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One thing that Texans have a lot of pride in is their public schools. It is known throughout the nation that Texans have the best high school athletics. While the athletics are very good, the schools as a whole are failing. Test scores in some subjects are decreasing despite funding for public education reaching record highs. This problem is very prevalent so what are the solutions?
Texas State Representative Brian Harrison took to X this week and shared a video of the TEA commissioner admitting that there was a decline in student outcomes in certain subjects. In this tweet, Representative Harrison said, “TEA Commissioner confirms: test scores are falling, despite record high public education spending. Money is not the problem. A lack of competition is. Texas must pass universal School Choice next session!”
The response from Representative Harrison is absolutely the correct answer. Money is not the problem in Texas public schools. Out of the over 1,200 school districts in Texas, more than 500 superintendents are paid more than the Governor. The money is very clearly not being properly used. Many Texas public school teachers are upset about how much money they are being paid and the reason for that is how top heavy Texas public schools are. One way to help this problem is putting smaller caps on what superintendents and high-ranking staffers in public schools can make. Another way to fix this problem is implementing universal school choice in Texas.
School choice will create immense competition in the education system. Allowing parents an option to take their children out of a failing public school will put more pressure on the school to improve. If the schools want to earn their money they will have to retain their students. If schools want to retain their students that will also create competition for the teachers. Schools would be more incentivized to pay good teachers more money and take it away from the superintendents at the top if they know that the teacher is a major factor in student retention. The competition that will be created incentivizes public schools and public school teachers to put their best foot forward at all times.
In 2023 more than 100 Texas school teachers were charged with crimes against children, many of them being sex crimes. Creating competition in the education system will force schools to improve their hiring practices as well as their investigative practices when one of these instances happens. We have seen some of these cases get swept under the rug which has made many Texas parents worried about trusting public schools with their children.
Test scores are dropping, crimes against students are rising, and the overall happiness with Texas public schools is plummeting. A very real solution that has worked in multiple other states will be a top priority for Texas legislators in the next session. Our children must be protected and the only way to do that is to create an environment where they won’t be harmed. Universal will come to Texas because it’s what Texas families both want and need.