Texas State Teachers Org- School Vouchers Response

Vouchers and privatization
During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers started a $1 billion school voucher program, which will
provide up to $30,000 to pay for a student’s private school tuition and costs, no matter the income level
of the student’s family. Starting in 2026, this program will divert students and funding from public
schools by using taxpayer funds on a separate, competing private school system that does not follow the
same admission, accountability, or transparency requirements as public school districts.
In other states with voucher programs, most of the money goes to students already enrolled in private
schools, acting as a taxpayer subsidization for families that can already afford to pay for private school
tuition and well established private schools. Voucher programs have also been mechanisms for fraud and

abuse; in Arizona state vouchers paid for home pianos, ski resort passes, and fraudulent “ghost”
students. Despite the voucher scheme being advertised as increasing “parental choice”, the Texas plan
has no regulation on student admissions policy, allowing for students to be excluded from schools due to
special education status, religious belief, or behavior. Many private schools fail to treat special education
students, and even private schools specializing in serving special education students tend to exclude
students with the most severe learning disabilities. In order to participate in the program, families with
special education students will have to waive their rights provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Act
(IDEA). Voucher programs in other states have continually expanded in cost and Texas leaders have
indicated an intention to increase the voucher program in future legislative sessions.
Would you oppose efforts to expand the use of state funds for private school vouchers?
x Yes _ No – we need that revenue to pay for your $75,000 teacher salaries and Dual Credit Corps Would you oppose efforts to expand vouchers for special education students to help them attend private schools that do not have to follow guidelines that require services and protections for these students? x Yes _ No
Please attach any additional comments.
My platform is built on 100% State Funding for public education. I cannot fulfill my promise to raise
minimum teacher pay to $75,000 or fund the ‘Texas Dual Credit Corps’ if state revenue is being siphoned
off to subsidize private school tuition.
However, I recognize that because this program was codified by the Legislature in 2025, it cannot be
erased by a simple Executive Order. Therefore, my strategy is to render vouchers obsolete through
superior public competition and strict regulation.
I will use my executive authority to impose the most stringent possible accountability, transparency, and
admission standards on any private institution accepting state funds. I will slow the proliferation of new
voucher schools by demanding they meet the same rigorous metrics as our public campuses.
My ultimate goal is to make public schools the undisputed best choice in Texas. By offering Early College
degrees and $75,000 teacher salaries in the public system, we will create an educational product so
superior that parents will naturally choose public schools, causing the voucher program to wither on its
own.