For the last few years, a bloc of Republican lawmakers, with Governor Greg Abbott largely leading the charge, has pushed for allocating taxpayer money for priva
te schools, a policy called "school choice" by supporters and "school vouchers" by critics. When Candra Rogers, an assistant principal in Corsicana, Texas, came to work on Thursday, August 15, the day began as any other. But, simply in the act of doing her job as an educator, it was a day that changed her life.
te schools, a policy called "school choice" by supporters and "school vouchers" by critics. How he got there is a virtually unchartered path: Abbott endorsed primary challengers to members of his own party, in an effort to oust anti-voucher Republicans and replace them with ones in support of school choice.
Abbott was not alone in that endeavor, though. Two other prominent voices significantly influenced the makeup of the incoming 89th legislature: Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, two billionaires who've donated significant funds to crucial races, pushing Texas closer to school choice than ever. "I spoke with Tim Dunn, a principal funder of Defend Texas Liberty PAC, and he has told me unequivocally that it was a serious blunder for PAC President Jonathan Stickland to meet with white supremacist Nick Fuentes," Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate and has named school choice as his top priority in 2025, said in a statement at the time. "I accept Mr. Dunn at his word.
Abbott's count of 79 votes could be accurate, though it's a narrow path to victory; just four defectors could spell trouble for the legislation, where 76 votes are necessary. Some Republican holdouts on school choice have moved toward conceding the fight. In a panel on education policy at the Texas Tribune Festival in September, Representative Ken King, R-Canadian, one of the most prominent anti-voucher Republicans who is returning for the next legislative session, said he felt school choice was sure to pass, and that public school proponents should work on cutting the best deal possible.
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