Hello TTP Citizen Advocates!

Time to gear up!  Rumor has it that Gov. Abbott will call a 3rd special session to start sometime in the next 2 weeks.  The topic?  SCHOOL CHOICE!  But is it "To Be or Not To Be"?  Great question, but only time will tell!

At TTP, we don't take a position on school choice because it's one of those issues where about half our supporters think it's the best thing ever, and the other half think it's the spawn of satan.  We respect everyone's point of view, as long as you are well informed about what you are supporting or opposing, and we try to stay neutral.  You each have to make your own decisions, and we'll help you with the informed part.

If you're on the support side of this issue, you are in good company!  Education freedom is one of the RPT priorities for 2023.  The issue is favored by Chairman Matt Rinaldi, many SREC members, the Governor and Lt. Governor, and most of our "friendly" conservative legislators.

If you're on the opposed side, you are also in good company!  Many Home School parents, education activists, 86 House Members and 13 Senators oppose it.

My caution to all of you is, whatever side you are on - be sure you know what you are supporting or opposing.  Just because a bill has a title that includes the words "school choice" doesn't mean it's a good (or bad) thing.  Read the bills!  Then prepare to defend and advance your position.

In the regular session of the 88th Legislature, SB8 passed in the Senate, but was left pending in the House Education Committee.  Some version of SB 8 will likely be rolled out for consideration in this special session.  In my opinion, it is a terrible bill! It was limited to a small group of qualified students, offered $8,000 per student in the form of Education Savings Accounts, and  $10,000 to small rural school districts for every student withdrawn from the public school to pursue education elsewhere.

That just seems insane to me!  It's like Burger King saying, "OK, we know our burgers suck, so here's $8 to go buy burgers at Whataburger.  And to the guy making the sucky burgers, here's $10 to NOT make burgers."  Just can't wrap my mind around that. How is a bad government program helped by adding another bad government program?

SB8 also excluded any students already in Home School or Private School which means they would not be able to access the same ESA's as the students currently enrolled in the failing schools.

Are you seeing my point?  When I posted about this on Facebook several months ago, I got so many comments just saying "school choice - good, public schools - bad", and completely ignoring the details of the bad bill that was proposed.  As I always say, "God is in the details!"  So whichever side you are on, be sure you educate yourself on the details of whatever school choice legislation is put forward.

Jeramy Kitchen (Texans for Fiscal Responsibility) has written a great article about the current chaos in the Texas Legislature, particularly over the issue of school choice.  The article has a summary of the House Members and Senators who lean for or against the school choice issue.  This helpful tool will give you good insight on which legislators need to be convinced to your side.

During the summer, the newly appointed House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity held hearings for several days.  They took invited testimony only, from special interest groups, school district superintendents, and state employees.  They did NOT take testimony from parents, or parent rights advocates.  Education 911, a parental rights advocate group, has been working on defending parental rights with legislators, and offers  suggestions for prepping for this special session. Their article includes names and contact information for the Select Committee Members.  Some of the proposed bills in this special session will likely be assigned to the Select Committee, so you can start now by contacting those Committee members to voice your positions.

As soon as the 3rd Special Session gets started, we'll be watching what happens, and be prepared to take our activists to the Capitol to talk to legislators, testify at hearings, make phone calls, send emails and write notes.  Watch for future Citizen Advocates messages for details.  It's hard to plan what we should do because we don't know what the legislators will do.  In the first special session, the House gaveled in, passed two bills, and gaveled out Sine Die all in one day.  We suspect that this time around there will be more regular order with Committee hearings, and proper debate.  Fingers crossed!

If you support TTP's Citizen Advocate efforts, please consider setting aside a monthly gift to help us continue to make our voices heard with Texas Legislators.  You can donate here, to contribute the general TTP mission, or designate which TTP Satellite group your gift is credited to.

However you support our Citizen Advocates - please know how much we appreciate you!  You have all contributed to making True Texas Project a formidable force in Texas Politics! 

Stay engaged!

Fran Rhodes, President

PS:  One of our True Texan Taking Charge efforts is a "Right vs Right?" conversation on school choice.  It's happening Oct 19 at our Katy Satellite.  We'll have an honest discussion of the pros and cons of school choice.  The meeting will be live streamed and then archived, so you can watch it without having to travel to Katy.  It will be a good time to solidify your own position and give you ideas for defending it.  Don't miss it!

PPS:  Want to know my personal opinion on the topic?  Respond to this email and ask. You might be surprised at my answer!