In this edition:
- Committee Hearings This Week
- Help Us Stop Vouchers, Call Your Rep Now!
- HB 2, Historic Bilingual Ed Funding
- Ways to Get Involved Against Vouchers
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This Vote Will Be Close! We Need Your Help Opposing Vouchers!
Senate Bill 2, the Senate version of the voucher bill, is headed to the House floor. We have about a week before it gets there, so we need everyone’s help to defeat this bill.
The House Public Education Committee held a formal meeting (not a hearing), last Thursday after being moved from earlier in the week. The meeting was not livestreamed officially by the Texas House, but thankfully some organizations and news stations stepped up to bring Texans coverage of the meeting.
The bill passed out of the committee on a 9-6 vote. This voucher bill would take away billions of dollars from public education over the next few years. And as a reminder, this bill explicitly discriminates against children based on their immigration status by requiring proof of citizenship for the voucher program.
Instead of making our public schools stronger, some politicians are choosing to defund our public schools. Parents, students and educators are sounding the alarm to demand that we fully fund our public schools instead of creating a voucher system that benefits the wealthiest few.
Action
We need everyone to call their representatives and do the following:
Ask them their position on SB 2. If they are voting no, thank them for protecting public education! Emphasize them to vote yes to pro-equity amendments or any amendments that increase accountability, oversight and transparency for any proposed voucher bill.
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.
House Bill 2: Historic Bilingual Funding Additions!
During the same formal meeting last week, the House Public Education Committee also advanced House Bill 2, its priority school funding bill this session. The bill includes a $395 increase of the basic allotment funding. Additionally, the bill increases the bilingual education funding weight that gives school districts more money to support bilingual education. We are excited to see this addition, as it’s the first time since the bilingual education weight was established in 1984 that it’s seeing an increase.
Testimony Presented Last Week
The Texas Seal of Biliteracy is a Strategy for College and Career Success IDRA Testimony for HB 1579 – Submitted to the Texas House Subcommittee on Advanced and Career-Oriented Education by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., April 3, 2025
Stronger Bilingual Education Programs Are Key Strategy for Student Success IDRA Testimony for HB 1581 – Submitted to the Texas House Subcommittee on Advanced and Career-Oriented Education by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., April 3, 2025
Coming Up: Week of April 7, 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
- 9:00 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.
