Tuesday, September 9, 2024
Texas schools are at a breaking point. Across the state and throughout McLennan County, our school boards are being forced to make devastating cuts in order to keep our public schools open—this can be seen in larger class sizes, teacher and staff layoffs, fewer resources, and programs on the chopping block. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The solution is clear: as the eighth largest economy in the world, the Texas Legislature has a Constitutional obligation to fully fund our public schools. However, Texas ranks 43rd in the nation in public school funding and teacher pay.
My opponent and the billionaire class backing politicians like him are holding our public schools hostage in an effort to give $10,000 of our tax dollars to each student attending a private school. They demand that any increase in public school funding come with a boost to this voucher scam. This is diverting much-needed tax dollars from public schools, where 95% of Texas children are educated, to private schools. This approach puts the future of millions of Texas kids at risk, undermining the very foundation of our public education system. Our teachers are already underpaid—about $10,000 below the national average. Our schools are underfunded. We cannot afford to send our tax dollars to private schools when our public schools are so underfunded.
Waco ISD is facing an $8 million deficit. Virtually all of the other school districts in McLennan County are also operating on a deficit. They are being forced to rely on reserves in order to keep their doors open. Eventually, they will be forced to consider gutting essential programs like special education and bilingual education just to stay afloat. Imagine the impact on our most vulnerable students. And yet, our leaders in Austin would rather fight over vouchers than fulfill their Constitutional duty to fully fund our public schools.
We need leaders who will fight for all Texas children. I stand firmly against any attempt to tie public school funding to voucher programs. I believe every child deserves access to a well-funded public school, with the resources they need to thrive. No games, no backroom deals—just real support for our kids.
Let’s make sure every child in Texas has access to the quality education they deserve.
Erin Shank
Candidate for Texas House of Representatives, District 56
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