Texas governor only endorsing Republicans who supported school voucher program

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last Monday began endorsing for reelection only state Republicans who voted to save a school voucher proposal earlier this month. Abbott had proposed a program that would give parents more freedom to choose where their children attend school. On Nov. 17, the Texas House of Representatives voted to amputate that school voucher program from a massive education bill.

Why did the program fail to pass? Opponents said the program would steal funds from public schools, reducing the quality of education. Abbott has not yet clarified if he will try to push the bill through the state’s congress again. Parents nationwide have begun exploring alternative school options, such as homeschooling or private schooling, in recent years.

Dig deeper: Read Anna Sylvestre’s report in Schooled about Gov. Abbott’s bid for freedom of school choice.