Texas TEA Commissioner Mike Morath on School Vouchers and Education Funding

School Vouchers and Funding

• 📌 Texas Senate Bill 4 proposes allocating $1 billion for 100,000 Texas students to attend private or homeschools.
• 🎯 Supporters believe vouchers offer parents greater freedom and educational options.
• ⚠️ Opponents express concern that voucher programs could divert funds from public schools.
• 💬 TEA Commissioner Mike Morath addressed these concerns, stating that voucher funds come from a different funding bucket and do not conflict with public school funding.
• 📊 He noted that other states have implemented similar programs alongside vibrant public education systems.
• 📈 The legislature is also considering a $9 billion increase in public education funding, which Morath believes coexists with voucher initiatives.

TEA A-F Ratings Release

• 🗓️ Commissioner Morath was in Dallas to speak to the Dallas Rotary Club ahead of the TEA's 2023 A-through-F ratings release.
• 🔍 The release of these ratings follows nearly two years of lawsuits.
• ✅ The ratings are significant for parents and superintendents across the state.