Gov. Greg Abbott visited Dallas Friday night to campaign for school choice ahead of an upcoming special legislative session expected in October.
The governor attended a “Parents Matter Tailgate” at First Baptist Academy hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Abbott met with families in attendance and even performed the coin toss ahead of the school’s football game against Mercy Culture Preparatory.
“Tonight is a typical night in Texas — tonight is about football, family, fun, and freedom,” said Abbott, according to a press release sent to The Dallas Express. “One of the freedoms we believe in is the freedom of parents to choose what is right for their child. We want to make sure every parent in the state of Texas has the power to choose the education that’s best for their child.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the House and Senate could not agree on the scope of school choice legislation during the regular session, with disagreements largely centering around how many families could qualify to receive education savings accounts, a mechanism that would grant parents an annual taxpayer-funded allowance to defray the costs of private school or homeschooling.
“School choice is not only great for students, it’s also great for public education. By having school choice, we will empower you all with the freedom you need to best educate your child and also put Texas on the pathway to having the best public schools in America,” Abbott said.
Polling has shown substantial support for school choice in Texas, with a University of Houston poll finding that 53% of Texans would support a school choice program that helps all families without any income limitations or restrictions on religious school attendance, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Still, lingering animosity between Speaker of the House Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick could darken the waters following the Senate’s acquittal of Attorney General Ken Paxton on impeachment articles passed by the House.
Additionally, opponents of school choice legislation, like Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, have been circling the wagons in a bid to dissuade state lawmakers from passing any such law.
“One thing that I can guarantee is if private school subsidies are part of this state, we will never have enough money in public education to pay our teachers what they are worth,” Elizalde claimed, per KERA News.
Dallas ISD’s enrollment has been declining in recent years, even without vouchers or education savings accounts in play.
Only 41% of students in Dallas ISD scored at grade level on their STAAR exams during the 2021-2022 school year, despite the work of the district’s dedicated faculty and staff. Additionally, almost 20% of students in the graduating Class of 2022 did not earn a high school diploma within four years. The statewide average for on-time graduation was 90% that school year.
James Quintero of the Texas Public Policy Foundation previously told The Dallas Express that flagging student achievement outcomes has been one of a number of issues driving students out of traditional public schools.
“Traditional K-12 schools are hemorrhaging enrollment due to growing concerns over content, quality, and the politicization of the classroom. This steep decline is evidence that parents are ready for something different, something better,” Quintero said.
