Governor’s 3rd Special Session in Austin on ESA and Voucher Programs is a Disastrous Idea
Hello SAISD Parents and Eastside Community Members,
As many of you know, we are in our third special session in Austin. The story has stayed the same: The Governor still holds back raises and funding for teachers and public schools.
The idea that we will give more to an ESA or voucher program has raised questions because other states are dealing with losing funds due to these accounts. They have discovered that some parents had taken debit cards from our states, bought tickets to theme parks and chicken coops, paid bills, and more. So, in Texas, they want to create an Educational Savings Account and give parents $8,000 to pay for private school and all the supplies their child will need from certain vendors they would place on a website. It is still an awful idea because when a private school kicks a kid out, where will the parent go to enroll their child in school? Do they get money back if what is left of our public schools are too full to take the student? They would surely have to pay again or we have kids out of school. Public schools are detrimental. If public education gets defunded, will the Governor ask for emergency funding to reopen our schools when some kids cannot return to their private schools?
My only update is that we’re still trying to stop school vouchers or ESA accounts. Parents, know that I will continue to work with others until we can find a way to get our teachers and schools their funds without passing a school voucher or educational savings account bill. But, know that our Governor will not pass any public funding until he gets his way. I will be back next week with another update.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, please email me at lena.lopez@saoberver.com
Have a Blessed Week,
Lena Lopez
