Voucher Program Agreement Remains Uncertain in Texas

AUSTIN, TX — The certainty of a voucher deal in Texas is under question following today's announcement by Governor Greg Abbott. While Abbott declared that an agreement had been reached with Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, Phelan’s spokesperson, Cassi Pollock, struck a more cautious tone.

Pollock highlighted Phelan's commitment to enhancing public education, focusing on increased funding for public schools, boosting teacher salaries, and prioritizing other public school needs. She concluded the statement by expressing Phelan's eagerness to engage in comprehensive discussions about school funding, signaling a divergence from the governor's announcement.

Some House staffers suspect Abbott's declaration of a voucher deal might be a strategic move to shift blame to the House if the proposal ultimately fails. According to multiple sources within the House, the current voucher programs on the table lack the necessary votes for passage.

State Rep. Drew Darby, a member of a bipartisan coalition opposing vouchers, has been actively voicing his concerns. He advocates for channeling funds, potentially allocated for vouchers, towards addressing the public education system's substantial underfunding. On our LIVE! Daily News Show, Darby estimated a funding shortfall of $25 billion in public schools, while some progressive voices argue the deficit could be as high as $40 billion annually.

Since 2019, the basic allotment per student from the state to public school districts has been approximately $6,160 annually. The proposed Senate Bill 2 aims to increase this amount to $6,235, a modest increment of $75 per year, despite over a year of post-pandemic inflation.

In contrast, Abbott’s voucher plan proposes a significant $10,400 annual payment per student to private schools through the state’s education voucher program. This figure not only surpasses the allocations in both the House and Senate versions of the voucher bill but also represents a substantial increase from the previously discussed $8,000 per year.

For opponents of the voucher program, this amount is a staggering $4,165 more per student than the proposed annual basic allotment for public school students in the current legislative session.

With the special session of the Texas Legislature set to conclude on November 7, the discrepancy between the governor's announcement and the House speaker's response adds a layer of uncertainty to the voucher deal's future.