TERRELL, Texas — The Texas Legislature convenes for a third Special Session to consider vouchers, border security, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Terrell ISD’s Superintendent, Dr. Georgeanne Warnock, spoke to how vouchers might impact local public schools.
TERRELL, Texas — The Texas Legislature convenes for a third Special Session to consider vouchers, border security, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Terrell ISD’s Superintendent, Dr. Georgeanne Warnock, spoke to how vouchers might impact local public schools.
Educational savings accounts are the technical name for what is generally referred to as vouchers. Vouchers would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their children’s education in a private or charter school.
In Terrell, Superintendent Dr. Georgeanne Warnock says that in other states where vouchers have been expanded, it’s increased class size and caused programs in public schools to be cut.
“In states with expanding voucher programs, evidence shows that class sizes start to grow, programs start to be cut (like music, art, foreign languages, career and technical programs, libraries, counselors, etc), and fees start to be charged to close funding gaps,” said Dr. Warnock. “This is not what Texans want for their children, and this is not what we want for Terrell ISD families.”
During the general session of the Texas Legislature, SB8 - a school choice bill, was blocked by Democrats and Rural Republicans and left pending in committee. Rural Republicans in Texas have expressed concern about what school choice would do to local districts.
In response to those concerns, Anita Scott, the Policy Director for the Texas Homeschool Coalition, told TheHill.com that the fears are valid but to take a chance on new opportunities.
“The same way in Texas when charter schools became a new reality outside of public schools —there was a concern that charter schools would sort of decrease the student population and public schools. And it’s actually created a healthy competition that raises the standards and raises the rigor, so we’re inviting our rural Republican friends to remember that reality and inviting them to be ready to expand even more opportunities.”
In Terrell, Superintendent Dr. Warnock says that Terrell ISD already has school choice built-in for families to take advantage of.
“Terrell ISD currently offers programs of choice,” said Dr. Warnock. “These include our Global Leadership Academy for talented and gifted students in kindergarten through fifth grade; our Health Science Academy that enables our students to earn certifications in the health field; and our dual credit Associate's Degree program with Trinity Valley Community College where students can earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an Associate Degree tuition-free.”
“Additionally, we offer a number of Career and Technical Education courses including welding, robotics, and automotive technology - all which enable students to sit for certification exams and give them the opportunity to become workforce ready upon high school graduation.”
Furthermore, she says that the Terrell ISD School Board is currently imagining how to expand those opportunities in response to the rapid growth in Kaufman County.
“At the present time, we are visioning with our Board of Trustees how we will expand choice programs as our enrollment continues to grow since Kaufman County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States.”
During the spring General Session of the Texas Legislature, the Governor signed HB 3 into law. HB 3 added new rules regarding school safety, armed personnel on campus, mental health training, and other items. This legislation has increased regulations that local districts are responsible for paying for. The State is paying some costs, but the bulk falls back on local districts.
Dr. Warnock says that with vouchers, while expenses will stay the same, funding will be cut for the students who leave and go the voucher route.
“In Terrell ISD, if we have 20 students in a 3rd-grade class and two of those students leave to take a voucher option, our funding is reduced by ten percent; however, none of the expenses can be reduced,” said Dr. Warnock. “We still have to have a teacher for the other 18 students, run buses, provide lunch, and have a principal and counselor. In a nutshell, the funding is reduced, but the expenses stay the same.”
As for parental rights and expanding choice, Dr. Warnock says Terrell ISD has you covered.
“Parents currently have school choice and rights within our current public school systems in the State of Texas,” stated Dr. Warnock. “These include their home public school, choice programs within the public school, transfers to other public school districts, charter schools, and virtual public/charter schools. These options are all currently funded by tax-payer dollars.”
What the Texas House and Senate will come up with is yet to be determined. The Special Session will last for 30 days as the Texas Constitution allows. If they cannot agree on vouchers and border security, the Governor has hinted he will call them back for a 4th Special Session, which could last well into December.