Could School Voucher Programs Be a Key Factor in the Texas Gubernatorial Race?

A school voucher program known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts went into effect this school year, giving families state funds to apply to education outside the public school system, such as private or home schools. The program and Texans' reactions to it sparked polarizing media opinions about the efficacy of these types of programs.

Are School Vouchers a Turning Point for Texas Republicans? Jessica Grose argued in an article for New York Times (Opinion) (Left) that the new school voucher program in Texas represents the views of billionaires more than the rural and working-class people of the state, so much so that many conservatives may vote blue in the upcoming election. The school voucher program, which is similar to programs used in other states such as Iowa and New York, gives families state money to use for education outside the public school system. Grose's largest arguments against the program include the fact that the state has no say over the curriculum taught at private schools or in home school curricula, and private schools can discriminate against applications for their religion, disability status, and almost any other reason. Additionally, the voucher program is universal, meaning families of any financial status, not just poor families, can access the funds. Grose spoke with a variety of historically conservative voters, particularly those in rural areas and small towns in Texas, who said that they will either vote Democrat or are undecided because of the issue of school vouchers, which the voters believe have ripped away funding from the public schools that educate their children and employ their friends and neighbors.

Related: TN to Spend More On School Vouchers Than Per Public School Student, on Average

What The Times Left Out: Becket Adams (Right) wrote a direct rebuttal to the New York Times opinion for National Review (Opinion) (Right) that argued that the biggest failure in the Times piece was not only its stance on voucher programs but also its failure to capture the truth about conservative viewpoints. Adams wrote that many journalists living in hubs like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles "claim to cover the country and the world for a living" but "have little idea what anyone outside of their immediate community wants or believes." Adams argued that Grose's article ignored the "core conservative case" in favor of school voucher programs, which Adams called "school choice," which is the freedom it gives parents for movement and choice when it comes to their children's education. Ultimately, Adams pushed for journalists to spend more time amongst average Americans to better understand what communities outside of their own in major metropolitan areas want for the country.

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