The Mineola School Board unanimously approved the following resolution at last Monday’s school board meeting, in opposition to plans to designate some state education funding for private institutions.

The resolution is being forwarded to State Sen. Bryan Hughes and State Rep. Cole Hefner, who represent Wood County in the Texas legislature.

Vouchers, education savings      accounts, taxpayer savings grants, and other mechanisms that reduce public education funding 

WHEREAS, Article 7 Section 1 of the Texas Constitution requires that the Texas Legislature “establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools;” 

WHEREAS, Texas public school districts accept every student; 

WHEREAS, education savings accounts and other voucher schemes give private schools, not parents, the right to choose; 

WHEREAS, Texas public schools adhere to state-mandated academic and financial accountability standards; 

WHEREAS, private schools are not required to meet the same academic standards as public schools, and they do not report test results, graduation rates, and other performance measures to the public; 

WHEREAS, school choice already exists in the Texas via public school districts, charter schools, inter-and intra-district transfers, home schools, virtual schools, and private schools; 

WHEREAS, education savings accounts and similar voucher schemes eliminate public accountability of schools and tax dollars; 

WHEREAS, using tax dollars to pay for tuition at private and religious schools would grow into a costly entitlement program;

WHEREAS, a taxpayer-funded voucher program would reduce the amount of state funds available for all schools, harming many rural Texas communities where families have few, if any, private school options; and

WHEREAS, Texas parents who accept a voucher would lose out on a long list of important parental rights outlined in Texas state education code and in federal law, especially protections for students receiving special education services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mineola ISD Board of Trustees calls on the Texas Legislature to reject any diversion of public dollars to private entities in the form of education savings accounts and similar voucher schemes.