Who would choose an education policy that failed in other states? TX parents have the right to know this is an expensive, failed policy that will almost entirely benefit wealthy parents already sending their kids to private schools. @GinaForAustin @jamestalarico @RoyceWestTX @MomsAGAbbott @TexasAFT @UnionmanTX @dsknight84 @joshcowenMSU @RYHTexas @DisRightsTx @txstateteachers @tasanet @tepsamark #txlege

@renardk764 @TexasBelle @GinaForAustin @jamestalarico @RoyceWestTX FYI, I responded to the prompt just now. I appreciate your efforts to reach the truth. So many people on here don't do so. They just attack or they are bots. I hope my explanations were helpful.

I'd disagree w/ some of your analysis, but thanks for the honest question. Keep in mind that hundreds of TX districts have fewer than 1000 students so 83 would be 8% or so of their entire enrollment. However, the number of students leaving public schools would not be evenly distributed. Many rural districts would lose very few b/c they don't have any private schools for miles, but even losing just a few in a district with 100 or 500 students could mean a district would need to cut a staff position, like a teacher or a nurse. Schools have mostly fixed costs and small districts do not benefit from economies of scale. In the larger districts, there could be much higher numbers since there are private schools there and the potential for individuals to enter into the market. In some large districts, there is also declining enrollment due to demographic shifts and charter growth. This, along with other funding issues like recapture being outdated, could mean pretty impactful financial losses. Also, keep in mind that students can be bouncing in and out of publics and privates from year to year, particularly since private schools can expel students without much of any reason. The other issue is, at the end of the day, there is just one pot of tax money for everything. We've had a decades long special ed shortage in public schools, a serious lack of access to mental healthcare for children. The opportunity cost given what is really needed in Texas is too high. I wonder if Grok could explain it better than me! Hope that's helpful.

@renardk764 @GinaForAustin @jamestalarico @RoyceWestTX You are referencing mostly self-published industry research. Not empirical studies in double-blind peer reviewed journals. Ask Grok, for what we know from peer-reviewed journals about the impact of private school vouchers. You will get VERY different answers.

Incorrect. There is no existing law where Texas gives tax dollars to private schools but does not require them to provide special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Currently, public school districts sometimes pay for tuition for students w/ disabilities they cannot serve but the private school must ensure the child's rights under IDEA, implement an evidenced-based program, and provide the child with a meaningful educational benefit.

@ghhshirley @DisRightsTx @MomsAGAbbott @RYHTexas @TexasAFT I agree.

The well-trained & committed Texans who work hard every day to educate our 5.5 million children need a meaningful raise & a gov't committed to adequately funding its public schools. Yes, the only schools that admit every child regardless of need - not more broken promises, not vouchers, no the same failed state leadership. @MomsAGAbbott @GinaForAustin @IDRAedu @RYHTexas @DianeRavitch @pastors4txkids @tasanet @TEPSAtalk @tasbnews @jamestalarico @joshcowenMSU @txstateteachers @txstatepta #txlege

Being a researcher for vouchers is like being a doctor for cancer - it's senseless. I had a chance to respond to the Governor's state of the state address yesterday. SB2 won't raise achievement, won't offer parents clear information to make decisions, & will require parents waive their children's rights/federal protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. @TexasAFT @MomsAGAbbott @RYHT @GinaForAustin @jamestalarico @DianeRavitch @pastors4txkids @AFTunion @txstateteachers @tasanet @utexascoe #txlege

In first 10 days in office, Trump has taken no actions to make schools safer from mass shootings, no actions to strengthen teacher preparation, no actions to increase access to mental health for kids, no actions to support children w/ disabilities. Just memos causing chaos, spreading lies, & undermining the hard work of American citizens in RED and BLUE states seeking to educate & improve the lives of our nation's children. @TexasAFT @MomsAGAbbott @pastors4txkids @DianeRavitch @HouseDemocrats @SenateDems

@JRDeshazo @mayes_middleton @TheLBJSchool Would have been great to have a debate on the merits and evidence on school vouchers. UT is the right place for those sorts of exchanges. 🤘

Read for yourself - despite public through a voucher funding, private schools are not subject to federal and state laws related to the services AND RIGHTS of a child w/ a disability under IDEA...

It's not only un-American for those southern republicans talking about strings-attached aid to California for recovery, it's also ignorant & idiotic given virtually every republican-led state takes in more in federal taxes than they pay out partly thanks to CA robust economy & wealth. @CBSNews @ABC @CNN @GavinNewsom @latimes

To empower parents, ANY voucher legislation must require private schools comply with/ state laws & public records requests. A history of child sexual abuse & cover ups in some private religious schools/orgs necessitates such protections/parent rights. @TexasAFT @MomsAGAbbott @DianeRavitch @pastors4txkids @joshcowenMSU @txstateteachers @TXParentPAC @vlnzl @tasanet @tasbnews @RYHTexas @UCEA @Division_L @GinaForAustin @dsknight84 #txlege

@rickramirez915 @AVID4College @Mich_ll_6 Congrats!

I said, "If I were a parent of a child w/ a disability in TX I'd be concerned" b/c we all need to do a better job educating kids w/ disabilities - lege, gov, TEA, universities, districts, schools, educators. We don't need excuses, choice/competition, or more compliance. We need to adequately invest, accept responsibility, lead amid challenges, & lift the profession so we have well-trained educators/staff in every classroom in every part of our state. @TexasAFT @DisRightsTx @RYHTexas @txcase @GinaForAustin @jamestalarico @txstateteachers @UCEA @tasanet @TEPSAtalk @NASSP @NAESP @txstatepta @IDRAedu @DianeRavitch #txlege

@meganmmenchaca @HoustonISD Thanks for reporting this bonus, which could have otherwise been 1.5-2 special ed teachers, 24 $5k retention bonuses for teachers, additional tutoring, extra money to conduct special ed evaluations, and so many other things the children of Houston could actually benefit from.

Why not hire 2 special ed teachers instead of a 120k bonus for a chaotic @HoustonISD sup amid a massive budget shortfall after closing libraries, a failed bond, resignations, a silly play, & mass hiring of untrained teachers proceeding a controversial takeover by a commissioner too afraid to show up in Houston? @meganmmenchaca @TexasAFT @MomsAGAbbott @tasanet @TEPSAtalk @RYHT @DianeRavitch #txlege