A voucher system I would support🧵 I support private schools, public schools, home schools etc. I have served on the Board of a private school for 6 years and worked in both ISD and charter schools for a total of 31 years. I am opposed to all versions of vouchers that were offered in the most recent #txed legislative session, but am not opposed to any form of vouchers. My primary issue with vouchers in #txed is with the disparity between the actual texts of the bills and the words that #txlege leaders have been using to describe those bills. The following is a structure for vouchers/Education Savings Accounts/whatever it is called that I would support. Private entities that want to participate in the voucher program and receive students who use vouchers would do the following: Pre-allocate a number of enrollment slots for students using vouchers Voucher recipients would apply for those slots using a common application that is accepted by all participating private schools/entities. The Private entities would admit and serve all applying students (including special education students etc), up to their own self imposed caps (using a blind lottery if oversubscribed) The private entity would not charge more for admission than the voucher amount to any voucher users. The private entity will agree to educate that student for the calendar year unless: -The parent withdraws the student -The student is expelled for code of conduct violations (with due process) If the school removes the student, or a parent withdraws, the prorated amount of the voucher would follow the student to the new school. Voucher student attendance would impact the total amount of the voucher that is received by the private entity. Private entities still get to hire whomever they want and teach whatever curriculum they want. I am not a fan of the current state testing and am not trying to pin it to private schools. (Though I also think it is hypocrisy when voucher supporters decry bad score results while simultaneously demanding they not be attached to vouchers). I realize this kind of a voucher structure would not be appealing to some existing private schools/entities. However, the argued primary purpose of the various voucher bills is to provide freedom and choice for parents not a benefit for the schools. I think our state budget could be better used to support our current system than to create a voucher system, but if a voucher system will be created, this is what I hope it includes.

RT @Predamame: Low-hanging fruit: broadcast the entire distance event. From start to finish.

RT @stevemagness: I never thought I'd say this... Americans now have the world record AND the 2nd fastest time in history in both the indo…

Love watching this amazing track and field meet from the Armory! 2 HS Records, 2 World Records!!

RT @DrSDHoward: Regardless of what happens during the #txlege session, after 30 yrs in public ed, I just hope that we can get past the nega…

RT @KellyRasti: SB 2 (ESA bill) provides an additional $1500 to the ESA for a student in private school if they qualify for special educati…

RT @jakemooney09: Raced my first school track race of my freshman season at the Denton Ryan invitational competed in the varsity 800 and 16…

Finally someone with the guts to take on Big Straw

You think that will work even for parents of kids with special needs costing 2-3 x the ESA per year. Also kids who get expelled, no penalty to schools? Because there is a penalty now and also law prevents expulsion out of system in counties of more than 250k How does your plan handle those issues?

RT @by_jmiller: Commissioner, are you aware that your agency has paid Politico $80,000 during your tenure?

I feel like this issue was very important to people making voting decisions that I personally see on a daily basis. And it was more than just about sports to them, it was about agreeing on reality.

The many mandates used to constrain/hinder public education are quickly dismissed from voucher bills because “no school would want to participate otherwise” or simply because common sense tells the legislators those mandates cause so many problems. Why won’t legislators ease burdens on public ed at the same time in same way?

@ZaidJilani Hey Zaid, enjoy following you, Do you think there was not a Satanic Panic in late 70’s early 1980s at least in regards to music and role playing games?

2 things come to mind. The misalignment between the phrase School choice and what the text of the bills actually do has always been the initial source of my concern (not the idea of actual parent choice), and second the way that the billmakers sweep away or prevent various things which they use to constrain and make life hard for public schools form being attached to the bill. What’s best for kids is they get a choice not the school. Just some thoughts

When vouchers are passed, Will “Government” schools be able to tell particular parents to take their kid and their voucher and go somewhere else without any processes or consequences from TEA? The premise of the voucher bill is that the school should be able to select and reject, right?

Some mornings I glance at the clothes I wore to work pre Covid and wonder why I did that to myself each day

RT @growing_daniel: *whispering to myself* please be 5D chess please be 5D chess

RT @MADEMan39: I don’t usually post personal stuff bc Phillips’ are too stubborn to ask for help or show weakness but dad‘s heart surgery w…

@PaulaPatterson Great job!!

RT @DeLunaEva: @evan7257 @scottbraddock The SB 2 "low income" provision - defined as below 500% of poverty, or up to $160,000 for a family…

Watching First NBA game of year and whole thing is a continuous gambling ad interrupted by some basketball. Even the in game graphics are all about prop bets on game