- United States
- Texas
- Letter
The use of public funds for private school vouchers raises serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and equal access to quality education for all students. Voucher programs divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools that are obligated to serve every child, regardless of income, ability, or background. Private schools receiving voucher funds are not held to the same standards of accountability, transparency in funding and services, or requirements to accept and properly support students with disabilities as mandated by federal law. Furthermore, research indicates that voucher programs often fail to benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have insignificant or mixed impacts on academic achievement. Adopting a voucher system in Texas could harm rural communities by siphoning essential funding from public schools that are frequently the economic lifeblood and major employers in these areas. Instead of diverting public education funds to unregulated private entities, we should invest in strengthening our public schools and the teaching profession. This will ensure all Texas students, present and future, have access to high-quality education in their local communities. I urge you to reject any policies that would implement private school vouchers and focus on supporting our public education system that serves all children equitably.