Call them “school vouchers” or the new nickname in Texas legislature of educational savings accounts.
These vouchers, also called educational savings accounts, would allow families to utilize public dollars to send children to private schools.
Grimes County’s State representative Kyle Kacal of College Station says it is a difficult subject when he represents 18 public school districts.
“You meet the superintendents, and school boards, and those are folks I get to know well…and they are working their own school, their children attend. But, on the other hand, I have talked to many parents who would want school choice,” said Kacal on WTAW’s The INfomaniacs.
Opponents of the idea argue the plan benefits only people who can afford private schools already, and will harm rural schools most.
Kacal says it will be fun to watch the House Public Education Committee, which could hold its first public hearing next week.
“Make sure it does not affect out public school system. We are still operating at a deficiency on funding, and we need funding. Teachers need pay raises. There is a lot of red tape that educators have to go through to try and educate our kids,” said Kacal.
He added it will be difficult to focus on the governor’s plan to offer vouchers only to lower income families whose children attend bad school districts.