Listen to our latest episode of Intersect Ed as it explores the early education challenges faced by both Texas public pre-schools and child care providers.
Current half-day pre-K funding forces public school districts in Texas to cover costs for their state-mandated full-day programs. At the same time, many Texans can’t afford traditional child care. Our guests discuss successful initiatives and how Texas legislative action can improve the futures of Texas’ youngest children.
1. House Committee on Public Education Hears Voucher Bill, House Bill 3 (HB 3)
The House Committee on Public Education convened on Tuesday, March 11, at 8:00 a.m. and continued its meeting through the early hours of Wednesday, March 12, finally adjourning at 6:30 a.m. The marathon session was dedicated to discussing HB 3 by Rep. Buckley. Over the course of nearly 23 hours, with a break to meet on the House Floor, a diverse lineup of witnesses provided testimony, all addressing a broad spectrum of topics and concerns related to the bill.
Witnesses raised concerns a voucher program would divert critical funding away from public schools, further straining already underfunded public schools. Testimony also highlighted the lack of accountability for private schools receiving public dollars, as they are not held to the same transparency and academic standards as public schools.
HB 3 bill creates a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program similar to Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) by Sen. Creighton. There are more similarities than differences between these bills. Both bills allow the Comptroller to certify up to five educational assistance organizations to help administer the program, which would begin during the 2026-27 school year. Both the Senate and House budget proposals include $1 billion for the first year of this program.
The major differences are how the students will be prioritized in a lottery if there are more applicants than available state funding, and whether or not the ESA amount should be a flat amount per student or based on a percentage of per-student funding for public school students. The Senate bill is currently a flat amount ($10,000), and the House bill is a percentage (85% of state and local funding for public school students).
HB 3, as filed, was left pending in committee and allows for the following:
2. Senate Committee on Education K-16 Discusses Numerous Bills, including Funding for Special Education
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 discussed five bills on Tuesday, March 11, including Senate Bill 568 (SB 568) by Sen. Bettencourt relating to special education in public schools.
SB 568, as filed, uses many of the recommendations the Texas Commission on Special Education Funding developed in its 2022 report to the Legislature, including:
Increase in the special education transportation rate by $0.13 per mile.
3. Department of Education Cuts Staff in Half
Late Tuesday night, March 11, the Department of Education announced mass layoffs, reducing its workforce by nearly 50%, with 1,315 employees receiving notifications of being placed on administrative leave and 2,183 remaining at the agency.
“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Secretary McMahon stated it will continue delivering all statutory programs, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.
Eliminating nearly half of the Department of Education workforce raises concerns about the department’s ability to effectively manage programs like Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, potentially leading to slower processing times, reduced oversight, and weaker enforcement of federal education policies.
Find out more about what the Department of Education does here.
4. Legislative Bill Filing Deadline is Today
The deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and emergency matters submitted by the Governor is today, Friday, March 14.
After today, we will have over 1,000 public education-related bills filed for the 89th Legislative Session. Some of the major bills on the move include:
5. The House Committee on Public Education to Hear Numerous Bills Next Week
The House Committee on Public Education has posted a hearing for Tuesday, March 18, at 8:00 a.m. The bills include policies on student discipline, kindergarten readiness, school safety, and cell phone bans during school instructional time.
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