Texas State Board of Education expels its opposition to school vouchers from state wish list

With six new members, mostly conservatives, the State Board of Education walked back its opposition to school vouchers or similar programs that would use public money for private education.

Though largely symbolic, the board’s move illustrates the divisive and often political debate heating up at the Legislature about using public money for students’ private school costs.

In an unusual move, the board in a split vote during its Friday meeting removed its earlier stated goal of calling "on the Texas Legislature to reject all attempts to divert public dollars away from public schools in the form of vouchers, an educational savings account” or other programs from its previously approved legislative agenda.

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The board in November approved its brief legislative agenda, which also requested raising and funding minimum salaries for school staff by 50% and requiring districts to use board-approved textbooks.

The decision to pull the school vouchers opposition passed with eight members in favor and five against. Two members of the 15-member board abstained from voting.

The November election brought six new members — two Democrats and four Republicans — to the education board, delivering a 10-5 advantage to the GOP.

Board Chairman Keven Ellis, R-Lufkin, brought the previously approve legislative agenda back before the board, specifically because of the school choice issue, he said during a committee meeting Thursday.

“I know there’s going to be a very nuanced debate over this,” Ellis said. “There’s going to be a very rich and robust debate over this in the Legislature, so I thought it was appropriate to pull this item and let that rich and robust debate happen.”

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In the past year, many Republicans have pushed for proposals to use public education funding to give parents vouchers or create accounts that could pay part of the cost for private education. Proponents said such programs would give parents more choice in their child’s schooling. Opponents worry diverting money from public schools will harm local districts.

As recently as Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott has spoken in favor of expanding education savings accounts. At a Parent Empowerment Night event in Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Abbott said he believes parents are unsatisfied with public schools and claimed educators are pushing a social agenda on students.

Mary Elizabeth Castle, director of governmental relations for Texas Values, a faith-based advocacy group, pointed this out to the board Thursday.

“We have heard from both the lieutenant governor and the governor in their efforts to explore these efforts of school choice,” Castle said. “As the moment, since both of our state leaders are in favor of this measure, I think it’s wise to hold off.”

The decision to revoke the board’s opposition to vouchers showed timid support for public education, said District 5 member Rebecca Bell-Metereau, D-San Marcos.

“If we are only going to suggest what we think is going to win favor with the governor or the Legislature, why don’t we just sit around and wait for them to tell us what we need to do?” Bell-Metereau said.

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District 13 member Aicha Davis, D-Dallas, questioned whether the board should form its legislative agenda based on the debates that other state leaders have.

“What happened to the bravery and that stance for public education that happened in November?” Davis asked.

While Abbott attended Friday’s board meeting to swear in new members, he didn’t talk about school choice, instead speaking broadly about improving schools.

“There is an extraordinarily high probability we are going to leave this session providing more money for schools, more money for teachers and making our schools safer,” Abbott said.

The board’s legislative agenda is not binding; it's just a wish list that represents the policy priorities of a majority of the board.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas education board lifts its opposition to school choice, vouchers