The Texas House will meet this week to vote on the billion-dollar, discriminatory voucher bill. Take action now to stop vouchers!
In this edition:
- Help Stop Vouchers, Call Your Rep Now!
- Share why vouchers are harmful
- See graphic on what the $10 billion voucher money could buy instead
- See how much money your school stands to lose with vouchers
- HB 2, School Funding Bill
- Committee Hearings This Week
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Help Stop Vouchers – This Vote Will Be Close!
The Texas House will debate and vote on Senate Bill 2, the Senate version of the voucher bill, on Wednesday, April 16. This is one step before it goes back to the Senate to confirm. We need your help to defeat this bill!
As a reminder, this voucher bill would take away billions of dollars from public education over the next few years. It also explicitly discriminates against children based on their immigration status by requiring proof of citizenship for the voucher program.
Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, no matter where they live or how much their family earns. Vouchers are an unwise, unworkable and unfair scheme that would create a dual system of education – separate and unequal. Vouchers would weaken, not strengthen, neighborhood public schools that are accountable to us all.
Action
This vote will be close!!! Take 5 minutes to call your representative and do the following:
Ask them their position on SB 2. If they are voting no, thank them for protecting public education! Urge them to vote yes for amendments that protect transparency and accountability for Texans.
If your representative plans to vote yes or is unsure, tell them why they should vote no on vouchers using our call script below.
Call Script: “Vouchers limit opportunity for all students. Vouchers allow private schools to discriminate against children based on many factors and the most recent version discriminates against undocumented students and anyone who may have trouble proving their child’s citizenship. I urge you to vote no and instead fund our public schools instead of giving voucher coupons to the wealthiest few.”
If you live in a rural area, emphasize to them that vouchers hurt rural communities the most. Many students don’t have the ability to travel to a private school that’s miles away from their neighborhood public school.
Who Represents Me
By navigating to Who Represents Me, you can find your state house representative’s number to call their office and tell them to vote no on vouchers.
More Ways to Get Involved!
IDRA Voucher Comment Portal – Have 3 minutes? The Texas Legislature is considering voucher legislation that would be devastating to the Texas students in public schools. Many constituents could not travel to Austin to testify. If you want your voice to be heard, use our form to share your comments on why vouchers are harmful for all Texas students. IDRA will share the comments we receive with legislative offices and feature them on social media.
“Don’t Throw Our Kids Away” Photo Postcards – Join your neighbors against vouchers! Learn how to send a photo postcard to your representative to oppose these voucher bills.
Voucher Data Map – Your District Could Lose Money!
Texas’ proposed school voucher plan would cost taxpayers billions—money that could be spent strengthening public schools for all children. The price tag? Over $10 billion over the next five years, while public schools continue to face funding shortages.
See how much money your school district would lose!
Don’t Throw Away $10 Billion Dollars!
What could $10 billion do for Texas public education? IDRA’s new infographic shows what’s at stake if public funds are diverted from public schools. Our 5.5 million students deserve real investment — not cuts.
School Funding Bill Headed for Floor Vote
In addition to the voucher bill, the House will also vote on House Bill 2, the House’s priority school funding bill. The bill includes changes to school funding, teacher pathways and special education. It raises the basic allotment by only $395, which does not makeup for inflation since 2019. The bill also includes important bilingual education funding which has not been increased since 1984, and overdue changes to the way special education is funded.
Coming Up: Week of April 14, 2025
Texas House: Tuesday
- House Public Education Committee
- 8:00 a.m. (See notice)
- Watch hearings live
- Watch past hearings
Texas Senate: Tuesday
- Senate Education K-16 Committee
- 9:15 a.m. (See notice)
- Watch hearings live
- Watch past hearings
Tools & Resources
Learn more about IDRA’s policy recommendations for Texas
See our Infographic: 5 Data Snacks on IDRA’s Policy Priorities
The Big Cost of Proposed Voucher Legislation, Data Map
How to Testify before the Texas Legislature, Infographic
Get more advocacy tips and videos on IDRA’s SEEN website.
Welcoming Immigrant Students, Infographic
IDRA Voucher Comment Portal – Voice your concerns on the voucher bill.
