School vouchers are a key issue in this statehouse race in suburban Collin County

Education is at the center of the race for Texas House District 70 — especially voters’ views on school vouchers.

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Mihaela Plesa and her Republican challenger, Steve Kinard, offer different positions on education savings accounts — what opponents call school vouchers and supporters call school choice. And whoever voters send to Austin could indicate how this suburban district leans on the issue.

Gov. Greg Abbott tried to pass what he calls school choice during the last legislative session. The plan would have allowed parents to use state money for private school education through education savings accounts.

A group of Texas House Democrats and rural Republicans have opposed the bill, including Plesa, who said school vouchers are harmful to public schools.

But her Republican opponent said education savings accounts increase educational freedom and allow for a free market for ideas.

“School choice puts control back at the community level,” says Kinard.

His support for school vouchers earned Kinard the governor’s support, as Abbott’s vowed to continue pushing for “school choice” once the Legislature reconvenes in January. Abbott also endorsed several key opponents of incumbent Republicans who voted with Democrats last year to oppose education savings accounts.

Five of those anti-voucher Republicans lost their primaries outright and six lost to Abbott-endorsed challengers in the primaries.

Abbott’s education plan is probably pass this coming legislature.

Colleen Dippel supports education savings accounts and said they would not take money away from public schools. Dippel, the founder and CEO of the education nonprofit Families become strongerEducation savings accounts give parents the freedom and resources to decide what is best for their child, regardless of income.

“We’re going to trust them,” Dippel said. “We’re going to give them the opportunity to all have access to the same choices.”

But opponents argue that vouchers would derail public school funding in a state that hasn’t seen funding since 2019. A House bill introduced during the last legislative session would have increased the base allocation — the amount each district gets based on enrollment. But the bill died after lawmakers removed money to fund school vouchers.

The base amount remains $6,160 per student, and the lack of more funding is a challenge even for wealthier districts. In Texas House District 70, which includes part of Plano ISD, the school district has faced a budget deficit for several years despite its real estate wealth. School board trustees recently voted to close it four campuses next school year due to budget considerations.

Local property taxes in Plano generate a lot of revenue, but the school district can’t keep all that money. Any additional property tax dollars that Plano ISD collects are sent to the state, which redistributes the money to districts without as much property through a process called recapture.

Plesa said the education savings account plan would hurt districts that send millions back to the state through recapture.

“These types of bills never take into account districts like Plano ISD, Frisco ISD and Allen ISD, which are all recapture districts,” she said. “We are already doing our part to lift all boats.”

Plesa said she is pushing for school finance reform and even submitted legislation last session on this topic. One bill Plesa introduced last session focused on “tax parity,” which would have shown taxpayers where their dollars are ending up in their accounts.

Kinard also wants to see school funding reforms, but is more focused on the recapture system. According to him, there is a lack of transparency and honesty. He also said school choice would lead to more investment in public schools — not less — because most people would choose to send their children to local public schools.

“Investing in the student is investing in public education,” Kinard said.

But Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, said voucher-style programs in the past have not increased funding for Texas public schools.

“We might try that again, but there’s a good chance we’ll fail again,” Jillson said.

Do you have a tip? Email Caroline Love at [email protected].

Caroline Love is one Report for America corps member for KERA News.

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