Each of the last two sessions, House members shot down the Senate’s proposals for raising Texas’ cap on charter schools—but a vote this afternoon put an end to the curse, as the House approved Senate Bill 2.
Dan Patrick’s reign over the Senate Education Committee has been a fascinating mix of empathy and cruelty, peaceful agreement and hostile shouting matches. In some ways, not much has changed since his days as a hot-tempered outsider.
Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) is one of several senators pushing for school choice and lauding it as the “civil rights issue of our time.” Expect to see bigger battles on school choice in the days ahead.
House Speaker Joe Straus has made it clear that his chamber won’t be passing any school voucher bills this session. An amendment to the budget today sealed the deal.
“When someone says ‘I’m not for vouchers, I’m not for tax credit,’” Patrick said. “It’s not about the students, it’s about protecting superintendents, it’s about protecting teachers and the adults.”