Dubious of ‘school choice’ plan

Not a solution

Regarding “School choice is necessary for real change” (Page A13, Tuesday), Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s conclusion that Texas needs “school choice” for real change doesn’t address the real need. Patrick’s statement that he has made education “one of my top priorities since the day I was elected” rings hollow. How do we have underfunded schools, special-needs children totally ignored and funding decreased, all while our lieutenant governor has made it his priority? Thank goodness it was a priority or we would really be in trouble.

I’m not opposed to school choice, but that doesn’t fix our education problem. If it was such a great solution, why haven’t more schools been established or expanded since the lieutenant governor states there is a current waiting list of 130,000 students. His proposal would add only another 25,000 to 50,000 students to enroll in a choice program, but there are already 130,000 waiting. The numbers just don’t add up. Where are these additional schools going to come from if they can’t meet the demand that is already there?

In the same edition there is an article about need for increased spending on education (“Legislature sees start of school reform effort,” Page A3, Tuesday). The lieutenant governor needs to get off of his political agenda and start the real job of fixing education. The private sector can take care of itself and create additional charter schools for the 130,000 students on the waiting list. Fund our public schools. Ken McKee, Pearland

A weak case

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tries to make a case for school choice vouchers by stating that special-needs children are particularly disadvantaged with the lack of choice. I don’t know how much money Patrick plans to throw at vouchers for private schools, but the average tuition for private schools in Houston is more than $19,000, and special-needs schools are usually at the top end. (Crossroads in Houston is $27,000, and Briarwood, the largest special-needs school in Houston with 458 students, is $20,000).

According to Private School Review, there are only 50 special-needs private schools in all of Texas and they serve only 4,500 students. One school in Houston has only five students.

In addition, most of these schools serve only high-functioning students, and tuition does not cover the very expensive costs of diagnostic tests, which parents are to supply for admission. Patrick has no intention of covering tuition for these needy students who are not accepted at most private schools, which is why public schools near current charters have an increased ratio of specialneeds students, up to 35 percent of student body in some cases. Joanna Pasternak, Houston