Texas Legislature 2023 Special Session
The Texas Legislature meets in Austin from January through May of each odd-numbered year. The 88th Legislative Session ran from Jan. 10, 2023 - May 29, 2023. A special session was called on Oct. 5, 2023.
On Oct. 5, Governor Abbott announced a 30-day special session beginning Oct. 9, 2023, to provide private school subsidies, also known as vouchers or education savings accounts (ESAs).
Lawmakers will address vouchers, but public school funding is not included on the governor’s agenda. This is hugely disappointing as vouchers/ESAs provide public funds for private school choice while taking money away from public schools.
What are vouchers (education savings accounts)? Some facts to consider:
- Vouchers use taxpayer dollars to offset the cost of private school tuition.
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Public schools are open to all students while private schools can pick and choose who they admit.
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Public schools have transparent accountability for academic and financial standards while private schools have zero public accountability.
Public schools are underfunded by billions, and any available funding should be prioritized for public school students, classrooms and staff.
Please be informed, ensure your tax dollars stay with Cleburne isd, and thank you for supporting us as we work to educate your most prized possessions.
Dr. Coby Kirkpatrick
What Can I do?
Contact your legislators to talk about what your public schools mean to you and how important it is to support Cleburne ISD teachers and staff. Need to know who to contact? The lawmakers who represent Cleburne ISD voters can be reached by entering your address at Who Represents Me?, clicking on a representative and sending an email.