Survey: Abbott’s school vouchers not top priority for Texas voters

As Texas Gov. Greg Abbott continues to fight a losing battle over school vouchers during the special legislative session he called, a new survey found that “school choice” isn’t a top priority for registered Republican or Democrat voters.

Indeed, school vouchers didn’t even rank among the top three most critical issues in the upcoming election among voters when it came to education, according to the poll by the University of Texas’ Texas Politics Project.

After failing to get school vouchers passed over the summer due to backlash from rural Republicans and Democrats in the Texas House, Abbott called a special session on Oct. 5 and demanded lawmakers approve them this fall.

Although Abbott is hell-bent on getting lawmakers to pass a voucher bill, even going as far as saying that he won’t entertain teacher pay rises until he has legislation on his desk, the  Texas Politics Project poll finds that registered voters from across the political spectrum don’t care much about the issue.

Instead, the majority polled, or 30%, said school safety is their top priority when it comes to education.

Only 2% of Democrats and 9% of Republican respondents said vouchers are their biggest concern in the upcoming election.

Among Democrats, 37% said that securing school campuses is their biggest concern in the 2024 election. Their second biggest priority among voters is teacher pay and retention. Curriculum content came in third.

School curriculum was the biggest concern among Republican voters. Roughly one in five said it’s their top priority.

Despite weak support from Republicans and Democrats, vouchers are the second-hottest topic among registered Independents after school safety, with 13% reporting that school choice is their key priority.

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.

Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter| Or sign up for our RSS Feed

Related Stories

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds teacher pay hostage in voucher fight

The Republican governor said he won’t pass raises for teachers unless the House approves a voucher bill nearly identical to one lawmakers rejected over the summer.

Texas teachers grapple with their raises caught up in voucher fight

As a special session starts with a focus on ‘school choice’ but no mention of public school funding, some teachers said they are even considering leaving the profession.

Disability advocates argue against school vouchers in Texas Senate hearing

The Senate’s main ‘school choice’ bill would prioritize vouchers for children with disabilities, among others. But parents raised concerns that recipients who choose private school would no longer be protected by federal law.

Texas judge temporarily blocks release of ‘unlawful’ school accountability ratings

The ruling comes after dozens of school districts sued the Texas Education Agency, claiming the revised accountability system would hurt their ratings.

Abbott says he’s reached an agreement on vouchers; Texas lawmakers say otherwise

Gov. Greg Abbott said he struck a deal with House Speaker Dade Phelan on Tuesday, but Phelan’s office was less committal, and one House member said the proposal still isn’t going anywhere.

Abbott’s voucher hopes fade as Texas House recesses until next week

The House won’t reconvene until Monday or Tuesday, which would leave virtually no time to debate and pass voucher legislation.

The Texas House’s new priority education bill offers the most concessions yet to sway voucher skeptics

The revised bill promises a significant funding increase for public schools and academic accountability measures for students participating in the proposed voucher program, two of the biggest requests from voucher opponents.

VIA offering free trips to San Antonio voters this Tuesday

Texans will vote on 14 constitutional amendments on Tuesday.

Greg Abbott’s special legislative session ends with no action on school vouchers

Observers expect Abbott to call an unprecedented fourth special session Tuesday afternoon.

School voucher critics remain largely unswayed during Texas House hearing

House Bill 1, which stagnated during the previous special session, finally received a hearing in the lower chamber, a crucial step that will decide whether the proposal gets a full vote.

This article appears in Oct 18-30, 2023.