Creighton repeatedly emphasized that private schools will act independently and that parents will be the best accountability tool for the program. What does choice look like for now? What could money from an education savings account be spent on? Ten states have enacted education savings account programs, and about 20 others, including Texas, are in the legislative process to get a similar program approved. Updated: Mar 10, 2023 / 09:05 PM CST AUSTIN (Nexstar) State Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), chair of the Senate Committee on Education, filed Senate Bill 8 Friday evening, giving a. Speaking in the rain, Abbott rallied a crowd of around 200 supporters on the north Capitol steps to say parents matter.. All vendors would be required to apply to the state for approval, which for private schools includes being accredited. By signing up you agree to ourTerms of ServiceandPrivacy Policy. Whether the new version of SB 8 could pass the House remains unclear. Gives districts with less than 20,000 students $10,000 for each student who participates in an education savings account program for the first two years the child is in the program. Buckley insisted the committee had taken public comment on education savings accounts when members heard four House bills on similar topics during an April 11 meeting. That is why we need school choice for parents who want options other than their failing public school." The Texas Senate approved SB 8 in April and sent it to the House, where it's been expected . Sen. Creighton said he authored the parental rights bill "to place parents, not government, squarely in the center of the decisions for their children. Texas schoolchildren should have a hearing during which members listen to public testimony, he said. When the bill reached the House, it was pared down to offer the program only to students with disabilities and those who receive free or reduced-price lunches, or about 4 million total. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Summary; Sponsors; Texts; Votes; Research; Comments; Track; Bill Title: Relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action. Education Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, authored both bills. That will give all parents the ability to choose the best education option for their child, he said during a parental rights event in Corpus Christi in January, where he announced his support for such a program. Public school districts with fewer than 20,000 students would benefit from a hold harmless measure, which would ensure their funding doesnt drop off immediately and dramatically if students leave. State of Pride Report Know Your Rights Recent Work Contact the Attorney General Attorney General Bonta is committed to protecting the rights of all people. Since Texas funds school districts based on attendance, any student that leaves a school district would result in less money. Traditional vouchers often send the funds straight to the private school or educational institution where the student enrolls. Ensures parents right to direct their childs moral and religious training and make medical decisions. The version approved by the Senate would be open to most K-12 students in Texas and would give parents who opt out of the public school system up to $8,000 in taxpayer money per student each. A Texas House vote earlier in the day suggests Senate Bill 8 might be short of the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. Dan. During the committee hearing meeting Monday, House Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, said the bill was meant to give parents more schooling options. According to a news release from Creighton's office, the bill creates an Education Savings Account for up to 62,500 pre-K through 12th-grade students who attend the poorest-performing schools in the state. The bill also streamlines the grievance process, which currently takes many months. "It also provides less funding for special education students than the original House version of the Senate bill and denies school choice to low-income families that may desperately need expanded education options for their children," Abbott said in his Sunday statement. Texas Senate Bill 8 (Prior Session Legislation) TX State Legislature page for SB8. Insider coverage of Texas politics that keeps the government in check. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. voting. During debate over the amendment, Harris seemed to side with Buckley in viewing the measure as premature. by Brian Lopez Find a complete list of them here. But the chamber rejected his motion to table, 64-71, and proceeded to an up-or-down vote on the amendment. Abbott is all in this session on passing Senate Bill 8, which if passed would give families up to $8,000 in taxpayer money, per student, to pay for private schooling through an education. The version of the bill approved by the Senate would be open to most K-12 students in Texas and would give parents who opt out of the public school system up to $8,000 in taxpayer money per. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Theres no reason why any students should have a woke agenda pushed on them. Students who leave public schools will perform better under his plan, as would the schools they leave, Abbott said. Regarding instruction in the classroom, the bill requires schools to provide parents with access to curriculum and materials. Updated: April 5, 2023. As written now, families who opt for an education savings account could use the money to pay for a childs private school tuition, books, tutoring, transportation or other materials, such as uniforms. Local journalism from deep in the heart of Texas. This is a sin what we are doing here today.. The bills drew dozens and dozens of parents last week to a hearing filled with hours of testimony where people spoke largely on the SB 8 proposal to set up a mechanism to use public money for private education. Gonzalez, superintendent of the McAllen Independent School District, said he is against anything that would take money away from public schools that are already struggling with enrollment declines. Governor Greg Abbott today released a statement as the Texas Legislature considers pivotal school choice legislation in the final weeks of the legislative session: . They worry that after the provision expires, they will be expected to provide the same services with fewer dollars. The widely circulated House version of the bill would create a program available to more than 3 million of Texas' 5.5 million schoolchildren and would make at least $7,500 available to students annually, mostly to special education students and children eligible for free or reduced lunch. Hansen asked. Over the last couple of years, education savings accounts have gained popularity among those looking to expand school choice across the country. Failing public schools, efforts by some administrators to limit or remove parental rights and oversight of the curriculum, books, or lesson plans being taught to their children, teacher unions demanding school shutdowns, mask mandates and other mandates led parents to demand the state Legislature take action as the Florida Legislature has already done. Senate Bill 8 passed the Senate last month. In other states, scaled-back voucher initiatives have passed only for more broad pushes to quickly follow. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. It's all part of Senate Bill 8, which is called Empowering Parental Rights, and school choice is a major part of the legislation. Smaller school districts would receive a $10,000 grant from the state for five years for every student that leaves. According to a recent Texas Education Agencyreport, in the 2021-22 school year, 5,427,370 students were enrolled in Texas public schools. Our Texas community colleges look forward to leading the nation in higher education innovation.. Greg Abbott has made school choice one of his highest priorities this year, highlighting it in his State of the State address and throwing his weight behind education savings accounts, which would allow parents to opt out of their local school districts and receive state money to school their children directly. In particular, the San Antonio Democrat highlighted the state takeover of Houston Independent School District. Last year, taxpayers in about 30 states provided about $5 billion to send kids to private schools, according to Scott Jensen, senior strategist for the American Federation for Children, an organization geared toward expanding voucher-like programs across the country. They cant get out, they cant change it and it breeds a sense of hopelessness.. Show us with your support. It includes provisions requiring consent for various health screenings and says schools must adopt procedures for notifying a parent if there is a change in the students mental health. The bill recognizes that public schools or governmental entities may not infringe on a parent's right to direct the instruction of their child as it pertains to their education and medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment. Five years still has an end date on it, doesnt it? said Michael Lee, the executive director of the Texas Association of Rural Schools, a group that advocates for the needs of small districts. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) was created by the Texas Legislature in 1965 and serves as a resource, partner, and advocate for Texas higher education, resulting in a globally competitive workforce that positions Texas as an international leader. Parents can also send their child to a magnet school, a public school with a specialized curriculum that draws students from across districts. Its going to come down to whether or not it has the votes in the Texas House, and [in] the past [it] has not., Buckley did not address school choice in a statement on his appointment, only saying that he looks "forward to working with members of the committee and my colleagues in the Texas House to craft policy to provide the best opportunities for Texas teachers, students and their families.". Texas has had free charter schools since 1996, and the state has some of the most lenient home-school laws in the country. But other provisions of the bill speak to keeping kids safe and also on what is and isnt appropriate between teacher and students.. Advocates for education savings accounts have framed them as a tool to give parents more choices when deciding how and where to educate their children. Receive our in-depth coverage of education issues and stories that affect North Texans. I thank the Texas Legislature for sending this bill to my desk to reward community colleges based on positive student outcomes and allow students to enroll in dual credit courses at no additional cost. An amendment that did get approval extended eligibility for the program. Twelve House Republicans who voted for the amendment in 2021 opposed it now. While SB 8 doesnt explicitly target LGBTQ people, opponents have raised concerns that the bills broad scope and vague language would prohibit Texas schools from acknowledging the communitys existence. Giving parents the power to determine the best school for their child will encourage competition and innovation, ensuring that each Texas student has the opportunity to succeed. Jos Menndez of San Antonio and Sarah Eckhardt of Austin said the bill could also stop students from learning about a wide range of issues from the womens suffrage movement, to the landmark ruling for marriage equality, to the leading cause of cervical cancer. Part of being a professional is being able to own your own shop. School leaders nervous about vouchers liken these efforts to seeing the camels nose under the tent. Arizona created its education savings account program in 2011. The burnt orange beat, covering high school and college sports. Increase capacity at colleges to meet changing workforce needs. The report offered three sets of recommendations for a new model in support of the goals in Building a Talent Strong Texas, the states strategic plan for higher education: Texass community colleges enroll and serve almost half of all students pursuing postsecondary education in our state, so they are an important engine that is propelling our future workforce and economy, said TxCCCF Chair Woody L. Hunt. March 21, 20233 PM Central. It also requires parental consent for changes to health or wellness policies for their children, requiring schools to inform parents of any changes to their child's mental, emotional or physical health. Education policy groups have speculated that if the House and Senate don't pass a savings account-related bill during the regular session, which ends May 29, Abbott would likely call a special session to get a proposal approved. I dont have to work at a school to be able to send them to a great school. We cant wait to welcome you Sept. 21-23 to the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, our multiday celebration of big, bold ideas about politics, public policy and the days news all taking place just steps away from the Texas Capitol. Plus, you'll get comprehensive coverage of ACL Fest, CMT Country Music Awards and SXSW Fest. Creighton heard dozens of amendments that would have added accountability measures to his bill, such as requiring a standardized test, a graded accountability system like public schools, requiring private schools to accept all students like public schools, and requiring private schools to follow the same safety protocols as public schools. No doubt other modifications can be made to the original House version of the Senate bill to attract even more legislators, as well as to bridge the divide with the Senate . He said he was absolutely certain his committee would have a thoughtful discussion next week about the school choice bills and then decide whether to advance any to the floor. The bill was not popular among teacher groups, which said educators deserved an across-the-board pay raise, or at least a higher one-time bonus to make up for inflation. Successful student transfers from community colleges to four-year universities. Requires districts to create a process for parents to ask for a review of instructional material. The education savings account would take effect in the 2024-25 school year. The bill also says that the state comptroller would have jurisdiction over the accounts, and a third-party vendor would distribute the funds directly to education services providers that have been approved by the Texas Education Agency. Requires districts to give transfer priority to students who meet certain conditions, including dependents of a district employee, military or law enforcement personnel or children in foster care.
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