WEBVTT 1 00:00:09.160 --> 00:00:11.640 Hello, and welcome to the Texas Tribune trip Cast for 2 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:15.279 March thirty first, twenty twenty six. I am Matthew Watkins, 3 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:18.760 editor in chief of the Texas Tribune, and joined as 4 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:21.879 usual by Law and politics reporter Eleanor Klibanoff. 5 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.960 Hello, Eleanor, thank you for having me. Thank you for 6 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:26.640 being here today. 7 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:29.359 We're going to talk about school vouchers, or education Savings 8 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:33.439 accounts or Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the program with many 9 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:38.479 names for which the deadline to apply for parents ends today. 10 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:41.880 We think, unless a judge pushes that back again, we 11 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:44.640 will get into that here in a minute. We've had 12 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:49.920 demand significantly outstriped supply. We've had Muslim schools denied applications 13 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:52.640 to participate in the program. As mentioned, we had a 14 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:57.039 judge extend the application period. We've had special families with 15 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:01.079 kids with special education needs express challenge and getting access 16 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:03.320 to their full money. And we've had a good old 17 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:07.760 fashioned political fight between Ken Paxson, our Attorney General, Greg Abbott, 18 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.400 our governor, and our governor's handpicked acting comptroller, Kelly Hancock. 19 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:17.599 It's been an eventful rollout to this new program, and 20 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:20.200 joining us to talk about it is Jaden Edison our 21 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:23.560 k Through twelve reporter, Hello, Jaden, thanks for having me, 22 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:27.599 thank you for being here. So, you know, as we're 23 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:33.480 recording this, it is eleven o'clock on March thirty first. 24 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:39.799 The deadline is fast approaching. We're about thirteen hours away unless, 25 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:42.480 as I mentioned, it get moved. It gets moved. But 26 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:44.599 Jayden tell us a little bit about just what we 27 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:48.959 know about kind of the application process so far. Who's applied, 28 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:50.200 how many folks that that. 29 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:50.640 Kind of thing. 30 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:53.680 Yeah, so, as you mentioned, application sets of close at 31 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:57.200 eleven fifty nine pm March thirty first, you know, barring 32 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.000 you know, another core order that would extend the deadline 33 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:04.640 by another two weeks. And so as of yesterday the 34 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:07.000 numbers were about I think the Controller reported it was 35 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:11.240 roughly two hundred and fifty seven thousand or more at 36 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:15.400 least two hundred fifty seven thousand family applications submitted. You know, 37 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:20.280 there have been roughly over twenty two hundred private schools 38 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:22.560 that have basically opted into the program who meet the 39 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:25.840 qualifications and are added to the controllers approved list of 40 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:27.840 what I refer to them as voucher schools. To make 41 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:31.120 it easier in my head, schools who are accepting vouchers. 42 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.560 We also got some some demographic breakdown, you know, over 43 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:37.120 the course of you know, the application period as well. 44 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:39.039 You know, one of the big things that people were 45 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.840 obviously interested in, and you know, and that was based 46 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:44.280 on a lot of the trends that we've seen in 47 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:47.360 other states with these basically what have been called universal programs, 48 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:51.000 which basically means virtually any school age child can can participate. 49 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:53.520 And that's certainly how Texas has for the most part 50 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.159 structured their program. You know, there's a lot of interests 51 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:59.400 in like how many of the applicants would be families 52 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:02.000 who you know, maybe already had their children in private 53 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.719 school or homeschool. And we know that what we know 54 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:07.319 so far is that really, you know, the over one 55 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.520 majority of families that I've applied kind of fit that 56 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:15.039 bill as well, the bill of already being exactly excuse me, 57 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:17.319 already in private school. Now there is a caveat because 58 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:19.800 for some reason which we could you know, get into, 59 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.159 but you know, the comptroller is collecting that data in 60 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:25.439 terms of prior school enrollment as of the twenty four 61 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:27.759 to twenty five school year, so we don't actually know 62 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:30.919 what the current enrollment is of the families, which that's 63 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.479 a decision, but you know, I don't haven't got at the. 64 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:35.080 Very least that's a family that at some point had 65 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.599 their child recently had their child in private school, which matters, right, 66 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:42.719 because the argument for why we need this is parents 67 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:46.120 that don't feel like their school's child or their child 68 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:48.680 school is adequate their public school and they need to 69 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:50.120 sort of put them in private school to get an 70 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:54.479 adequate education. Yeah, so they're already in private school. Maybe 71 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:55.560 they've already found a way. 72 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.479 To do that, right, right, and that was part of it, right, 73 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.680 and you know, certainly to you know, you talk about 74 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:02.879 this has been billed as a as a program that 75 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:05.639 really you know, they they really talked about prioritizing two 76 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:09.439 groups of students, right, students with disabilities and low income students. 77 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:11.639 Right now, obviously you have families who maybe fit both 78 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:14.639 those you know, criteria and whatnot. And so you know, 79 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:17.519 we'll get finalized data whenever the application closes to be 80 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:19.839 able to see what the entire deal was. But certainly, 81 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:21.959 you know, also you talk about kind of racial breakdown. 82 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.120 The contops actually as recently started putting that out after 83 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:28.040 some you know, records requests from interested parties you know, 84 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:33.199 journalists and organizations alike, and we have seen that. You know, 85 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:35.000 if you compare it obviously to public school in romement, 86 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.120 I mean, you know, Texas is a you know majority 87 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:41.399 you know, uh Hispanic student population in public schools, you 88 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.720 know majority, you know, low income about sixty percent. I 89 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.040 think on free and reduced launching Texas public school as well. 90 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:50.120 You know, we're seeing so far as the majority of 91 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:55.720 voucher applicants are our majority white families. The income criteria 92 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:57.959 is a little kind of confusing. The people like it depends. 93 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.560 They defined it as one way, so I think you 94 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.120 have to look at with a little bit of nuance. 95 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:03.519 But certainly, you know, you have seen some interest from 96 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:05.959 from middle to high income families, but as well as 97 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.279 as low income families students. 98 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:08.879 All right, I want to I want to break down 99 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:12.279 the demographics a little bit more. But let's first just 100 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.040 talk about like big picture raw numbers of people applying. 101 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:19.199 So you said two hundred and fifty seven thousand students 102 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:20.560 who have applied for. 103 00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:26.279 This family families of students. Yeah, it's a family. 104 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:28.079 You could have multiple students. 105 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:29.920 Exactly because the way they build it is basically like it. Yeah, 106 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:31.439 and we had actually had this conversation in the. 107 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:34.879 Newsroom, like you're still in your argument. 108 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:38.199 It was like a student can't technically apply, but the 109 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:39.160 family of the student. 110 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.639 So that's kind of how I'm looking at gotcha. Gotcha. 111 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:45.360 So just to take a step back, right, the program 112 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:49.079 was approved in the last legislative session a billion dollars 113 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:53.399 set aside for that, we're talking about roughly the average 114 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:59.759 you know, amount for students who do not have are 115 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:03.360 are not either homeschooling or have special education reasons, which 116 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.319 could increase the number is a little bit over ten 117 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.000 thousand dollars. If so, if you're going to break that 118 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:13.439 down essentially, you know, people estimating, you know, somewhere in 119 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:16.399 the like ninety thousand to one hundred thousand students will 120 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:19.959 be eligible. So what we're talking about here is, you know, 121 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:24.920 a situation where demand has far outstripped supply and you know, 122 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:28.879 likely maybe around like probably less than forty percent of 123 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:32.319 the parents, the families who apply will actually get access 124 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:37.120 to the vouchers. That that, you know, I think you 125 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:38.759 know is a bit of a kind of eye of 126 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.240 the beholder situation. Right, A lot of people who supported. 127 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.680 The vouchers are really cele are really celebrating this is that, 128 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:47.959 you know, this is something that families really need, you know. 129 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.480 The other question is just what is this going to 130 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:55.199 mean for this program going forward? Are we going to 131 00:06:55.240 --> 00:07:00.000 see you know, demand to increase this in the upcoming 132 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.519 legislative session. What are you hearing from folks about that 133 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:03.920 topic so far? 134 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:08.519 So, I think certainly when we talk about legislative requests, 135 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.920 you know, one thing, I mean, there are a few 136 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:12.800 things right when you talk about the some of the 137 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:15.000 things that have appeared in the bill so far, or 138 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:17.839 that's just say unintended consequences that they've been kind of 139 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:21.680 label certainly as it relates to like, you know, funding 140 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.000 for students with disabilities and whether or not they can 141 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:28.120 qualify for certain increases in future years, or whether for example, 142 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:30.439 a home school family can move from the two thousand 143 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.519 dollars per year category to the ten thousand, five hundred 144 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.399 dollars per year amount category. There are some technical kind 145 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:40.800 of fixes and clarity that the controller you know, has 146 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:44.160 identified really that have been identified through reporting you know, 147 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.680 that certainly you know, would be addressing and the interesting 148 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:48.519 things that that is like to solve some of the 149 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:53.040 issues that maybe the controller deems as the sticking point 150 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:57.240 so far actually can be solved with more funding, right, 151 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.959 and so it certainly, you know, we've seen another state 152 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:03.000 and you know, we're talking about this before. Is you know, 153 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:05.439 i'd be surprised if they're you know, certainly, I would 154 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:07.839 imagine there's going to be you know, the request for 155 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:10.759 more appropriation, and they're going to point to some of 156 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:13.360 the you know, the the early demand for the program 157 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:15.680 as well as maybe some of these you know, more 158 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:19.319 technical things that maybe weren't intended but have kind of 159 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:21.399 played out and been some of the sticking points of 160 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:22.279 the program so far. 161 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.839 One of the things we were talking about this just before, 162 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.079 but I think it's interesting is like there will be 163 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:30.319 now this whole tier of families that get turned down 164 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:32.679 for this program who sort of feel like, well, this 165 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:34.039 was something I thought I was going to get and 166 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.799 now I'm not getting it, which sort of creates a 167 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:41.360 whole new potential class of you know, people who are 168 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:44.679 now activists for raise increasing this or who feel like, 169 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:47.360 you know, the only answer is for the state to 170 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:51.399 increase this, who then become you know, pushing their elected 171 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.840 officials to increase the amount of funding towards it. So 172 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.600 I think it is sort of like the Overton windows 173 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:00.000 shifts right from should we do school vouchers to how 174 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.440 how much money are we putting into this? 175 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:03.919 Yeah, I think it's going to be very interesting because, 176 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:07.600 you know, been a part of a couple panels in 177 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:10.480 recent months where this topic has come up. Brought it 178 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:14.279 up with the head of the Catholic Schools, which was 179 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:17.480 a big advocate for this program. They were adamant, Yes, 180 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.559 we believe there needs to be more money put into this, 181 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:23.279 you know next legislative session. 182 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:25.399 I don't know. 183 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.960 I mean, y'all courage me if I'm wrong, Like, I 184 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.200 haven't heard the leadership coming out and saying we're going 185 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:34.039 to grow this or we need to grow this that much. 186 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:38.000 You know, we saw that the Lieutenant Governor and the 187 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:41.320 House Speaker put out their interim charges next year. You know, 188 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:43.759 I mean it's complicated, right because those those are things 189 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:46.559 to study. It doesn't every not everything on that list. 190 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:47.080 You know. 191 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.600 The Senate version, Dan Patrick's version, you know, he had 192 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:54.799 an item called celebrating the successful rollout of school Choice. 193 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:57.120 It did not ask for what needed to change. I 194 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.720 mean it did say study and provide recommendations on how 195 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:02.799 it can enhance and expand. But you know, it wasn't 196 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:05.519 like we need to put you know, we need to 197 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:10.759 fulfill demand or anything on that. Senator Donald Campbell, I 198 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.480 had an opportunity, she's the new chair of the Senate 199 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:19.080 Education Committee, asked her a similar question. She didn't go 200 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:21.120 there either. So I think it's going to be interesting. 201 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:24.120 It's going to be a much more complicated budget season 202 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:27.759 next year. I think most people expect that the massive 203 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:30.679 surpluses that have been available to the legislature in the 204 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.200 past years is not going to be available this time. 205 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.039 Maybe there will be a surplus, but not in that 206 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:41.919 like double digit you know, or not double double digit billions. 207 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.279 I can't count how many easier as that is off 208 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:46.879 the top of my head. So there's going to be 209 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.399 a lot more competing for money next year, and it'll 210 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.960 be interesting to see. But you know, this year, Jaden, 211 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:55.879 we are in that sort of you know, there is 212 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.720 going to be a scarcity of these accounts available to people. 213 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.480 Can you remind folks a little bit about the prioritization 214 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:05.240 system and how that will be determined of who will 215 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:07.200 get them and who will who will not right. 216 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.159 So they've outlined basically several tiers. So you know we're 217 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:13.960 past we know now that demand you know, exceeds funding. 218 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:16.960 And so now what will happen is is it'll basically 219 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:18.559 be you know, broking down to these categories. 220 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:18.759 Right. 221 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:20.840 So obviously at the top of that list are students 222 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:24.080 with disabilities who fit within a certain income threshold. On 223 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.679 income threshold, they said, I, if you're thinking about a 224 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:28.639 family of four, it's going to go all the way 225 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.519 up to roughly one hundred and sixty thousand dollars that's 226 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:31.919 per year. 227 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:34.440 That's five times the federal poverty level, right. 228 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:37.399 For, right for, and that's specifically students with disabilities who 229 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:38.240 fit that category. 230 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:39.759 So and I'm going to pause you as you go 231 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.240 down this list because I have the control as shark 232 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.320 here about twelve percent of applicants fall into that category 233 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:45.759 right now. 234 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:49.039 And then so what what how the system works is 235 00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:52.840 basically the Controller's office is going to go through so 236 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.600 they all those families, assuming they meet all the eligibility 237 00:11:55.799 --> 00:12:00.320 eligibility criteria, excuse me, they would all be priority TIS, 238 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:04.720 right assuming, and that's pending acceptance to a private school, 239 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:07.840 right which has to be selected by July fifteenth, right, 240 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:11.279 so by July, and so once you get that through 241 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:14.080 that category, then you will move down to this the 242 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.519 second tier, which you have it in front of you, 243 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:18.000 so correct me your own, but it's this one is 244 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.679 I believe two hundred through five hundred correct percent of poverty. 245 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.399 So that's what roughly was sixty seven thousand or so 246 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:30.080 between that one hundred and sixty grand four family of four. 247 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:34.840 So again this is mad so sorry people, and we're 248 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.399 talking about thirty one percent of applicants. 249 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.879 There, so just considered like the low income tier. 250 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:43.240 That's low income you know at well sorry, there's adder 251 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:45.720 below two hundred for sure, So that's the second tier, right, 252 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:47.480 and then the third would be the one in between 253 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:49.320 the two. So yeah, so that's where I got it mixed. 254 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:51.519 So yeah, first to students with disabilities up to that 255 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:54.159 five times of poverty. Second is going to be that 256 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:58.240 two hundred percent category, right, and that's the thirty one 257 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.399 percent exactly right, So that's going to be considered Elinori's 258 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:03.600 your point, the kind of low income to your and 259 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.159 then you will transition to the families who are in 260 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:08.679 between those two. So right, the two hundred and five 261 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:11.159 hundred percent category, and that's about thirty percent. 262 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:14.559 So between those three categories, I'm doing the quick math here, 263 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.840 you're talking about around seventy three percent of the applications 264 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.879 right there. That means, you know, uh, some of the 265 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:24.440 people in even that two hundred to five hundred percent 266 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.799 category are probably going to be missing out. They're going 267 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.279 to have to go into a lottery. 268 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:29.399 To see whether they get it. Yeah. 269 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:33.519 And then obviously then the last one, if you will, 270 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.960 it's going to be the you know, we'll consider the 271 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.639 you know, the wealthiest families, right that's going to be 272 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.360 at the five hundred five times of poverty or above that, 273 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:45.639 and that's capped to about twenty percent of the total 274 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:47.000 one billion dollar allocation. 275 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:50.639 So the way it works is there go ahead, so 276 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:53.240 we have five percent of those people who are not 277 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.720 who are currently enrolled in public school, which actually I 278 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:59.759 believe gets a priority over just the five hundred percent 279 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:02.039 or more, which is twenty two percent of the applicants. 280 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:05.240 So essentially, what you're looking at is the if they 281 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:08.840 sort of follow this priority system, the wealthiest families are 282 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:12.120 the least likely to get access these vouchers. 283 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:15.200 So here's where the nuance gets regular There's been a 284 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:18.480 ton of public conversation about this, and I think there 285 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.600 is some clarity needed. 286 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.399 Right, is the key here? 287 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:26.840 It goes back to students getting accepted to their preferred 288 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.600 private school. Right, so we know, for example that you know, 289 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:33.240 many of these families, if you're a family for example, 290 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.480 which that's what we know so far, it seems to 291 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:39.039 be most families who applied have families who are already 292 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:42.799 enrolled in private school. That's not necessarily an obstacle for you, right, 293 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.519 you already know you're enrolled exactly. 294 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:44.840 Yeah. 295 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.120 So, but going back to what we're talking about, how 296 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:50.399 the program was built, right in terms of you know, 297 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:53.360 we want to you know, we're talking about the category 298 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:55.399 of public school students, which is going to be a 299 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.399 very small percentage based on what we seem so far 300 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.919 and in other states of you know, students who switch 301 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:03.679 from public to private. You know, those families ultimately, again 302 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:06.879 by July fifteenth, have to find, you know, a school 303 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:09.440 to accommodate their needs. And when you get into talking 304 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:12.080 about families of students with disabilities, that becomes even more 305 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:14.720 of a challenge because you know, many schools maybe don't 306 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:18.440 have the sort of accommodations that those particular families need 307 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:21.080 depending on what the disability is, where it's physical disability, 308 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.360 learning disability, et cetera. 309 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:24.320 And so there's a little nuance. 310 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:26.480 To that, but you're certainly right at face value, Like 311 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.919 if you just look at the category, they're going to 312 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.080 have to go through each category. So let's just assume 313 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.919 that you know, everybody in category one gets accepted. That's 314 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.919 however many students, that's going to be everybody in category two. 315 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.679 At some point, you're going to run out of the funds, 316 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.840 and you know, they're going to be families who then 317 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.639 move to the wait list, and then that has its 318 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.600 own kind of structured system as well. 319 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.559 And I think you could I mean, I've heard this 320 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.399 argument right that some of these families who already have 321 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:51.720 a child in private school maybe are already making like, 322 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:54.000 you know, they feel like their child could not stay 323 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:56.159 in public school, and they're having to make very significant 324 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:58.879 sacrifices to keep, you know, to get their child in 325 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:01.320 private school. This will help them not have to sort 326 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:03.879 of make those extreme sacrifices anymore. So it's not like 327 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:07.039 being in private school necessarily means you're the richest person alive. 328 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:10.200 But correct, But they wanted to prioritize giving the people 329 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.519 who have not had access to that get them the 330 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.639 access to the program. 331 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.200 But to your point, I mean, the data is pretty 332 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.919 noisy so far. It sounds like in terms of drawing 333 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.480 really firm conclusions. 334 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.120 Yeah, I mean, and. 335 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:24.159 There's just so much that you know ultimately you know, 336 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.799 to me, the key data points, the things I'll be 337 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:29.080 looking out for is, you know, you get past the lottery, 338 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:32.519 who are ultimately the beneficiaries you know of this program? 339 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.519 Right the applicant pool is one thing, and that's telling 340 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.399 us some things, giving us some indications, But certainly we're 341 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:40.879 far from you know, any you know, certainly you can. Again, 342 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.720 the best thing I always look at is like what 343 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.320 has happened in other states and they can give that 344 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.120 gives you a sense because a lot of these programs 345 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:49.840 are structured you know, very similarly. But nonetheless, you know 346 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.799 that'll be that'll tell us you know more you know 347 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:56.320 about again like how taxpayer you know, dollars are being spent, 348 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:56.840 et cetera. 349 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.600 Once we get those you know, those data points. One 350 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:03.679 other break down you mentioned race as well. Forty five 351 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:08.599 percent of students who have applied are white, plus another 352 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:12.880 twelve who are multi racial twenty three percent Hispanic, eleven 353 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:18.640 percent Black, eight percent Asian Pacific Islander, and one percent American, 354 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:23.119 Indian and Alaskan Native. You know, I mean what jumps 355 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:28.880 out to me is the most disproportionately unrepresented group being Hispanic, right, 356 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:31.440 which is like right around that majority in terms of 357 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.359 public school students, less than a quarter of the students 358 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.279 who have applied for this program so far. 359 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.160 Yeah, and again it goes back to like you look 360 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.079 at I mean, if you look at like, for example, 361 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:43.200 Propublic of the Investigative News that we work with them, 362 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.759 you know, they have actually put together like a private 363 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:49.440 school demographic databases based on like federal surveys and things 364 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:51.359 that that nature have been able to get. And again 365 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:54.720 you look at the overall kind of private school demographics, right, 366 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.200 saying it kind of skews in the same direction. So 367 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.279 if you're assuming that, you know, the overwhelming majority already 368 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.160 of applicants are in private school, then the data points 369 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.519 here that we've gotten for voucher applicants really isn't that surprising, Okay? 370 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:11.200 And then so let's talk a little bit about just 371 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:13.880 the process of schools getting signed up this has been 372 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:17.200 a key focus. Tell us what has happened with some 373 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:19.400 Islamic schools in the state. 374 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:23.200 Yeah, so, I mean there's a lot to unpack, but 375 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.599 I'll try to, you know, do the crash course version. 376 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:28.920 So basically this dates back to two months ago when 377 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:33.839 when Acting Controller Kelly Hancock, whose office oversees the voucher 378 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:36.559 program right task with that you know, by the legislature. 379 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:42.039 So basically, you know, he requested, you know, uh, an 380 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.279 opinion from Attorney General, you know, Kim Paxton, who obviously 381 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:47.319 is the state's lawyer. And so when it comes to 382 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:49.400 any kind of lawsuits things of that nature, the expectation 383 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:52.359 is obviously at the Attorney General Paxston is going to 384 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:55.359 defend the Controller, and so that's a little context for 385 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.319 just you know, people who to make the connection. So 386 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:01.400 he requests an opinion from Kim Paxton and and what 387 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.880 that says is is basically, and I'm giving you the 388 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:06.240 crash course Jaden version of this. Right. It's like, hey, 389 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.480 you know, I'm going through you know, you know, this 390 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:14.319 process so far, and I'm wondering if it's possible, in 391 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.759 your legal opinion for me to exclude certain studs. Sorry, 392 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:25.359 exclude certain schools that apply to our program if they 393 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:28.880 are you know, tied or associated with organizations whom we 394 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.920 as a state have deemed quote unquote foreign terrorist organizations 395 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.240 or foreign adversaries. And what he's really getting at is 396 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:41.359 is that there, you know, he pointed to specifically the 397 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:44.880 Council on American Islamic Relations CARE, right, which has been 398 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:47.160 in the middle of all the kind of political noise 399 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:50.559 during you know, midterm election season in which Governor. 400 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:53.960 Abbot has essentially declared terrorists right. 401 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:56.440