Dallas ISD Trustee Dan Micciche privately accused Gov. Greg Abbott of promoting a “BS narrative” about school choice, according to an email obtained by The Dallas Express through an open records request.
Micciche’s email criticizing Abbott was sent to a Dallas ISD employee who had sent Micciche an article about how a high-ranking Texas Education Agency (TEA) official was caught on video advocating for education savings accounts. Micciche then expressed his displeasure with TEA Commissioner Mike Morath and Abbott.
“Sorry to be on the other side of my friend, Mike Morath, but I really think the TEA position is wrong and very political and damaging to our efforts to sustain and improve community support and outcomes for our kids,” Micciche wrote to Jon Dahlander, the chief of partnerships and intergovernmental relations for Dallas ISD.
“All he has to do is not retroactively lower the ratings; just apply the new rules prospectively,” Micciche continued. “I can only imagine the pressure the Governor is putting on him to come up with ratings that feed the ‘failing schools’ BS narrative just in time for the voucher special session.”
“The pressure Abbott is putting on anti-voucher, independently elected Republicans is enormous. The pressure he is putting on his own appointees must be even worse,” he concluded.
The email was sent in August of 2023.
Micciche and Morath did not respond to a request for comment.
Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott’s press secretary, said Micciche’s email was an example of the education establishment working against the people of Texas.
“This is yet another false smear by the desperate teachers unions and their allies,” Mahaleris told DX. “Governor Abbott is focused on delivering the best education for students, which Texas can achieve by enacting school choice and supporting our public education system.”
“A majority of Texans from all walks of life support expanding school choice to all Texas families — including minorities, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and people across rural Texas,” he continued. “When it comes to education, parents matter, and families deserve the ability to choose the best education opportunities for their children.”
Last year, Abbott called for a special session to pass a school choice initiative as part of an education spending package. The bill, which would have launched an education savings accounts program and increased state spending on traditional public schools, was spiked in the House due to a lack of support from Democrats and some Republicans, as previously reported by DX.
Polling shows school choice is popular among diverse groups, as previously reported by DX.
Abbott backed the primary challengers who ran against the House Republicans who voted against school choice. The governor’s influence proved successful in several campaigns. Abbott said the legislature should have the votes to pass a voucher program next session.
The Dallas ISD school board voted unanimously last year on a resolution in opposition to school choice. Dallas ISD employees had privately advised trustees on how to express opposition to school choice initiatives, as previously reported by DX based on emails obtained through an open records request.
“As discussed this morning during the trustee triad, here is the link to the talking points regarding vouchers/education savings accounts put together by the Texas School Alliance, of which we are a member,” Dahlander wrote in an email to Trustee Ben Mackey.
“Below are three articles that have come out within the last couple days about the voucher issue. This first one indicates how the governor plans to be ‘heavily involved’ in the campaign to push for vouchers/education savings accounts. The second one is titled, ‘What you need to know about education savings accounts…’ The third one, from Texas Monthly, connects several data points regarding public education in the state. These articles provide important context for the discussions taking place at the Capitol,” he continued.
Dahlander and Mackey did not respond to a request for comment.
Other emails from Dahlander to trustees included a list of Republicans at the legislature who oppose school choice.
Dallas ISD, the second-biggest district in the state, has been suffering academically. The latest TEA accountability report shows 57 campuses rating a D and 29 more an F during the 2021-2022 school year. Only 41% of its students scored at grade level on their STAAR exams, and almost 20% of the district’s graduating Class of 2022 did not earn a diploma in four years.