If the Texas Legislature approves education savings accounts (ESAs), parents can expect school boards statewide to pay attention when they speak at their meetings, according to a Round Rock pastor and father.
ESAs allow the government to grant a certain amount of money for parents to use for private schools, homeschooling, online learning and approved learning circumstances, according to EdChoice.org.
“Putting choice in the hands of parents will produce better equality in public schools through producing better options and empowering people who do not have power right now, but will have power when the funding follows their kids,” Pastor Jeremy Story told the Austin Journal.
“The education system is not in place for administrators or for teachers who are not doing their job,” Story said in an interview. “The education system is in place for students and to serve parents. That's what our Texas public education system is for and I'm 100% for public education.”
Critics argue that ESAs could drain funds from already underfunded public schools and exacerbate inequality.
“Those places need to suffer who are not educating our kids well,” Story told the Austin Journal. “The future of our children is at stake, If they're not doing a good job, then let's move those students to places who are doing a good job."
Both Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick have been supportive of an ESA bill during the current legislative session.
“There is a greater alignment of people than ever before that support ESA but there is one person who is going try to stop this and his name is Dade Phelan (R-Orange), speaker of the House,” Story said. “He is the only one that could get in the way and what I say to Dade Phelan is ‘Get out of the way and allow the Texas House to pass school choice in our state.’”
Abbott has visited schools across Texas, expressing his support for parental empowerment and giving parents priority over their children's education.
"Now is the time to expand ESAs to every child in the state of Texas,” Abbott said in a clip on Twitter. “That will give all parents the ability to choose the best education option for their child."
In some cases, the ESA will allow for part-time public school courses and private school courses, such as a trade school or apprenticeship.
“A lot fewer kids are going to college,” Story said. “Even very high-performing kids are going to trade schools instead. I believe that something like an ESA program would allow parents to better direct their kids and prepare also Texas kids with better options in this new era of the kind of economy we're facing.”
The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) is among those calling on Texas lawmakers to approve ESA legislation, believing ESAs can help address the lack of educational options in rural areas and provide more choices for families.
ESA accounts are also expected to allow the state to deposit funds for eligible students to use for educational expenses such as tuition, textbooks and tutoring.
"It is just further misinformation from teachers' unions and from the Texas School Board Association to claim that rural schools will somehow lose out," Story added. "The only reason why there's not a better school for your kid for the size of your town is because the money is being held captive by a bad school."