The Governor of Texas has been advocating for school choice vouchers and has gone so far as to call 4 Special Sessions of the Texas legislature. All of which failed the prospect of school choice. School choice is based on the principle of free-market economics. The line of reasoning for the proposal is that schools would compete for the money and as such would need to improve themselves to stay competitive and existing.  Texans will cast their votes during the 2024 Primary elections on March 5 for the candidate that represents their opinion on the school voucher system.

“Choice already exists,” Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo said. “Inter-district transfers, intra-district transfers…If a parent wants to move from one campus to another in a school system or lives outside of the school system, and wants to come in, some transfers allow that.” 

Politicians and legislators say choice doesn’t exist for the failing schools and they need options.  This follows NISD’s school board resolution earlier this year stating their opposition to school choice. 

“The Nacogdoches ISD School Board stands in unison when it comes to how the impact of vouchers can be detrimental to public education,” Trujillo said. 

The idea of school choice is opposed by much of rural Texas because rural areas don’t have as many concentrated resources. 

“All the lights in this room, there’s just one light switch. You can’t turn on just one light, all the lights are burning, Trujillo said.  “It doesn’t matter if it’s 1 or 20 people, still the same amount of lights, still the same amount of money to energize the room. Every time a seat is empty, then that kid is not in our revenue.” 

The school district depends on shared resources. For example, NISD has dedicated teachers that can teach more niche courses, because all of the teachers are concentrated in one school. Rural schools are afraid they would lose resources if private schools were subsidized. 

“The voucher program has been attached as a rider to other bills at least 5 times [in the 3rd] session,” Trujillo said.  “Every time it’s been pulled away. What’s the big movement and why do we keep attaching it to things that are very important to all of us? I would specifically say, why does our governor do that because that’s his initiative: ‘I will not do this until you give me vouchers, no more money, no more bills,’” Trujillo said. 

In the 4th session, the Texas House of Representatives voted to amend the rider out of the education funding bill. A rider is part of a law attached to the law to try and force it to pass because the wider bill is more wanted. Nacogdoches Representative, Travis Clardy, is one of 21 Republicans who voted with the Democrats to remove the rider from the wider bill.

“What they need to do is accountability, how are they gonna be held accountable if they are given the revenue, how are they gonna be accountable for the learning that’s going on,” Trujillo said.  “And how does it compare to me here with the school system? And financial stability, how will we follow the money, who will follow the money? And what’s being taught?”

There are many concerns rural schools have about school choice.  Governor Abbott has promised that he will continue to fight for school choice. Whether this means a 5th special session or not is unclear. According to The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, Abbott endorsed Shofner over the incumbent Clardy. However, with the next Texas legislative election coming in November of next year, there is still time for the Governor to call his special sessions.

“We have the separation of church and state, which means I can believe in faith and something greater than myself but I can’t indoctrinate you in my teaching, now when you go to a private school, that’s what they’re there for; that’s why parents make that choice,” Trujillo said. “A parent wants their child to go to a faith-based organization or school and it’s based on biblical standing, whether it’s catholic or Presbyterian – the parents pick that – but in public school, we’ve got to make sure we accept everybody. There’s no accountability when it comes to the voucher system,” Trujillo said.