Burnt Orange Report

Vouchers in Texas?

By Byron LaMasters

Say it ain't so. Hopefully there will be enough votes to block it in the senate if it comes up, but they look to be on the table in the upcoming special session. The Houston Chronicle reports:

Signaling deep differences on the threshold of a special session, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Friday the Senate wants to enact a more comprehensive overhaul of education funding -- including deeper, immediate cuts in school property taxes -- than Gov. Rick Perry has proposed.

The two leaders also indicated differences over vouchers, should that subject arise during the session. Perry on Friday refused to rule out the possibility of private-school voucher legislation emerging from the session on school funding. But Dewhurst said vouchers would encounter strong opposition in the Senate.

"I would not block a member bringing it (a voucher bill) up, but I'm not going to let school finance crash on this one issue," Dewhurst said.

Perry has called the Legislature into special session, beginning Tuesday, to make a number of changes in the public education system, including repeal of the so-called "Robin Hood" school finance law that requires wealthy school districts to share tax revenue with poor schools.

There hasn't been much open talk of vouchers elsewhere, so maybe its best that we just don't bring them up and hope the legislature forgets about them amid their bickering over school finance. On the other hand, lots of people have been hinting that it will come up. House Democratic Caucus Chair Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) thinks so::

Mr. Dunnam and other Democrats suggested that the Republican governor's actual goal is not overhauling school finance but passing a bill that allows private school students to get taxpayer dollars for tuition.

Although Mr. Perry has denied that he called the session to push for school vouchers, Mr. Dunnam said: "I'd be shocked if it wasn't brought up in some way."

The governor appealed for bipartisanship.

Nice try Guv. If you want bipartisanship, start with asking Democrats their thoughts and opinions, and Ron Wilson and Vilma Luna don't count. Rick Perry, however, would prefer to schmooze with his pro-voucher friends in the Bahamas.

As for vouchers, the Austin Chronicle has some good insight regarding the financial irregularities and failures of voucher programs in Milwaulkee:

With the special session looming, public school advocates are bracing for "reform" proposals that have little to do with school finance but are relentlessly promoted by conservative groups: e.g., public school vouchers for private schools. The anti-voucher forces received new ammunition this week from Milwaukee, where the 14-year-old voucher program has been hit by revelations of financial and administrative scandals and lack of accountability. According to an April 5 Associated Press report, one voucher-supported Milwaukee school "was founded by a convicted rapist. Another school reportedly entertained kids with Monopoly while cashing $330,000 in tuition checks for hundreds of no-show students." The financial irregularities and reports of inadequate programs led to recent passage of a Wisconsin state law requiring more financial reporting from voucher-based schools, and increasing pressure for academic accountability like that imposed on public schools.

Anyway, if you want to get involved in fighting vouchers in Texas the best place to get involved is the Texas Freedom Network. Check out page on their more website to learn more about why vouchers are bad for public education and how you can get involved in helping our public schools.