Adequately fund public schools with public funds first – skirting around the issue of school vouchers

Adequately fund public schools with public funds first – skirting around the issue of school vouchers

By: Kayne M. Smith
July 24, 2013

Without going into detail about the presumed pros and cons of school voucher programs, I want to touch upon Sen. Dan Patrick’s (R-Houston) SB 23, which he filed during the legislative session. This bill (which is out of committee but has not been active since) would provide a 15 percent state tax credit to businesses across the state that donate to scholarships aimed at helping disadvantaged students attend private schools.   

Hamilton, in his article Tax credits a smokescreen for school vouchers, explains a proposal similar to what Patrick submitted during this legislative term. Hamilton asks why legislators would attempt to devise a plan that would compensate families whose children attend private schools through corporate tax breaks. It is especially important to note the fact that Texas schools faced $5.4 billion in funding cuts. When you review Patrick’s tax credit plan, it becomes evident that “these corporate tax credits are meant to conceal something else—school vouchers” (Hamilton, 2013).

Essentially, when a taxpayer donates money to a private nonprofit group specially created for this program, the money is collected and scholarships are awarded to families of the organization’s choosing. The state then reimburses the organization through tax credits. This is undeniably a creative way to skirt around the controversial “school voucher” name and program that is recognizable by most.

Unquestionably, private schools need funding to be successful. I want to see every school be successful so that it can provide an exemplary education program to the students they serve, whether it be public or private. However, complicating the already overly-complicated tax code does not seem to be the answer, especially when it is simply a political ploy to purposely hide a system that is arguably controversial and unpopular among many. I also want to see an opportunity where all students may attend a private school if they chose to do so, regardless of socioeconomic status or any other factor.

Private schools may have limited resources without public funding, but we cannot forget that public schools are facing similar issues with public funding available. I think the ultimate issue is to fix the public school finance model before considering how to equitably support private schools. Our legislature cannot continue to be lackadaisical in their obligation to provide a fair and equitable educational model for all students of Texas. The debate of using public funds to support private schools should wait until then.

 

References

Rodrigues, F. & Weber, A. (2013). Texas Senate considers school ‘voucher’ bills, despite House ban. Retrieved from http://kutnews.org/post/texas-senate-considers-school-voucher-bills-despite-house-ban-update

Hamilton, B. (2013). Tax credits a smokescreen for school vouchers. Retrieved from http://www.statesman.com/news/news/opinion/hamilton-tax-credits-a-smokescreen-for-school-vouc/nT8hx/