A packed house is expected at an event hosted by The Dallas Express on the evening of February 24.
All available tickets have been sold to the School Choice Forum, which will include approximately 300 attendees plus the hosts, panelists, and press.
The headliners will offer a range of views on arguably the most contentious issue in the Texas Legislature this session. Panelists will include longtime rivals such as Corey A. DeAngelis, PhD, education analyst Lynn Davenport, and influential figures in Texas politics such as State Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-FW), Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Allen West, and social activist Russell Fish.
“Why Attend?” a DX flyer for the event asks. “School choice is more than a policy debate—it’s about creating opportunities for every child to thrive. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or community member, your voice is critical to shaping the conversation.”
School choice is widely believed to be one of the biggest issues for the Texas legislature in the coming months. Every attempt to pass a school choice bill in the past has failed, but some figures believe that it could pass in the coming weeks or months. The 2024 election in Texas was partially fought between pro-school choice and anti-school choice factions.
Debates on the matter shatter political norms and frequently make strange bedfellows, with rural Republicans, urban Democrats, teachers unions, and those concerned about government overreach into the private sector often taking the anti-point of view, while suburban Republicans, libertarians, some education reformers, homeschoolers, and many think tanks support educational change.
Matters get even more contentious when policymakers must choose between different “school choice” forms, such as vouchers and education savings accounts.
All of these interests and topics will be debated tonight before a live audience.
The exchange will start at 6:00 p.m. and conclude around 8:00 p.m. at Milo Butterfingers, located at 5645 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75206.