On the mind of educators: school superintendents weigh in on school choice

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – As school choice becomes an ever-increasing possibility with Texas lawmakers, local school superintendents voice their thoughts regarding school vouchers.

The principle behind school vouchers is that they would allow students different education opportunities by providing a state-funded scholarship to help them potentially attend a private school. However, local educators say it might not work how the public thinks. With state representatives like Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz supporting the school choice policy, local superintendents Joey Light of Wylie ISD and Abilene ISD superintendent Dr. John Kuhn shared their perspectives and outlined some concerns regarding school vouchers. Superintendent Light spoke about how vouchers give state funding to private entities that take away from an already strained public school budget.

“You’re really looking at a situation where you’ve got a lot of people battling for that same dollar. And, you know, we haven’t seen any increase in funding for public schools in the last five years. And we all know what’s happened to our individual households with inflation. It’s been a killer, and we have really struggled to maintain operating at the same level with really, in reality, less dollars.”

However, Abilene ISD Superintendent Dr. John Kuhn says it’s not just about the finances. Dr. Kuhn explains that the responsibilities and standards of private schools don’t apply as they do with public schools and how just because a student is approved for a voucher doesn’t guarantee them a spot in a private school.

“We educate students with special needs. We educate students with behavioral problems. We educate students from low-income backgrounds, different language backgrounds. We educate a wide variety of students, and that’s by design. The state set up the public education system to serve the needs of the state of Texas. Private schools don’t have any of those obligations. Private schools can set up a filter at the door of their schoolhouse and only let in the kids that they think will perform at a high level, whether academically or athletically. We’re here to serve all the students.”

This is the same sentiment that the superintendent of Eula ISD, Tim Kelley, reflects on and explains how a lack of state-regulated accountability with private schools can hurt a student’s education. Saying, “We take our kids wherever they are, and we’ve got to educate them where they are. There’s no accountability. You have a student choose to take and go somewhere else, and in a year or two, they come back. Are they working at the grade level that the state’s going to mandate to test you on and be accountable for? No, they’re not going to be that way.”

With school choice gaining support among more Texas lawmakers, it is likely to be a major focal point in the next legislative session, beginning in January. If the policy does pass and school vouchers are to be implemented in Texas schools, local superintendents say they will continue to strive to provide the best education they can through their schools.

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