Gov. Greg Abbott has made "school choice" his top political priority for 2023. So far this year, the Legislature has declined to enact the core of his proposal: allowing parents to use state dollars to pay for their children's homeschooling or private school tuition. Can Abbott, who called a special session starting Oct. 9, overcome resistance from Democrats and rural Republicans in the House? Billions of dollars in additional school funding and pay raises for Texas teachers have been held up in the standoff. What would the legislation mean for students, teachers and the future of public education in Texas?
Is compromise possible?
Join us at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the Tribune's Studio 919 and online when we'll consider these questions and more in a conversation held during the special session.
The moderator for this event is Becky Fogel, education reporter at KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station.Â
Confirmed speakers include Corey A. DeAngelis, senior fellow at the American Federation for Children; Norma V. Cantú, professor of education and professor of law at UT Austin College of Education; and John Emerich, superintendent of Crockett Independent School District.
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Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. at the Tribune’s Studio 919, located at 919 Congress Ave., Sixth Floor, in Austin. The hourlong conversation will begin at 9 a.m. Parking will not be provided; street and garage parking as well as ride-sharing are recommended.
This in-person event will be livestreamed for virtual attendees and will be available to watch on demand afterward at texastribune.org/events.
Cantú is a professor of education and a professor of law at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. For eight years, she served as the assistant secretary of education for civil rights in the Clinton administration, where she oversaw a staff of approximately 850 in implementing governmental policy for civil rights in American education. Prior to her service as the nation's chief civil rights enforcer in the educational arena, Cantú worked for fourteen years as regional counsel and education director of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
DeAngelis is a senior fellow at the American Federation for Children. He is also the executive director at Educational Freedom Institute, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, a senior fellow at Reason Foundation and a board member at Liberty Justice Center. He has authored or co-authored over 40 journal articles, book chapters and reports on education policy, and he is the co-editor of "School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Education Freedom."
Emerich serves as superintendent for Crockett ISD in Crockett, Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in human resource management from Western Washington University and a master's in educational administration from Sam Houston State University. He has been in the education field for 31 years, starting as a classroom teacher, campus administrator and various central office positions before becoming superintendent.
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism.
Find a complete list of them here.
Email us at events@texastribune.org
Sab Pell is senior director of product marketing at Openform, where her goal is to help people unlock the power of in-person events. Prior to Openform, she led global product marketing teams. Sab Pell is senior director of product marketing at Openform, where her goal is to help people unlock the power of in-person events. Prior to Openform, she led global product marketing teams.
