Texas: No to School Vouchers - Properly Fund Public Schools

School voucher and ESA schemes will only hurt the vast majority of Texas students who rely on public education. These proposals siphon public funds away from neighborhood schools and into private programs with little oversight (Texas Tribune, March 2025). Public schools already face underfunding, teacher shortages, and infrastructure needs, and diverting dollars through vouchers will only make these problems worse (Houston Chronicle, March 2025). Every student deserves a well-funded public school, not a system where resources are drained to benefit a small fraction of families. Private schools receiving voucher funds are not required to follow the same transparency or accountability standards as public schools. They are exempt from state testing and curriculum requirements, leaving taxpayers in the dark about how funds are used and how students are performing (Raise Your Hand Texas, March 2025). On top of that, voucher amounts often don’t fully cover private school tuition, making these programs inaccessible to many low-income families (Texas Observer, February 2025). I urge you to reject all voucher and ESA bills and focus on fully investing in the public schools that serve every Texas child.