School Choice
Steering Texas in a Pro-Growth Direction
Texas’ state government has a $24 billion surplus and a $28.5 billion Rainy Day Fund. Instead of using this overcollected taxpayer money to substantially cut taxes, government spending, and regulations, the 89th Texas Legislature is often advancing legislation in this…
Texas Must Lead on School Choice
HB 3 Is a Good Start, But More Is Needed. Today, the Texas House Committee on Public Education is hearing testimony (watch here) on HB 3, the school choice bill in the House. This could be the first school choice…
The “Texas Two-Step” is a Misstep for Improving Texas
The Texas House sells HB 2 and HB 3 as a package deal for education reform, calling them the “Texas Two-Step.” But this so-called two-step is a misstep. The package prioritizes billions more taxpayer money for a broken public education…
Texas Senate Passes School Choice Bill
The Texas Senate has recently passed SB 2, a landmark piece of legislation that introduces school choice for families across the state. This bill seeks to ensure that Texas students have access to the best educational opportunities available, whether that…
How to Create Real Educational Choice for Texas Parents and Students
The Problem with Previous Texas School Choice Proposals K-12 education in Texas today comes in two forms, public and the private. For the most part in Texas, these two systems operate separately. Unlike many other states, Texas doesn’t have a…
The Case for Prosperity: Less Government, More Growth in Texas
As Texas faces rising property taxes and record-high government spending, it’s time to reassess the path toward long-term prosperity. Recent data illustrates Texas’ strengths and challenges. In August 2024, Texas maintained a 4.1% unemployment rate, while the state’s GDP grew…
Commentary: Texas Is Overfunding Public Education
The State of Texas is pouring unprecedented amounts of taxpayer money into public education with little to show for it. From the 2014-15 school year, to the 2022-23 school year, total education spending surged 53% to $92.4 billion, while per-student…
Cecilia Castellano: A Threat to Texas Taxpayers
As the race for Texas State House District 80 heats up to South Texas temperatures, voters face an important decision that could have long-lasting implications for their wallets, their children’s education, and the future of Texas’s economy. After HD-80 incumbent…
Why Does Texas Need Universal School Choice?
This commentary was originally published at VanceGinn.com here. It is being republished with permission from the author. Overview Despite increases in public education expenditures with taxpayer money in Texas, student performance is flat or declining. Texas is falling behind thriving states…
The Ginn Economic Brief: Texas Economic Situation – May 2024
Texas at the Forefront: Leading the Charge but Facing New Challenges Texas continues to blaze trails in the labor market, with recent data from the Texas Workforce Commission showing a robust addition of over 42,000 jobs and an unemployment rate…
Texas Keeps Falling Behind Without School Choice
This commentary was originally published at The Dallas Express here. It is being republished with permission from the author. National School Choice Week was last month, a time when all states should be celebrating the educational freedom they provide to teachers, parents,…
I Want School Choice in Texas, But Not Like This
This commentary was originally published at The Center Square here. It is being republished with permission from the author. A record number of states have passed universal school choice so far this year, but it seems Texas won’t be among them. Given…
Fourth Special Session Concludes With an Unresolved School Choice Saga
The Texas Legislature wrapped up the fourth special legislative session on Tuesday and one of the most contentious issues remained unresolved: school choice. Despite Governor Greg Abbott’s push, the proposal to allow for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) ultimately failed to…
School Choice Stifled by Texas Legislature Once Again
As the third special legislative session reaches its forced conclusion, it does so with not much in the way to show for it, especially regarding efforts on school choice. In continuance of what seems to be a long-standing trend, efforts…
House Takes Up Vaccine and Border Bills, But School Choice Still in Limbo
With more than half of the special session already over, on Wednesday, the Texas House finally took up and considered four bills on the Floor for debate. Two House bills and two Senate bills considered included: SB 7 by Senator…