Commentator Glenn Beck tweeted about 24 Republicans in the Texas House who recently voted against any funds for school choice.
"24 Texas House *Republicans* voted to KILL any school choice funds in Texas. Some were endorsed in 2022 by the Texas State Teachers Association," Beck wrote.
State Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd), a Republican endorsed by the Texas State Teachers Association, signed a budget amendment that prohibits any public funds being used for education savings accounts (ESAs). Data from the Texas Education Agency shows Bailes' district, 18, has a significant majority of students who are below grade level in reading and mathematics.
Texas Education Agency data shows that out of all the students in House District 18, 15,808 (57.4%) are below grade level in reading and 17,031 (72.7%) are below grade level in math. This data was taken from the 2021-22 school year.
According to the Texas Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA), Bailes was endorsed by the Texas State Teachers Association for reelection in 2022 and received a contribution from ACT For TCTA, the political action committee (PAC) of that teachers association. Bailes was rated "friendly" by the organization "Texans for Public Education."
Bailes joined four fellow Republicans in co-sponsoring a budget amendment that prohibits "the use of appropriated money for school vouchers or other similar programs."
According to Just the News, the amendment that passed received the support of the following House Republicans: Reps. Steve Allison, Trent Ashby, Ernest Bailes, Keith Bell, DeWayne Burns, Travis Clardy, Drew Darby, Charlie Geren, Justina Holland, Kyle Kacal, Ken King, John Kuempel, Stan Lambert, Brooks Landgraf, Andy Murr, Angelia Orr, Four Price, John Raney, Glenn Rogers, Hugh Shine, Reggie Smith, David Spiller and Gary VanDeaver.
The amendment states, '“Money appropriated by this Act may not be used to pay for or support a school voucher, including an education savings account, tax credit scholarship program, or a grant or other similar program through which a child may use state money for nonpublic primary or secondary education.”
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have been supportive of the school choice movement and specifically ESAs, according to Just the News. Abbott has "education freedom" as a legislative priority this session and has been touring the state hosting rallies in support of the movement.
For his part, Patrick recently issued a statement saying, "Parents are the single most important factor to the success of their child in education, followed by a teacher. Republicans, Independents and Democrats all support school choice because Texans agree that families must have choice in education so every child has the best chance of success."
According to 17 empirical studies on school choice in private schools, 11 showed improvement in test scores, four demonstrated no significant effect and two revealed negative effects, the American Federation for Children (AFC) reported. In public schools, 20 out of 21 reported positive impacts from school choice. Additionally, 25 out of 28 studies found taxpayers saved money, and nine out of 10 studies determined school choice helped students move into less segregated schools.
AFC has tracked 31 states that have private school choice programs with 10 states that have an ESA program set up. The average scholarship amount in ESA programs is $9,239. AFC says evidence from school choice has been determined to improve academic outcomes significantly. AFC”s data found school choice programs are also beneficial as they save taxpayers money as well as reduce racial segregation.