1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

As a parent, I am horrified by the proposed school voucher program. My own children attend our local public schools, and I have seen firsthand how crucial adequate funding is to providing a quality education. Taking away resources from our community schools will only make us weaker. While the idea of "school choice" sounds theoretically appealing, the reality is that a $10,000 voucher will not make elite private schools affordable for normal working families. Most private school tuition far exceeds that amount, meaning this program will disproportionately benefit affluent households already able to pay for private education without state assistance. Meanwhile, public schools serving low-income communities could see drastic cuts as per-pupil funding dwindles. As a taxpayer, I want my dollars going toward lifting up all children and giving them a fair shot at success. I do not want to pay to subsidize private education for a privileged few. Furthermore, exempting private schools from disability rights laws like IDEA gravely concerns me as the parent of a child with special needs. We fought hard for legal protections ensuring all kids get the accommodations and services they require. I worry private institutions, focused on profits over students, could deny entry or neglect to provide adequate support for my child's disability. Voucher policies will remove accountability. Having grown up in a rural area, perhaps most galling is that there aren't even many private school options For rural families to utilize these vouchers. Some of our counties don't even have one private school . The program simply doesn't make sense for families in Texas. Our public schools may not be perfect, but they remain committed to preparing every student for future success. Instead of starving our public education system of resources through privatization schemes, I implore you to invest in strengthening our neighborhood schools through increased funding, hiring more teachers and support staff, upgrading facilities, and expanding programs. Public education is the bedrock of our society and shouldn't be treated as a market commodity. I urge you to reject this shortsighted voucher plan and reaffirm your commitment to maintaining a robust, equitable system of public schools accessible to all Texas children.