Gary VanDeaver is a conservative member of the House of Representatives in Texas. On most of the hot-button social issues, he is a hardline conservative.
But Representative VanDeaver of New Boston, Texas, opposes vouchers.
He is well informed and he is looking out for the best interests of his constituents. What the story does not mention is that Rep. VanDeaver, before he ran for office, was a teacher, a principal, and superintendent of schools in his home town, New Boston. He understands what it means to offer “school choice” in a small rural community.
“When it comes to one centerpiece conservative initiative – allowing tax-subsidized vouchers for students to enroll in private schools – VanDeaver says absolutely no way.
“In my district, public school is the community,” said VanDeaver, of New Boston, a town about 25 miles from the Arkansas border where the Lions high school football stadium has 3,500 seats, nearly enough for every resident.
“If we do anything to pull those students away, then we’re harming those communities,” said VanDeaver, 58, after joining an overwhelming majority of the GOP-dominated state House this month to reject school vouchers…”
Rural Republicans have helped to sink vouchers in every legislative session, despite the support they get from the Governor, Greg Abbott, and the Lt. Governor, Dan Patrick.
The combination of rural Republicans and urban Democrats has blocked vouchers again and again. They get passed in the state Senate, and they never come to a vote in the House.
That, plus the vigorous activity of Pastors for Texas Children, has prevented the voucher movement from succeeding in Texas.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education and commented:
His experience as public school superintendent makes him the closest person, in the Texas Legislature, to an expert they have. The words he speaks not only for the people of Bowie County but for many other rural educators.
The recent Democratic survey sent to donors ignored any mention of schools. The recent Republican survey sent to donors included the following, “Do you support doing away with the federal ‘Common Core’ curriculum and guidelines for public schools?”
The Democratic Party post mortem on election losses should have identified the Gates/Walton agenda as THE causal factor.
I received that survey from the DNC as well. When I read the survey, I was disappointed in what their questions are. Argh…the DNC des not “get it.” Thanks for your comment.
All Democrats should send their forms back, writing in their demands for Party opposition to privatization of America’s most important common good. If there is no change in Party position…third party.
Much like the Eveready bunny, the voucher push will keep going and going, especially given the priorities and agendas of those mentioned in the post. This is an issue that must remain front and center in the discussions about public education, a battle that must continue to be fought to ensure that our public schools have the resources to succeed. To House Pub Ed committee chair Huberty, vice chair Bernal, Rep. Van Deaver and all of those who continue to support public education, thank you!
Sadly, though, lack of school choice among urban kids often dooms them to sub-par public school education. Doesn’t society pay a price for that, as well?
Joe,
As we saw in the analysis of school choice in NYC, inequity is baked in for poor kids unless we address the root cause of disadvantage. School choice is a distraction, not a remedy.
I couldn’t agree more, but few people talk about that. Students in broken homes or in homes with only 1 parent, who likely did not attend college, most probably will never succeed. How ever do we address all the issues related to these kids? That said, if only a few of these kids could be helped by vouchers, isn’t it worth the effort?
If you have read the voucher evaluations, you already know that vouchers don’t help kids. They actually cause them to fall further behind. Why do you want to harm children by sending them to schools with uncredentialed teachers?
Notwithstanding the defeat of school choice in Texas, there is indeed a huge amount of support for school choice in the Lone Star State, and elsewhere. As school choice programs take root in states, which embrace the concept, the benefits will be there for everyone to see. As parents see the benefits, of having more control over their education dollars, more parents will want to have the same choices.
It is time to stop putting institutions first (like the old public school), and start putting children and parents first.
Vouchers and school choice are here to stay, and undoubtedly, will continue to expand.
No state which ever brought in school choice, has eliminated the program.
It really doesn’t work that way though. The students that really need the most help can’t afford to change schools with or without a voucher. The voucher isn’t enough for a private school(if they can get in), and these schools do not provide transportation anyway. It is a lose-lose situation for the poor kids. Plus, students in Texas already have the ability to leave low-performing schools–a fact that no one even seems to talk about. I hate to be a cynic, but I think that this is all tied to the money and who thinks they can get it. I do not believe this is about the kids.
Right on, Becky!
Charles, a good private school in Memphis is $20K. If I got 8K in vouchers, was I given a choice to send my child to any of these schools?
Similar questions can be asked about having the ability to choose a doctor, daycare, an airline, college, etc.
You should check out the website privateschoolreview.com
Q•
There are 123 private schools in Shelby County, TN, serving 25,970 students.
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The average private school tuition is $9,493 for elementary schools and $10,475 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
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The average acceptance rate is 92% (view national acceptance rates).
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Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body, and the student:teacher ratio is 10:1.
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68% of schools are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Roman Catholic).
END Q
see
https://www.privateschoolreview.com/tennessee/shelby-county
If a parent gets a voucher, that is equivalent to the current per-pupil expenditures spent by the Tennessee public schools, then parents will be able to select some (NOT ALL) schools in Shelby county Tenn.
Some (NOT ALL) private schools will negotiate with parents, and arrive at a negotiated price for tuition. Some (NOT ALL) private schools have scholarship money available.
Once the voucher program is initiated, private/public school operators will adjust their tuition schedules and admissions, to get the students into their schools.
Denying school choice to parents, based on an arbitrary price schedule at toney high-priced schools, is like denying food stamps to people, because prime rib and lobster is expensive.
Some (NOT ALL) parents will come up with the difference in tuition costs, and the voucher. Parents make sacrifices for their children, when they choose to.
The state/municipal government may choose to increase the amount of the voucher, if parents demand it. Once parents have school choice, parents may be willing to pay more in taxes, for the quality schools they are sending their children to by choice.