Before March 2020, virtual education was a niche offering in Texas public education, serving fewer than 1% of Texas students. Then school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the nation and state into an extended experiment in emergency remote education. While Texas virtual education needed renovation even before the pandemic, the state’s experiences exposed the existing framework as untenable for the 21st century. Now, Texas has a unique opportunity to update state policy on virtual and hybrid education, using the lessons we have learned.
Testimony on Substitute Language for Plank 101, the School Choice Plank
The substitute language for Plank 101 is as follows: “Promoting Parental Choice: We support the right of parents to enroll their child in a traditional public school, private school, charter school, or to homeschool as they choose and believe all state funding for K-12 education should follow the child. We oppose any attempt to regulate...