01/02/2025
Let’s be clear. If the STAAR test is the measurement standard that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) uses to determine whether children are learning, then why doesn’t SB2 require all students receiving taxpayer funds to take it? Why should private schools be exempt from the same accountability measures imposed on public schools?
If this bill is truly about “choice,” then why is it only funding 100,000 students instead of providing equal funding to all children? Why are public school students held to strict standards while private schools receiving public money remain unregulated?
And for those who argue that public schools are “failing,” let’s talk about why:
- The TEA keeps moving the goalposts —changing school accountability measures and manipulating A-F ratings to make public schools look worse, despite teachers and students working harder than ever.
- The Texas Legislature has refused to fully fund public education, forcing schools to operate under budget constraints while expecting higher performance. The state continues to underfund special education, teacher pay, and basic resources while giving tax breaks to corporations.
- The TEA has crammed so many Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements into the curriculum that true learning is being sacrificed. Teachers are forced to “teach to the test” rather than provide meaningful education, making it harder for students to develop critical thinking skills.
Instead of defunding public schools, why not look at what the top 10 ranked states in education are doing? States like Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut invest in smaller class sizes, better teacher pay, and comprehensive early childhood education—all of which lead to better student outcomes. Texas should be learning from these states, not gutting its public education system.
Most importantly, I believe this bill violates the Texas Constitution. Article 7, Section 1 states:
"A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools."
SB2 is a direct attack on that obligation. The Texas Constitution makes public education a state responsibility, not a system of government-funded private schooling with no oversight. This bill drains resources from public schools, harming the vast majority of Texas children while benefiting private schools and vendors.
Let’s be real—if this bill passes, private school tuition will skyrocket, making “choice” a privilege only a few can afford. Meanwhile, our public schools, which serve over 5 million Texas children, will be left struggling even more.
Public dollars should support public schools. SB2 is bad for Texas students, bad for taxpayers, and bad for the future of education in our state. We must stand up for our kids and demand real investment in our public schools, not a failed voucher scheme.
