One expert said Governor Greg Abbott's reforms could 'do real harm' to high school football in Texas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said the school choice reforms he supports won't slash funding from high school football following criticism from an expert in the field.In an article for Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, editor Greg Tepper said the move could 'do real harm' to high school football in the state by reducing public school funding and the local sense of community.
Newsweek contacted Abbott for comment via email on Tuesday outside regular office hours.Why It MattersHigh school football is important in Texas, generating millions in revenue annually and seeing tens of thousands attend each state championship.The suggestion that Abbott's proposed private school voucher-style program could affect high school football may cause widespread alarm, though the governor insists there is nothing to worry about.What To KnowAbbott is a prominent supporter of a proposed law making its way through the Texas legislature that would spend $1 billion from the state's surplus to create educational savings accounts. Students could apply for these and receive up to $10,000 toward private school expenses, or $2,000 for homeschool expenses.The proposal has already passed the Texas Senate and is set to appear before the state House, where Speaker Dustin Burrows has promised his support. Supporters argue that the proposal will boost parental choice and competition, while critics say it will undermine public schools and funnel money to less regulated rivals.Writing for Dave Campbell's Texas Football in an article published online on Monday, Tepper said the reform would 'almost certainly hit Texas high school football programs.'He added, 'Students who have the means would be incentivized to leave public schools for private schools, bringing taxpayer money with them.' Tepper argued that over time, the move would reduce funding for public high schools, necessitating cuts that were likely to affect their football programs.He also said the legislation 'threatens to splinter' local communities by 'further dividing them into haves and have-nots,' which would undermine the support base for high school football teams.On X, formerly Twitter, Abbott said on Monday that Texas was one of the only Southeastern Conference states without school choice. He said, 'School choice will NOT take away funding from Texas high school football. Period.'The Texas High School Coaches Association has also opposed Abbott's school choice reforms, writing in a statement earlier this month that 'meaningful funding increases for all public-school students should be the first priority before approving costly private school subsidies.'What People Are SayingGreg Tepper, the managing editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, wrote: 'In my view, the fabric of Texas high school football—what makes it truly different and special and the envy of the entire nation—is built on a strong public school football foundation, with private school football playing a vital and complementary role in the overall landscape.'Both matter, but the scale and structure of public school football make it essential to preserving what makes Texas football unique, where communities meet on a Friday night to support their team and their town. Vouchers would harm that … I want my sons to grow up loving Texas high school football like I do. Should the proposed voucher program become law, I worry that won't be possible.'Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on X: 'School choice will NOT take away funding from Texas high school football. Period. Florida and Arizona have the largest school choice programs and among the best high school football programs in the country. Texas is also one of the only SEC states without school choice.'What Happens NextThe school choice bill must pass the state House, where similar legislation has failed in recent years. President Donald Trump has called on Texas representatives to 'deliver a gigantic Victory for Texas students and parents' by backing the proposal. He added, 'I will be watching them closely.'If the bill passes the House, it will go before Abbott to be signed into law.
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