas is already in the bottom ten percent of states for per pupil spending. This kind of money would be revolutionary for Texas public schools.

2) It’s a Lottery System

-It’s being advertised as something that will give “school choice” to all families in Texas and make public schools more competitive. However, it’s a coupon that will benefit families already attending private school while negatively impacting millions of students.

-How can public schools be more competitive when you cut their already slashed budget? Take away extracurriculars, tutors, special education resources, run off teachers, and don’t pay for building upkeep much less improvement.

-The lottery system benefits UP TO 100,000 students. Many families selected would not be able to utilize the voucher, in which case the state would either reclaim it or pick someone else that they want to give it to. And there are over 5 MILLION students in Texas that attend public schools. Favoring a few at the expense of the many.

-In other states where this has already been enacted, like in Arizona, over half of the vouchers end up being coupons for families already paying for a private education.

3) It Does Not Boost Education Services or Education Scores

-Voucher advocates have been citing small studies where moving a handful of student’s to another school boosted their scores. But in practice, in the states where this has been enacted, it has not only not boosted the scores, it’s tanked them. School services have been slashed. Scores are lower across the board INCLUDING for the students who qualified for the vouchers.

-Students with Individualized Education Plans or who need special education services are out of luck. Private schools don’t have the resources to follow those plans and have no legal obligation at all to follow them. A little bit of extra money will not pay for the extra services needed.

-When I worked in a private K-12 school I was not required to have a teaching license. Charter and private schools are not subjected to the same licensing standards as public schools, but absolutely should be if they’re accepting public funds. And I don’t think those schools want to deal with that.

-Charter schools fail and close at alarming rates. And public schools where voucher programs have been enacted are closing at alarming rates because their funding was cut.

4) It LIES About Who Benefits

-The bill claims to benefit low income families. But the voucher does not make private education affordable. Students at public schools have the option of transportation being provided, reduced and free lunch, reduced or free extracurriculars, and reduced after school care fees. Private schools do not offer transportation or reduced after school care. The most reasonable full time private school in our area costs $15,000 per year in tuition, with a $500 technology fee, $350 fee per sport, $1,500 for new enrollment, $400 for a few days of uniforms if you’re a girl, and about $250 for boys. That’s entirely out of reach for a low income family.

-Texas recently privatized foster care. And as a foster parent, I think it’s an unmitigated disaster. Failing and harming our most vulnerable children. Passing vouchers guarantees that our most vulnerable students and children will not just be left behind, but trampled over.

–Claiming to help vulnerable students and low income families, while removing and gutting their resources, is a cruel scam. 

-In states where this program has been enacted, a majority of the vouchers are used by families who are already attending private schools. Not low income families.

5) It’s a ESA Account, Like a HSA.

-You will not have free choice on what you use this on. Nor will it be a tax cut. You’ll still pay into the general education fund.

-Comptroller gets to choose what is and isn’t allowed to be purchased with the ESA. Including educational services like services for student’s that struggle with Dyslexia or need basic tutoring.

-That’s not the worst of it! The comptroller can accept gifts and donations from public or private entities for this program. Meaning Liberty, Zondervan, or any other publishing company can gift them $10,000 to be the main publisher that’s approved and make millions off of it.

Sec.A29.370.AA GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The comptroller and a certified educational assistance organization may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for any expenses related to the administration of the program, including establishing the program and contracting for the report required under Section 29.371.

-Programs like this can easily be taken advantage of. The state will need to hire more staff to handle the program and to start licensing the unlicensed schools that the money will be used in.

5 Things You Can Do to Stop Vouchers

1) Contact your elected officials!

Here’s a quick form that does all the work for you. Or you can find out who represents you in Texas here. Contacting representatives can seem overwhelming, but it is literally their job to represent their constituents and it’s important that they hear from us. If you call, remember that there are staffers answering the phones that are just doing their jobs. You can be firm with your opinion but also be kind.

2) Share resources with information that educates people

It’s so easy, especially in the current cultural climate, to share and focus on negative things. But sharing educational and actionable resources can help combat hopelessness and overwhelm. We’ve got a list of the resources we used to research below.

3) Ask for public schools to be fully funded

You can fill out a quick form here. Our reps need to hear that we expect schools to be funded. Texas schools have been chronically underfunded for years. Our students deserve fully funded schools with well paid and educated teachers. Talking about this in our communities is important as well.

4) Donate to programs advocating for public schools, or give directly to your local school

The Friends of the Texas Public Schools is one of the many programs like this. But local schools do fundraisers regularly, and many PTA’s host restaurant fundraisers regularly. They cost you nothing extra- just your receipt! We need our schools to be fully funded so that we do not need to rely so heavily on fundraisers. You can also donate in other ways, like tutoring!

5) Share positive public school experiences

Part of the fight to defund public schools has been to highlight all of the negative things and to talk about them more than anything positive. Sharing POSITIVE experiences publicly, in our communities, and with families and friends can be hugely significant.

Resources and Sources On How to Stop Vouchers and Why It’s a Failed System: 

–Quick form that you fill out that will email your reps for you! (Just rephrase the email to parent or concerned citizen instead of teacher and uncheck the boxes if you don’t want to be added to their email list)
–Find out who represents you if you live in Texas
–Read the bill here
–Economic Policy Institute: Vouchers are a Failed Policy that Must be Opposed
–North Texas Commission: Why Vouchers are Bad for Business
–Raise Your Hand Texas article (short with a graph)
–Houston Public Media: All about vouchers in Texas
–Brookings: Failed Voucher Programs Means We Should be Cautious About ESA Program
–Reform Austin: The Tax Mayhem of Vouchers
–Texas AFT: Texas One of the Worst Funded Education Systems in the US
–Public Funds Public Schools Report with more Resources
–Raise Your Hand Texas: How Vouchers Hurt All Students
–Dallas Observer: Critics Warn Passing Vouchers Could Lead to School Segregation
–Texas Tribune article with section on the history of vouchers being traced back to segregation
– Texas AFT Union: We can have a thriving school system or a voucher program, not both
–Public Notice: Vouchers are Worse Than You Think
–UT Austin OpEd on why vouchers are not right for Texas (short, succent summary article)