1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The proposed school voucher program under Senate Bill 2 raises significant concerns about undermining the public education system and perpetuating inequities. While the bill claims to prioritize low-income families and students with disabilities, the definition of "low-income" extends up to households earning around $156,000 for a family of four – well above the level considered low-income by the Texas Education Agency. This raises doubts about the program's ability to truly serve disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, the $10,000 per student allocated for private school tuition exceeds the base funding for public schools, diverting crucial resources away from an already underfunded public system. Private schools would also be exempt from federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), potentially leaving students with disabilities without critical protections and services. Studies from other states with voucher programs have shown little to no academic improvement for low-income students, and in some cases, significant declines. There are also concerns about exacerbating segregation, as private school enrollment in Texas does not reflect the diversity of the public system. For these reasons, I urge you to reject Senate Bill 2 and instead prioritize equitable funding and resources for our public schools, which serve the vast majority of Texas students. Our focus should be on strengthening the public education system to provide high-quality, inclusive education for all children, regardless of their background or abilities.