The economics of school choice in Texas

"Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life."
Proverbs 4:13

We warn you that this video contains a LOT of numbers, but it's really good background if you're not familiar with the issue:



Highlights:

• Texas spends nearly $13k per student right now.

• Texas spends appox. $60 billion on K-12 education over the two year budget cycle.

• Each class of 20 kids = $250k
• "How many teachers do you know making a quarter million dollars per year?!?"

• Non-teaching staff growing 3x faster than students.
• Over $7 billion in additional expenses per year 

• Is the purpose of the education system to train the next generation or to provide jobs for bureaucrats?!?

• Over the past 25(ish) years, the number of students has grown by about 30% while the number of bureaucrats has grown by OVER 450%.

• If you simply held the number of bureaucrats in line with the number of students, you could give every teacher a $22k raise (or you could cut property taxes).
• You could also eliminate the margins tax.

• School district debt undermines Texas economy and will lead to higher taxes down the line.

• Under the current system, school districts are building $60 million football stadiums.

• Local debt growing 2.5x faster than population.

• Vote no on just about every bond.

• "As long as schools are run by political entities, they are a source of political power."
  Milton Friedman

• "No entity deserves a protected monopoly on educating our kids."

• "Politically administered adult jobs program."