FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2023
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/hers), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Senate tonight advanced Senate Bill 1, a renewed school voucher bill, with an 18-13 vote. It will now go to the Texas House for consideration. The legislation seeks to create a voucher program that would divert taxpayer dollars from benefitting students at local public schools and instead subsidize education at private schools.
Vouchers are a key priority for Governor Greg Abbott, but the legislation failed to pass during the 88th regular session. Abbott has since called three special sessions.
Texas Freedom Network Senior Political Coordinator Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her/ella) issued the following response:
“This bill is an expensive scam that will steal funds from Texas kids and undermine public education. Voucher schemes subsidize exclusive private and religious schools for students who come from high-income families and already attend private schools. The author even acknowledges that the bill doesn’t bar private schools from discriminating against students by rejecting their admission.
“Most Texans believe that all children should have the freedom to pursue their dreams through quality education — no matter their skin color, how much money their parents make, or their zip code. It’s outrageous that Governor Abbott is holding critical funding for kids and teachers in public schools hostage until the Legislature passes a voucher scam like this bill. The answer from the Texas House should remain a very firm no.”
