What would vouchers do to state budget?

It was inevitable that the Express-News Editorial Board meeting with GOP candidates in Texas House District 121 would feature an intense debate about school vouchers.

After all, Gov. Greg Abbott had campaigned on behalf of challenger Marc LaHood in an act of retribution against incumbent Steve Allison, who voted against Abbott’s prized voucher program last year.

During the Feb. 5 Editorial Board meeting, LaHood identified vouchers (using the common political euphemism of “school choice”) as one of his three major policy priorities, along with border security and a return to teaching core basics.

At one point, LaHood was asked about accountability when it comes to vouchers, particularly the budget issues that have arisen in Arizona.

“I’m not going to kid you,” LaHood responded. “I don’t have all the facts on that to answer that question right now.”

LaHood deserves credit for being honest and acknowledging what he didn’t know. On the other hand, if you’re going to be an enthusiastic advocate for school vouchers, as LaHood has been, you need to give the accountability question plenty of thought and study. We’re playing with real money here, and the futures of Texas children are in the balance.

All pro-voucher political candidates should study what happened in Arizona, which in 2022 became the first state to create a universal school voucher program, meaning it’s open to all students.

Initially projected to cost $64 million a year, the Arizona voucher program is now blowing a hole in the state budget with an estimated annual price tag of more than $900 million.

And what are Arizonans getting for all that taxpayer money? For the most part, they’re picking up the tab for kids who already were in private schools.

About 75% of the students receiving vouchers under the universal program had no history of attending Arizona public schools, according to 2022 Arizona Department of Education data.

In 2023, Florida followed Arizona’s example and implemented a universal voucher program. About 69% of Florida students receiving vouchers for the first time already were enrolled in private schools. In Arkansas, that figure is 95%.

When it comes to vouchers, LaHood tends to revert to the adage that “iron sharpens iron” — competition makes everyone better.

But this issue isn’t about competition. It’s how that competition is funded and how it’s held accountable.

Parents already have plenty of school choice in this state. They can pick from various traditional public schools in their district, they can opt for a charter or a magnet school, they can home-school their kids, and, yes, they have every right to explore private-school options.

No one wants to deny parents the opportunity to make those choices. What’s in dispute is whether we should divert taxpayer money from an already underfunded public school system with underpaid teachers to private schools that aren’t accountable to the state.

With Abbott’s help, LaHood ousted Allison in the Texas primary earlier this month. Given his district’s Republican leanings, LaHood is likely to be representing District 121 during next year’s legislative session.

During his meeting with the Editorial Board, LaHood said that people in our society should “question everything.”

Here’s hoping that when it comes to vouchers, he will question his own assumptions.

Proponents like LaHood need to study what happened in

Arizona

LaHood