Academic Choice Gets Hearing - Texas Public Policy Foundation press release

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Academic Choice Gets Hearing April 04, 2005

Experts To Testify That Students, Parents, Taxpayers All Benefit

AUSTIN, Texas ­ Parents in Texas would have greater power in providing for

their children¹s education under any of three pieces of legislation to be

considered by the House Committee on Public Education, two of the state¹s

leading education experts will tell lawmakers on Tuesday.

³Even parents who choose not to exercise their right to choice would

benefit,² says Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., the chief economist for the Texas

Public Policy Foundation. ³Any time more freedom is given, that more

opportunities are available, everyone¹s lot is improved.²

The three measures ­ HB 12 by Rep. Corte of San , HB 1263 by

Rep. Harper-Brown of Irving, and HB 3042 by Rep. Debbie Riddle of

Tomball ­ would providing varying degrees of choice to parents. HB 12 is the

most restrictive, while HB 3042 is essentially a universal voucher. The

hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5.

Schlomach discounted opposition levied by teacher unions and public school

administrators.

³Monopolists hate competition, because it forces them to be more efficient,

more productive. Letting parents choose the best option available for their

child forces the public schools to do more to be the Œschool of choice,¹ for

each family,² Schlomach says.

Texans show strong support for school choice. In a poll conducted by the

Tower Institute, 54 percent of all Texans support school choice. But when

looking at ethnicity, 62 percent of African-Americans and 62 percent of

Hispanics support the concept of using education vouchers at private

schools.

³Parents, especially minority parents, are wise to the value of school

choice. The research is undeniable, school choice improves the educational

outcomes for everyone,² notes , the Foundation¹s director of

research. ³From Milwaukee to Florida, school choice is improving the

academic climate for children everywhere it is tried.²