Throughout the Texas 88th legislative
session currently underway,
we're hearing a lot about school
choice or school vouchers.
Today, advocates for the idea
rallied at the state Capitol.
Now, before we get into that,
we want to explain exactly
what we're talking about here.
Essentially, a school voucher
system would allow state funding to
follow a student whether they go to
public school or private school.
So, for example,
if a parent chooses to send
their child to a private school,
a certain dollar amount set by the
legislature could be used to send that.
Child to a private school.
Instead of that funding going
to a public school.
If a child goes to public school,
that funding goes to the public
school system here in Texas.
Now,
Republicans say school vouchers
would give parents more rights
and choices when it comes to
their children's education.
Democrats say this would take funding
away from public schools here in Texas.
KB's Natalie Haddad joins us now from
the Capitol. And Natalie,
the governor joined school voucher
supporters for parent empowerment.
Day at the Capitol today.
Hi, Brian. Hi, Ashley.
That's right. In fact,
Governor Greg Abbott has spent the
last several weeks traveling the
state pushing for school vouchers.
In fact, he's in Houston right
now advocating for them.
But before he went to Houston,
he was here at the Capitol for a
rally for parent Empowerment Day.
And he called school vouchers the challenge
to rise to and pass as legislation.
But opposers say that this is the
challenge they want to see struck down.
To Governor Greg Abbott,
celebrating parent empowerment
day centers around education
support the freedom of parents to
educate their kids the way they see best.
And to do so with the
help of school vouchers,
the governor claiming on Tuesday a,
quote radical woke agenda is being
taught in public schools and parents
should have the state's help to
get their children away from it.
We will not use your taxpayer
dollars to teach our kids to hate
the United States of America.
Though it is worth noting the
curriculum of Texas public Schools is
set by the Republican LED legislature
and State Board of Education.
Governor Abbott wants to give parents
the option to use taxpayer dollars to
help pay for private school education,
letting tax dollars follow the child instead
of going directly to a school district.
Opponents say vouchers will hurt
public education by taking money away
from an already depleted system.
Currently, Texas schools receive
slightly more than 6000.
Dollars per student based on attendance.
A proposed bill to offer vouchers
through education savings accounts would
give parents 8 to $10,000 per student.
It's a scam. It's it sounds good, right?
Until you dig into the details and then
you realize that it's ripping you off.
Stepping out of a public Education
Committee meeting Tuesday,
representative James Talarico
pointed out private schools are
not held to the same accountability
standards as public schools.
Private schools don't have to provide
buses or transportation for kids.
Who maybe. Don't have parents that can
drive them to school and they can deny
admission based on any criteria they want.
So again, this is actually
denying parental rights.
It's actually hurting kids,
especially disadvantaged kids.
As a former educator, representative
Talerico says he knows first
hand what the governor claims is
happening in schools isn't. These
are manufactured crises that the governor
is using to score political points
and to demonize our schools so that
he can justify defunding our schools
around the state and within the walls
of the Capitol. The heated debate
continues. Your voice matters the most.
Now, tomorrow is going to be a big day.
The Senate Committee on Education will
hear public testimony on Senate Bill 8
creating education savings accounts.
Tomorrow morning, I'll send it back
to you in studio Ashley and Brian.