As the new school year approaches, there’s a growing discussion in Texas about changing how K-12 education is funded.
A recent poll by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University shows that most Texans are in favor of some form of school vouchers.
This support spans across political lines, indicating a significant shift in public opinion.
Poll Results Highlighting Support
The poll revealed that many Texans, regardless of their political affiliations, support the idea of school vouchers.
School vouchers allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to fund private education, including religious schools.
Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University and one of the poll’s authors, noted, “Support for vouchers was a little stronger than we had expected to find.”
Support Across Political Lines
The poll, conducted with over 2,000 adults in late June and early July, found that 73% of Republicans and 65% of Independents support school vouchers.
Interestingly, even among Democrats, traditionally seen as opposing vouchers, 55% are in favor of some version of the plan. This broad support suggests a significant change in public opinion on this issue.
Implications for Future Legislation
According to the source, this poll is part of the Texas Trends 2024 series and could have political implications.
Governor Greg Abbott has been a strong advocate for school vouchers and has tried multiple times to pass related legislation. Despite previous setbacks, the current political landscape appears more favorable.
“There were about 20 Republicans in the House that opposed school voucher legislation last session,” Jones explained. “A majority of them are now gone.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of ESAs
Governor Abbott has expressed confidence that with the new turnover in the House, there are enough votes to pass Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) in both chambers by 2025.
The focus is now shifting from whether to implement ESAs to how they will be structured.
The poll also revealed differing opinions on whether the ESA program should be available to all Texas families or be based on income criteria.
Conclusion
This growing support for school vouchers reflects a significant shift in public opinion and political dynamics in Texas.
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As the next legislative session approaches, the debate on school funding will likely intensify, with strong support pushing for the passage of the ESA program