Waco, Texas (KWTX) – The Texas Senate voted on Wednesday, the 19th to 12th in favor of passing the School Selection Bill to establish an Educational Savings Account, with families using public funds to help private schools. We have made it possible to help pay tuition fees.
The bill is currently heading to homes in Texas, but as the bill approaches passing, school choices are a split issue for many.
As the bill goes smoothly through the legislative process in its second session, private schools have shown support for the bill, while public schools continue to voice concerns.
On the one hand, Tracey Hanson, the principal of Oak Creek Academy, a private school in Killeen, says the bill will allow parents to choose the best option for their children.
“Public schools work for most kids, not all kids. We need to consider all kids. That’s what we do at ESA,” Hanson said. I said.
Meanwhile, Salado ISD principal Michael Novotney said the bill would affect all public schools by stealing funds.
“In the short term, when a student leaves a public school and goes to a private school, it is taken away because the funds are based on an average of one day of attendance,” Novotney said. Ta.
What Novotny is more concerned about is how states will continue to fund these ESAs over the next few years.
According to the Senate Bill 2 text, public school students who want to go to private schools will win a $10,000 voucher, but that number will rise to $11,500 for students who need special education.
“What happens when you’re spending billions of dollars on taxpayers for these vouchers and education savings accounts, and in future sessions where the state doesn’t have the money to pay for this. What will happen…and…and then they’ll cut back on everyone, including public education,” Novotney said.
However, Dr. Hanson argues that the school selection bill is not harmful to public schools.
“You are allowing ESA, so your public schools are allowing them to go out of business and we know that this is not historically from other states,” Hanson said. .
Private schools like Oak Creek Academy are preparing for more registration, so public schools continue to fight for public school funding.
“We are excited about the future and cannot wait to see how many other families we can serve,” Hanson said.
“The majority of children are still educated through public schools and need to be properly funded so that they can continue to pay teachers on a competitive basis and continue to provide great education to their students.” said Novotney.
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