Connect with us

News from the South - Texas News Feed

Who Really Benefits from School Vouchers?

Published

on

www.texasobserver.org – Leonora Boulton – 2025-02-04 07:15:00

Editor’s Note: The following is adapted from Boulton’s written testimony against Senate Bill 2, which was heard in committee on January 28.


I am a former private school teacher, a 6th-generation Texan, a graduate of K-12 public education here in Texas, and the mother of three amazing public-school children and I oppose SB 2, legislation currently under consideration that would create publicly funded savings accounts for private schools. Though my husband makes a great living, well above the median income in Texas, we cannot afford private schools, which here in Austin would cost us around $90,000 per year. Were we to receive $10,000 per child, as proposed in SB 2, we would only be a third of the way to funding a private school tuition. Considering that 62 percent of public school students in Texas are economically disadvantaged, I am forced to wonder, Who is the real intended beneficiary of this bill? 

SIGN UP FOR TEXAS OBSERVER EMAILS

Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox.


I do not pretend to know the motivation of Jeff Yass, the billionaire libertarian who has contributed funds and pushed to get vouchers passed nationwide, including giving $12 million to our own governor in 2023 and 2024 alone. But I do know that Mr. Yass is not a Texan, and I also know that Texas is not for sale. Libertarians believe that education should be privatized. If that is the goal, can we have a bill doing that, rather than pretending the private school vouchers are about school choice or about serving students? The bill proposes a $10,000 payment per child, which I find interesting, considering that represents a 62 percent increase over the basic allotment that is currently given to each Texas student. If it costs $10,000 to educate a child, why have our schools been underfunded for years? 

We know the answer to that question. We know who has refused to allow an increase in school funding, and it is our governor. Is the Texas governor’s plan to underfund education, then complain when it fails and demand privatization? We all know the system is not perfect, but that does not mean we need to slowly burn it to the ground in the guise of a voucher program. 

According to Joshua Cowen, an author and a professor of education policy, for every dollar that voucher backers invest, they get about $100 in public money. That is an incredible return on their political investments. Perhaps that is the motivation: the desire to turn the second largest public school system into a private one, where the return on those investments would be absolutely enormous. 

All Texans pay property taxes either directly to their county, or to their landlord with the taxes bundled into the price of their rent. Property taxes are what fund public education in Texas, which means that this discussion affects all Texans. I think that means all Texans should have a say in whether or not we allow public dollars to go to private schools. Republican Senator Brandon Creighton, who represents the upscale The Woodlands suburb in Houston, claims that “Texas voters have spoken loud and clear.” If there’s truly a consensus for vouchers, proponents should have put the matter to a vote by the people. You claim parents need a voice in our children’s education? Give us one. Please give us a voice. Change the law and put this measure on a ballot. 

My biggest concern as a former private school teacher is that private schools owe their families nothing. There is no true oversight in a private school, no legal obligation to teach specific curricula, nor to hire qualified or certified teachers, nor to accept all students regardless of disabilities or other challenges. Why should they get public money without public oversight? 

Do vouchers help kids? The data says no; in fact, research demonstrates the negative effects of these programs. If the Texas Legislature passes SB 2 and state education costs skyrocket, student outcomes plummet, and our public education crumbles, what happens next? 

I originally wrote this to deliver at a Senate hearing on January 28, but I fear legislators are not listening. Senators gave only four days notice that they would hold that public hearing on SB 2. I was one of 330 people who signed up to testify. The hearing began at 9 a.m., but the committee didn’t begin to allow public speakers until nearly 3 p.m., and most people had left by then. Clearly, the Senate wants to push this through quickly. 

I believe I speak for parents across Texas who oppose this. We will not forget who sold Texas, and our public education system, to Jeff Yass and Governor Abbott. I am urging legislators to say no to private school vouchers, or at the very least put the measure on a statewide ballot. Public education needs funding and reform, not annihilation. Billionaires are trying to silence the voices of Texans. Please do not let them.

News from the South - Texas News Feed

Austin becoming FEMA-approved emergency alert authority, planning 1st test alert

Published

on

www.kxan.com – Abigail Jones – 2025-09-13 12:16:00

SUMMARY: On Monday, Sept. 29, Austin will conduct a test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), becoming a FEMA-approved alerting authority able to send emergency alerts via Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to cell phones and Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages to TV and radio. This coordinated test at 3 p.m. will cover the city across its three counties—Travis, Hays, and Williamson. The alerts will clearly indicate a test and require no action. IPAWS allows authenticated, geotargeted emergency notifications without subscription, enhancing public safety communication. More details are available at ReadyCentralTexas.org and Ready.gov/alerts.

Read the full article

The post Austin becoming FEMA-approved emergency alert authority, planning 1st test alert appeared first on www.kxan.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Texas News Feed

La Niña now expected to last all winter

Published

on

www.kxan.com – Nick Bannin – 2025-09-13 07:00:00

SUMMARY: For the first time this year, La Niña is now forecast to last throughout the entire winter, with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center giving it a 54% chance for December-February. Previously, ENSO Neutral was favored for winter. La Niña occurs when sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific are 0.5ºC below average, typically pushing the Pacific Jet Stream north, causing drier, warmer conditions in the southern U.S. and wetter areas in the Pacific Northwest. Last winter, a weak La Niña brought a record warm December but cooler January-February, below-average rainfall, snow in Austin, and more freezes than normal. Another mild La Niña winter is expected for Central Texas.

Read the full article

The post La Niña now expected to last all winter appeared first on www.kxan.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Texas News Feed

Texas high school football scores for Friday, Sept. 12

Published

on

www.kxan.com – Billy Gates – 2025-09-12 22:59:00

SUMMARY: Lake Travis dominated Midland Legacy 59-13 in a spirited farewell to the old Cavalier Stadium before renovations force home games to move to Dripping Springs High School. Across Central Texas, notable district wins included Anderson over College Station (37-14), Bowie against Glenn (38-14), and Dripping Springs edging Harker Heights (31-26). High-scoring games saw McNeil top Westwood 70-45, and Hutto defeat Cedar Ridge 63-49. Close contests included Vista Ridge’s 30-29 win over Round Rock and Austin LBJ’s 34-33 overtime victory against Wimberley. The article also features an extensive list of scores from other Texas high school football games.

Read the full article

The post Texas high school football scores for Friday, Sept. 12 appeared first on www.kxan.com

Continue Reading

Trending