State Board of Education reverses course on school vouchers

The State Board of Education on Thursday night took steps to walk back its previous decision to ask lawmakers to reject vouchers or anything that reduces “funding to public schools.” It appears that the board may stay neutral on “school choice” policies.

The 15-member board had already voted on its legislative priorities in late November, which included rejecting school vouchers. But some board members like Keven Ellis and Tom Maynard believed it was wise for the board not to get involved in the voucher fight this spring. Members voted 8-5 to preliminarily strike the language from its priorities. A final vote will take place Friday.

“There’s going to be a very rich and robust debate over this in the Legislature and because of that I’ve felt it was appropriate to reconsider this item and let that rich and robust debate happen at the Legislature,” said Ellis, the board’s chair who was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.