AT THE CAPITOL
COMPILED BY ROSS RAMSEY/THE TEXAS TRIBUNE AND COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER STAFF
Community Impact Newspaper and The Texas Tribune have partnered to share essential updates from the 86th legislative session. The Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that informs and engages with Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Learn more at www.texastribune.org/communityimpact.
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Texas lawmakers lose momentum on private school choice
Recent updates COMPILED BY AYANMITTRA, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
a huge lobby effort this session,” Hock said. “What has become appar- ent to me is that the most important voice in this discussion is that of Texas families.” Lawmakers appear to be putting distance between themselves and the issue, at least for the time being. Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, told a group of free-mar- ket conservatives in January school choice “is not going to be the focus this session” and “not part of the school finance bill.” That is a far cry from 2017, when he authored the Senate’s bill for private school tuition subsidies. But he is not alone in his change of tone. Two years ago, sporting a yellow scarf of his own atop a navy blue suit, Patrick expressed his dis- appointment with the Texas House in front of thousands of students and family members from charter schools and private schools. This year, when asked whether the issue would return to the Senate, Patrick was less direct: “We’ll see, we’ll see. It’s a long session.” Disclosure: Stacy Hock and the Association of Texas Professional Educators have been financial sup- porters of The Texas Tribune, a non- profit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and cor- porate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism.
“I’m not willing to say, ‘Hey, this issue is dead.’ But leadership seems to be saying that, at least for this particular session,” said Monty Exter, lobbyist for the Association of Texas Professional Educators, which opposes the programs. The issue was politically divisive last session, with public school educators arguing it would siphon money from public schools. The Sen- ate passed a version of the bill that would allow parents of students with disabilities to pay for private school and homeschooling, with supporters arguing it would empower families to make the best educational choices for their kids. Facing resistance in the House, Senate leaders refused to approve an overhaul of the school finance system without those subsi- dies—forcing a stalemate. Abbott demanded lawmakers pass both in a summer special session. Both failed to pass again. In 2017, Randan Steinhauser helped start an organization called Texans for Education Opportunity, which hired lobbyists to push the benefits of giving parents taxpayer money to use for private school tui- tion and homeschooling. This year, Texans for Education Opportunity has no lobbyists registered. Steinhauser and Texans for Educa- tion Opportunity founder Stacy Hock both say they are focusing instead on organizing families to speak directly to lawmakers. “Thankfully, we will not be doing
BY ALIYYA SWABY Two years ago, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stood on the steps of the Texas Capitol before a throng of waving yellow scarves and urged lawmakers to vote for pro- grams that give parents state money to attend private schools. Although “school choice” sup- porters will still excitedly don their signature bright yellow scarves, they will likely be fighting an uphill battle the rest of this session to get support in the Capitol. In the months after 2017’s rally, House lawmakers voted to reject school vouchers or similar programs that allow parents to use public money for private education. In 2018, a key election ousted some of the programs’ largest supporters, including Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Car- rollton, one of the loudest cheer- leaders in the House. And as state Republicans tour the state making constituents a new set of educa- tion-related promises, many have swapped the words “school choice” for “school finance.” So far, even Abbott and Patrick have rarely brought up their former pet issue without being asked— beyond Abbott’s routine proclama- tion for this year’s School Choice Week. New House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, said in January the House would not pass legislation approving vouchers—and that he had consistently voted no on similar bills.
A day after the Texas House unveiled a proposal to pump more than $7 billion in new state funds into public schools, the
Texas Senate answered with a budget that would boost the state’s share of public education spending by about $4.3 billion compared with the previous two- year budget cycle. A Senate bill would give schools $3.7 billion to provide $5,000 pay raises to all full-time classroom teachers.
Lawmakers have said school safety legislation will be a priority this session. A bill filed by Rep. Shawn Thierry,
Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a plan this month to limit annual local governments’ property tax revenue growth to 2.5 percent. To increase revenue beyond that, governments would need approval from two-thirds of voters. D-Houston, would require school districts and open- enrollment charter schools to have metal detectors on each campus.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has announced the state will have $119.1 billion for lawmakers to use in putting together
the state’s 2020-21 budget.
The Texas House’s budget plans would give the state prison system $160 million more to help care for inmates. The Senate’s plan
would cut funding.
Amid uncertainty about the federal Affordable Care Act, state legislators will tackle a variety of issues during the session, from abortion to mental health to opioids to funding for Medicaid.
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The Woodlands edition • February 2019
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