Will “Educational Freedom” Handcuff Public Schools in Texas? Y’all-itics: March 17, 2023

Has the education revolution begun in Texas? Republicans have made “educational freedom” a priority in Austin this legislative session and there is now a bill they say does just that. SB 8 would provide $8,000 for families to move their children from public schools to private schools. But critics wonder who will be holding private schools accountable since public schools are held to a different standard, as they’re judged by standardized testing and private schools are not. And SB 8 goes far beyond educational savings accounts (ESAs), from requiring “age appropriate” content to having teachers upload lesson plans to a portal so parents can review them. In this episode of Y’all-itics, you’ll hear from the Executive Director of the public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas. Dr. Michelle Smith explains why she thinks the bill is an attack on urban school districts. And to learn more about where the dollars will come from and behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, we head straight to the bill’s author, state Senator Brandon Creighton. The Republican chair of the Senate Education Committee explains why he thinks SB 8, and its companion bill SB 9, will lift up public schools, teachers and perhaps most importantly, Texas parents and students.

Guests

Dr. Michelle Smith, Raise Your Hand Texas Exec. Dir.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, (R) Conroe