Testimony Archives - Our Schools Our Democracy

October Insider

Sign up for the monthly newsletter Action Alert Next week, the Senate Education Committee is holding interim hearings to discuss student enrollment, teacher pay…and expanding private school vouchers. Use…

The Texas flag is in focus in the foreground to the left of the image. Out of focus in the background is a classroom with students sitting at desk pods.

Voucher program could cost Texas schools close to $300 million in funding, new report shows

This article by Bianca Seward was published in the Houston Public Media on October 1, 2026.

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Texas public schools could lose $227M from voucher exodus, estimate shows

This article by Lawrence Mower and Phoebe Quinton was published in the Houston Chronicle on October 1, 2026.

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Rows of empty school chair desks in a classroom with beige walls and dark floors

Houston region school districts may lose $68M this year because of vouchers

This article by Elizabeth Sander was published in the Houston Chronicle on October 1, 2026.

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Choice on Paper, Not in Practice webinar

On September 30, 2026, OSOD held a public webinar to evaluate the early data on Texas’ $1 billion voucher program. The full webinar recording is below. Use our toolkit to…

Texas public schools will lose at least $227 million this school year alone to Texas’ new voucher program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2026 CONTACT: mstern@osod.org or communications@everytexan.org Texas public schools will lose at least $227 million this school year alone to Texas’ new voucher program Our Schools…

A photo of a girl with long hair and an orange backpack walking into a school building.

Special needs kids get more funding with Texas’ education savings accounts, but families can’t always find a school

This article by Xochilt Garcia was published in the San Antonio Report on September 28, 2026.

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A group of children crossing the street in front of a school bus. They are facing away from the camera and walking towards a red school building.

Mike Morath wanted Texas to reach No. 1 in education. Test scores show there’s more work to do.

This article by Jaden Edison was published in the Texas Tribune on September 16, 2026.

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OSOD testifies against request to expand taxpayer funding on vouchers

OSOD Executive Director Carrie Griffith and Director of the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency Dee Carney testified on September 9. 2026 during an interim Legislative Budget Board hearing. The hearing considered the…

Artwork of faces in different bright colors hung up in a school hallway. The artwork is on the left side. On the right side is a bank of lockers. There is a student who appears to be elementary aged out of focus walking down the hallway.

Voucher in hand, no school to spend it on. Thousands of Texas students with disabilities returned state aid

This article by Jessica Ma was published in the Dallas Morning News on September 11, 2026.

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Education Advocates Continue to Blast Voucher Program

This article by April Towery was published in the Houston Press on September 9, 2026.

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Parents decry Fort Worth ISD takeover. Here are their mounting concerns

This article by Jessica Ma was published in the Dallas Morning News on September 9, 2026.

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Legislative Appropriations Request for vouchers expands taxpayer funding without accountability or transparency for program performance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2026 CONTACT: mstern@osod.org Legislative Appropriations Request for vouchers expands taxpayer funding without accountability or transparency for program performance The Comptroller is requesting at least $2.3…

Voucher program could swell to $4.4B next biennium, Texas comptroller says

This article by Lawrence Mower was published in the Houston Chronicle on September 8, 2026.

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Review of Voucher-Accepting Private Schools Highlights Barriers for Texas Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2026 CONTACT: mstern@osod.org Review of Voucher-Accepting Private Schools Highlights Barriers for Texas Families Private schools in 15 lawmakers’ districts present compounding barriers for families seeking…

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles’ charter network faces layoffs, $14M deficit after tripling footprint

This article by Lawrence Mower was published in the Houston Chronicle on September 4, 2026.

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Texas comptroller asks lawmakers to double school voucher funding to $2B

This article by Jessica Ma was published in the Dallas Morning News on September 3, 2026

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A close up on the Texas Capitol and the US and Texas flags flying by the dome.

More than a dozen Texas school districts close to triggering state takeover law in 2027

This article by Megan Menchaca was published in the Texas Tribune on September 1, 2026.

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September Insider

Sign up for the monthly newsletter Action Alert New Public Information Request data obtained by OSOD’s Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows that 80% of the eligible students on the…

A close-up of child-sized desks lined in a classroom. The background of a blackboard is out of focus.

‘Couldn’t find a school’: Why only 76% of Texas’ school voucher recipients have used them

This article by Elizabeth Sander and Lawrence Mower was published in the Houston Chronicle on August 24, 2026.

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