In the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, a frustrating opinion article attempts to paint with a broad brush and speak for Hispanics, saying that school choice would not benefit us.
As a first-generation American and an activist for my community, I am used to having others try to speak for me or over me. Amid such a historic opportunity for Texas, I cannot stay silent. Hispanic families would benefit tremendously from the school choice initiatives that Gov. Abbott is proposing, initiatives that would provide choice and flexibility for not only Hispanic families but all families in Texas. The system has failed us, and it is time for solutions now.
Chairman Brad Buckley’s house bill would would create an education savings account (ESA) program for eligible students of up to $10,500 per student to cover educational expenses. We know that Hispanic families want to choose the school that works best for their child, and an ESA can help these families.
Poll after poll has shown that Hispanic families strongly support school choice. In the latest poll conducted, 85 percent of Hispanic parents said they support an ESA program. These families want to customize their child’s learning environment, and why shouldn’t they?
The public education system has failed Texas children, time and time again. The system has failed Hispanic students nationwide, as evidenced by NAEP scores that show Hispanic students lag behind their white counterparts in math and reading by up to two years. We, as Hispanic moms, know that all is not well, and we don’t want some faceless bureaucrat who has never even met our children deciding where they should go to school. In my work, I have heard this sentiment over and over from Hispanic families.
The polling results are consistent with what I have heard while working with families in Texas, too. They want options for different reasons. One single dad said his daughter was number 250 on a waitlist at a magnet school. He is searching for options because his daughter is very smart and not challenged enough in the current system. Another mother said her child was assigned to an F school because her current classroom was overcrowded, while yet another mom said she is homeschooling her children because they have ADHD and the school district wouldn’t provide them the necessary food accommodations. The one thing these parents had in common was how happy they were with the Governor’s proposal – they all asked how they could make their voices heard. Despite those who want to shut us down, our voices will be heard.
Texas has one of the largest Hispanic populations in the United States, with Latinos making up 40% of the population in 2022. Our communities often need additional support and different types of services.
A recent survey, for instance, showed that Hispanics want more bilingual services and bilingual education, something that ESA programs could help become a reality for more families.
This fight for school choice is not against the public schools; they will continue receiving resources - in fact, another Senate bill would provide billions more to public schools and teacher pay raises. This fight is to give opportunities to families who need choice. No child should be forced to wait for a system to change, or improve; instead, students should have expanded access to school choice as a feasible and cost-effective solution now. Florida, Arizona, and many other states have these programs for their children, and they are successful. Florida, a longtime leader in school choice, has been thriving and recently went from 43rd in national education rankings to the top.
In the coming days, Texas Representatives face a clear decision: Either to advocate for the welfare of kids or to uphold the existing system that has persistently failed us. The fate of our Texas students, especially Hispanic students, is in their hands.
Valeria Gurr serves as a Senior Fellow for the American Federation for Children. She describes herself as a passionate advocate for educational choice, particularly for underserved families, and founded la Federación Americana Para los Niños. For more information, visit
