Commentary: With school choice, what s the end game?
Cameron Vickrey, For the Express-News
April 3, 2021
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Let’s have a serious conversation about the purpose of school choice.
A recent Senate Committee on Education hearing in the Texas Legislature revealed a fundamental divergence in our state’s philosophy of education. One senator admitted proudly the reason Texas has charter schools is to provide “pure choice.”
Pure choice is not the prevailing narrative that we have been told. Many public school supporters have made concessions for charter schools so kids who are “stuck in failing schools” have an affordable alternative. But now we know this is not the end game. The end game is simply choice.
Make it easier to expand charter schools? Texas lawmakers will have that debate
Danya Perez, Staff writer
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Raji Mani administers the questions as students at the BASIS San Antonio Shavano Campus, a charter school for grades 6-12, practice for the National Science Bowl in 2019.Tom Reel /Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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KIPP Esperanza charter school representatives Jaciel Castro, center, and Michelle Schmitz, left, speak to a woman about education opportunities for her grandchildren during an event in 2017. (Darren Abate/For the San Antonio Express-News)Darren Abate /Darren Abate /San Antonio Express-NewsShow MoreShow Less
Companion bills filed in the Texas House and Senate, seeking to do away with hurdles facing charter schools that try to open or expand, have bipartisan support but will move the sharp debate over their rapid growth into the legislative arena.