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Vouchers

Posted by Trumpet Man on 5/7/2025, 12:30 pm

So what is going to happen to the future of Texas Bands with the vouchers?

Will the private schools have the depth of quality instrument inventory? What will happen to the public schools that have all those unused instruments on the shelves? Those strong large school -State Level Marching - programs will remain strong, but what about the 2A programs and such?

What are your crystal ball predictions in 10 years when I return to Texas after retiring from another state?

Re: Vouchers

Posted by 1A HBD on 5/9/2025, 9:17 am, in reply to "Vouchers"

I do not really see vouchers affecting the small schools unless that school is close to a private school. In the area I am in for most of the 1A-3A schools they are at least an hour away from a private school. I know the parents in my school district are not going to drive an hour for their child to go to school.

The thing that could affect small schools is homeschooling. Vouchers can be used for homeschooling. I don't really think it will be a factor but that is what will affect the small schools in rural areas.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by drumguy on 5/12/2025, 8:18 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

And as a 20+ year teacher whose wife has homeschooled their 3 kids the whole way so far, my guess is that you probably wouldn't lose many to homeschool 'vouchers' due to the fact that that means when you take the $$, the govt may now be having a say in things, thereby negating much of why people homeschool.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Inner-City BD II on 5/9/2025, 11:38 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

I'm not sure which school community will benefit from voucher money going to homeschooling.

Rural areas might - but many of those parents can't devote the time to educate their kids in homeschooling anyway, so I don't think we'll see a huge bump there.

Suburban might - but only the very wealthy communities, which benefit less from the vouchers anyway. Maybe moderately wealthy suburbs?

Not urban, that's for sure. School is daycare for many urban parents.

Not parents of younger students - many of those parents are working class and need to pay bills.

Not parents of older students - but I bet this program results in a net increase in the dropout rate. Lots of 16-17 year olds will be "homeschooled" for a year or two, and in reality, go to work. They'll never finish.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Mr. Dude on 5/12/2025, 7:51 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

There's already a huge push for homeschooling in rural school districts. Now that it's all online, they just have to find somewhere to go with their kid...they actually don't have to teach, just monitor the progress.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by But on 5/16/2025, 1:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

But the rural communities I know support their local schools. They work in their local schools, (some rural towns outside of ag the public school is the largest employer), and they aren't fighting the fights that are driving the Metro/Suburban parents for the door. They are Friday-night-lights communities that show up to football games even though they have no kids in school.

I could see where some of the rural folks might push for homeschooling so the kids can get to work but still bet that is not as much as one might think. And honestly, if the kid is looking to continue the family business all power to them. Whether that be out on the farm or as a mechanic or electrician or whatever else the family business might be...

Let folks live their lives as they see fit. Especially when it doesn't impact you.

Huge fan of the show Pioneer Woman and am absolutely loving that her kids are coming back to help run the ranch! Let other families make those same decisions that are best for them.

Some of those ranchers/farmers know way more about producing a product than those college professors that would be teaching their kids...

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Boom on 5/12/2025, 3:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

Yes, there was discussion last week (I think) in the state leg. about online learning. Lots of money to be made there.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Old Geezer on 5/8/2025, 4:04 pm, in reply to "Vouchers"

I don't think there will be many private schools that will take a student with the state money. Once they do that, the state can start controlling what the private schools teach, etc. I think this will end up in the supreme court and hopefully be declared unconstitutional. I've been retired from public school since the 17 - 18 school year and remember that just about every legislative session the UNFUNDED mandates that would come down from the state. They have been trying to kill public education in Texas for at least the past 25 years, contrary to the Texas Constitution. It seems like more of the Ross Perot syndrome where you blame the public schools for the failure of your own child.
Sorry for the ramble.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Other states on 5/12/2025, 7:23 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

Haven't something like 30 other states already adopted the voucher schemes? I am not in favor of vouchers, I just am curious how it works in the other states if you think it will all of a sudden be unconstitutional in Texas?

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Doomer on 5/9/2025, 10:28 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

Which Supreme Court?

The state one, which has shown a willingness to rubber-stamp everything the current leadership wants, up to and including the EXTREME corruption of the AG's office that should have resulted in his removal - five or six years ago - yet he hasn't even seen a trial date yet?

Or the federal one, which refuses to hold our current national leadership accountable to following the Constitution and lets them deprive individuals of due process regularly, refuses to follow judicial precedent, and whose court is packed with political appointees that put party first over justice?

Yeah, no. It's not getting declared unconstitutional any time soon.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by 1A HBD on 5/9/2025, 9:12 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

The voucher program does not mandate that private schools adopt the public school curriculum to accept vouchers.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Correct on 5/9/2025, 10:42 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

It's not a glitch, it's a feature!

Re: Vouchers

Posted by boom on 5/9/2025, 8:18 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

I agree that most of the damage has been purposeful in an effort to privatize. But I Seriously doubt the state will want to control the private schools that they are so desperately trying to assist

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Optimist on 5/8/2025, 9:27 am, in reply to "Vouchers"

I hate the concept of vouchers. However, I don't think they will affect many students. A good private school is at least 20K, the best are 30K+. That 10K isn't going to make much difference, and there are also income level limits in the bill so the most wealthy parents out there (who could already afford private school) don't benefit as much. It's going to be a very small percentage of students who move from public to private because of vouchers.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Nick on 5/8/2025, 9:26 am, in reply to "Vouchers"

The effect is going to be less funding for public education in the long term. Eventually schools will have to cut programs, some already are. If you want to stay in education, not a bad time to consider getting additional certifications.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Bingo! on 5/15/2025, 10:03 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

This is the thing a lot of people don't understand. Funding will be cut further. As a matter of fact, the bill to increase funding for public schools has "stalled" in the senate. Funny how vouchers basically sailed through and was forced by Abbott, yet foot dragging for public school funding. The regular session is also close to ending, too.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Boom on 5/19/2025, 3:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

Ahh thats the thing! They didnt sail through. It was in fact voted down, which pushed Abbott to flat out tell many R's who voted no that he would push a primary opponent against them.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by fumw on 5/8/2025, 3:43 am, in reply to "Vouchers"

The places where vouchers could conceivably have the most impact - the metro areas - are already seeing an exodus from the public schools. It just that no one is talking about it. Over the last five years there have been significant building/expansion projects at many if not most charter and private schools in the metro areas. This was happening long before vouchers were passed.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by BDSO on 5/7/2025, 5:50 pm, in reply to "Vouchers"

I'm not a fan of vouchers AT ALL. But, I don't think it will impact band membership much. Will there be programs that lose a few? Sure, but probably no more than they would have lost before vouchers. Most of these vouchers are going to be given to students who are a) already in private schools or b) were planning on going to private schools even without vouchers. This will have little impact on smaller schools where private schools are less prevalent. Funds to public schools shouldn't be affected by vouchers, but the voucher money could easily be allocated to public school. Instruments will still be used and new ones will still be purchased. Will some districts use vouchers as an excuse to cut budgets? Sure, but I those district would use any excuse to cut budgets. I could go on about how dumb vouchers are, but that would get too political.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Curious on 5/7/2025, 4:08 pm, in reply to "Vouchers"

I have taught for 20 years, the last 11 years at a private school. The quality of the school inventory is not determined by the label "private school." There are many private schools that require the students to purchase an instrument (just like public schools) and many private schools that invest in quality instruments. For example, over the last 11 years, I have been able to purchase the same percussion equipment that 4A-6A schools in my area have. I have Bach Stradivarius trombones and cornets for my high school.

Personally, I'm against vouchers. My school has repeatedly said that we will not dive into that rabbit hole.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by My opinion on 5/7/2025, 3:44 pm, in reply to "Vouchers"

I personally think that the vouchers won’t have that big of an effect. I think the private schools are going to jack up the prices to a point that the vouchers won’t be an issue. I also think they will deny admission to a lot of the kids that might be able to afford it.
If it releases the billions of education money being held hostage, then pass it and be done with it.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Exactly on 5/16/2025, 1:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

Just like when the government started funding unlimited college tuition. When the government puts money in play the price will go up by that amount. Communities with no private/charter options, (rural America) will see no change in their enrollment. Low performing schools may see some folks leave or Charters pop up but if that's a better education option for the community then it will survive.

I don't understand how one can say the party wants serfs when in reality, they are trying to provide an option to folks who have no options.

At the end of the day I fully expect there will be virtually no change to schools other than a few of them might have to realize they have to earn and keep customers instead of taking them for granted.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Doomer on 5/8/2025, 7:30 am, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

Nothing will release the billions of education money being held hostage. Nothing at all.

We've already proven we can operate without that money, so our state leadership will reallocate that money. They're already talking about ending the lottery as well.

Elections have consequences, folks.

Re: Vouchers

Posted by boom on 5/8/2025, 12:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Vouchers"

That's exactly right. I have been having this conversation with our HD who seems to think we will be magically get more money after having our budget cut for the last two years.
I told him "you proved you can get by with less. Why would they give you more?"

Re: Vouchers

Posted by Doomer on 5/7/2025, 2:32 pm, in reply to "Vouchers"

Public education in Texas is in its death throes so long as the current political leadership's big money donors remain in charge.

This is by intent and malicious action. They want serfs, not citizens.

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