HPISD Board: Vouchers Are Coming; They’ll Hurt Public Education

Vouchers feel like “a done deal” for Texas lawmakers, and their passage will harm public schools, Highland Park ISD Board of Trustees vice president Bryce Benson said during a Feb. 18 meeting.

“I think all of us on the board recognize that (vouchers are) detrimental to public education in many ways,” he said. “And while this is discouraging, we’re working with Rep. (Morgan) Meyer and Sen. (Tan) Parker on ways to perhaps minimize the effects, certainly to HPISD, and to public education as a whole.”

Benson explained after the meeting that HPISD is asking that recapture dollars not be used for vouchers, which are being called education savings accounts by legislators, that any voucher program be need-based, that the program be reduced in size or its participation capped, and that students utilizing vouchers take a standardized test to improve accountability.

HPISD, which recently announced elementary and secondary staffing adjustments, also doesn’t expect state lawmakers to boost funding for public schools. The base amount of dollars public schools receive from the state has been $6,160 per student since 2019, even though inflation has topped 20%.

“I will just continue to let folks know that you have elected officials in Austin, and so share your thoughts and opinions about public funding and public schools with them directly,” Superintendent Mike Rockwood said during the meeting.

Benson said that Meyer has introduced a bill that would give HPISD a 4% discount if the district pays its recapture funds early. Historically, the district has paid about $100 million in recapture.

“This could have a very significant effect for Highland Park Independent School District,” he said. “So we’re very grateful to Rep. Meyer for introducing that legislation.”

Benson added that there are seven stages for getting a bill to the House floor for a vote, and the potential recapture legislation is in stage one.

Also during the meeting, the Board of Trustees:

• Approved annual goals for the 2025-26 school year that set specific targets for student performance on standardized tests, teacher retention and pay, and student participation in extracurricular activities. The district aims to improve parent satisfaction with the quality of their children’s education, and to reduce the percentage of students who, based on annual survey results, need tutoring to understand course content.
• Received an update on the $137.3 million bond passed by voters in November. The district will receive bond funds on Feb. 26. The district tentatively plans to complete many projects in the spring and summer of 2025, including installing field turf, upgrading security systems, appraising and beginning to acquire property, replacing band and orchestra equipment, replacing classroom furniture at Armstrong Elementary, and ordering special education route buses.
• Recognized HP’s junior varsity cheerleaders for their first place win at the National Cheerleaders Association High School Nationals in Dallas. In addition to capturing the national title in the Intermediate JV/Freshmen Crowd Leading division, the cheerleaders also won “Best Use of Stunts,” a specialty award given by the judges.