A group of parents, grandparents, and educators gathered at the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Park, Texas, to discuss the potential impact of private school vouchers. The forum, hosted by Indivisible 1431, featured a panel of local education leaders and State Representative Vikki Goodwin, all of whom voiced concerns about the proposed program.
Concerns About the Voucher Program
During the discussion, Georgetown resident Becky Houser emphasized the negative effects of the program on public schools.
“The voucher program will destroy public schools,” Houser said. “I just feel like it’s really important for my grandchildren’s future and their success in life.”
The debate follows the recent passage of Senate Bill 2, commonly known as the school choice bill. The panel addressed various concerns, including who would benefit most from the program, whether vouchers would fully cover private school tuition, and if they would improve students’ education overall.
State Representative Warns of Potential Risks
State Representative Vikki Goodwin raised concerns about the financial aspects of the plan, particularly the risks associated with profit-driven motives.
“When there is a profit motive, you see people trying to take advantage,” she said. “The private schools that exist would bring in more students, and those would get full. All of a sudden, you may have virtual private schools.”
Goodwin suggested that the program could lead to a situation where new private schools emerge primarily for financial gain rather than educational quality.
Superintendent Expresses Worry About Public Education’s Future
Dr. Devin Padavil, Superintendent of Georgetown ISD, shared concerns about how the program might affect students considering careers in education.
“These young people choosing what do I want to major in when I go to college is they will get increasingly disillusioned with the idea that ‘education is going to take care of me the way I take care of other people’s kids’,” he said.
Padavil suggested that if public education funding continues to decline, fewer young people may choose to pursue careers in teaching, which could create long-term challenges for the education system.
The discussion at the Cedar Park forum highlighted strong opposition to the private school voucher program from educators and community members. Concerns ranged from the potential harm to public schools to the risks of profit-driven education models. As the debate over school vouchers continues in Texas, education leaders urge parents and policymakers to carefully consider the long-term impact on students and public education as a whole.
