SAN ANTONIO – Texas legislators are again within the Capitol discussing a invoice that will create a school voucher program.
Currently, each scholar is allocated cash from the state, and all of it is going to public faculties. The Education Savings Account would permit oldsters to make a choice whether or not that cash will move to public faculties or a non-public school in their selection.
On Thursday, Texas senators licensed Senate Bill 1, a voucher-like program that will create an schooling financial savings account, permitting households to make a choice the place they need to ship their kid’s $8,000 in taxpayer cash.
San Antonio District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo testified against the invoice on the Capitol on Monday.
Four of the 5 school districts inside of her district are having or discussing school closures.
South San Antonio ISD, San Antonio ISD, and Harlandale ISD are planning for school closure, and (*5*).
“We’re seeing these closures because of a low birth rate, the role of charter schools and the lack of affordable housing. And when we look at how charter schools are lined up all throughout the district, essentially, our kids are going to these schools. And what that means is less money for our public schools,” Castillo mentioned.
Castillo mentioned the proposed invoice may just purpose extra public school closures, forcing oldsters to force out of doors their neighborhoods to take their youngsters to school. She advocates for public faculties as a result of oldsters can take their grievances to a school board.
“They can’t afford to commute to the nearest public school. And with that, with a decrease in enrollment, it will impact school funding. And then we’ll continue to have these conversations about school closures,” Castillo mentioned.
Inga Cotton with San Antonio Charter Moms mentioned she is impartial concerning the proposed schooling financial savings account invoice.
She mentioned her position is to lend a hand tell oldsters about what form of revel in they would like for his or her kid— public, non-public or constitution — pronouncing some public and constitution faculties have STEM-based, school readiness techniques.
“Is this the path to a brighter future for their students? So we see our job as this information source and helping families understand the landscape more so than try to push one way or another,” Cotton mentioned.
District 5, situated within the central West Side, is without doubt one of the maximum traditionally impoverished and redlined portions of San Antonio.
Castillo mentioned the schooling financial savings account choice may just additional impact this house’s get entry to to high quality schooling.
“District 5, in particular, (has) had a history of student walkouts and Supreme Court lawsuits to fight for a just education. And what we’re seeing now, and what I’m hearing from my community members, is that continued struggle and fight to ensure that our children and our community continue to have access to quality schools,” Castillo mentioned.
The invoice is heading to the Texas House for additional dialogue.
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