Local Choice in Texas Education

TPPF Policy Orientation Panel Local Choice: A New Idea for Freedom in Texas Education.

James Golson (TPPF); Matthew Ladner (Foundation for Excellence in Education); Monty Exter (Association of Texas Professional Educators); Tom Currah (Texas Comptroller's Office); Texas Rep. Scott Turner (R-Rockwall).

James Golson:

• Big Picture: There is no big picture for school choice in Texas.

• 83rd Legislature test vote failed miserably.

• New idea: Giving municipalities the option to opt-in.
• Might overcome political resistence.
• Personal note: That'll never happen

Matthew Ladner:

• Government schools are a permanent feature of the state.

•  That being said, current practice of public education is unsustainable.

• Even if it's not a panacea, school choice will help.

• Per pupil spending has doubled over the past 20 years (2012 dollars)

• Choice would only slow the rate of growth.

Tom Currah:

•  Design of a school choice will largely determine financial savings.
• If it's open to everybody, you'll subsidize folks who would have gone to private school anyway.

Scott Turner:

• Public Schools are a great fit...for some kids.
• Not one size fits all.

• Public education has become too 'top-heavy'
• A 1 to 1 teacher to administrator ratio is ridiculous.

• Competition brings out the best in people.

Monty Exter:

• "Not supporting education infrastructure" "lowers productivity across the state."

• Standardized testing creates "this whole middle management layer of administrators."
• Personal Note: That's a very self-serving statement!!!

• Lots of 'innovation' happening at the local level.

Bottom Line: Education policy in Texas could go any number of directions.  There are no silver bullets.  With K-12 education the largest component of the state budget, and with education spending growth outpacing population growth, tackling education spending is a essential step to put the state on a sustainable long-term fiscal path.