1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Reject Texas SB 2 Texas Senate Bill 2 creating an education savings account program is misguided and fails to prioritize the needs of underserved students. The broad definition of "low-income" at 500% of the federal poverty line encompasses households making over $100,000 annually, which hardly constitutes a targeted approach to assisting the economically disadvantaged. Moreover, the bill lacks mechanisms to ensure private schools admit and properly accommodate students with disabilities in compliance with federal laws like IDEA. There are valid concerns over whether the voucher system would primarily subsidize wealthier families already sending children to private schools instead of expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities as claimed. The program's design reflects a flawed prioritization and a concerning disregard for the rights of students with special needs. For a state that consistently ranks poorly in education funding and outcomes, funneling public dollars into an inadequately regulated private system is an unwise diversion from addressing systemic issues plaguing public schools. My child attends public school and benefits from the funding to public schools. I urge you to reject SB 2 and refocus efforts on policies that strengthen the public education system for all Texas children through equitable funding formulas, expanded support services, teacher retention initiatives, and accountability measures that uplift underperforming districts. A robust public education is vital for upholding equal opportunity and cultivating an educated workforce to bolster our state's prosperity. Voucher schemes lacking adequate oversight and needs-based targeting undermine that essential obligation.