Stop TEA's Back-Door Private-School Vouchers

Subject: Stop TEA's Back-Door Attempt at Private School Vouchers!

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

Under the guise of implementing a 2007 bill on dropout prevention and recovery, the Texas commissioner of education is claiming that he now has the power to dole out state funding to private schools. I urge you to send a strong message to Commissioner of Education Robert Scott that opening a back door to private-school vouchers in this fashion would exceed his authority and violate clear legislative intent.

Commissioner Scott's vehicle for this maneuver is a strategic plan he pushed through the new High School Completion and Success Initiative Council, created by HB 2237 last session and appointed by him. This council does not have as part of its mission creating a wedge program of private-school vouchers using public funds. Key lawmakers--including Sen. Florence Shapiro, chair of the Senate Education Committee, Rep. Rob Eissler, chair of the House Public Education Committee, and Sen. Royce West, whose dropout initiative became the basis for HB 2237--all have publicly disavowed any intent to have this consensus dropout bill turned into a voucher-equivalent program. Nonetheless, it appears that Commissioner Scott is in earnest about turning a consensus bill to address the dropout issue into the thin end of the wedge to achieve state funding of private schools.

The commissioner, as an interim gubernatorial appointee, still must face a Senate confirmation hearing and vote next session in order to remain in office. I urge you to convey to him that this attempt to usurp legislative authority and steer taxpayer funds to private schools, if not renounced, should and would prevent his confirmation. Commissioner Scott must not be allowed to use HB 2237 as a pretext for the diversion of public funds from our public schools that private-school voucher supporters have never been able to pass in the legislature.