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Our Schools Our Democracy
@osodtexas.bsky.social
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Our Schools Our Democracy protects the fundamental rights of all Texans to a free, public education through research, education, outreach, & advocacy.

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Our Schools Our Democracy @osodtexas.bsky.social · Oct 17
Vouchers may be law but Texans haven't stopped fighting for our public schools 💪

Our Schools Our Democracy has created a new online resource to help you track the voucher rollout: osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/

#txed
On a cream colored box there is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo above the text Learn more and get involved above a red box with the link to OSOD's voucher resource: https://osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/ The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill.
osodtexas.bsky.social
"The timeline for the initial rollout may box out the very families it has vowed to help because of admission deadlines at a wide array of private schools."

@houstonchronicle.com

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Texas voucher timeline discrepancy may box out low-income families, experts say
Many of the most elite private schools in the Houston area will close their applications months before the school voucher program is slated to open. What does that mean for families?
www.houstonchronicle.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
"On any given day, FL’s education dept did not know where 30k students were going to school & could not account for the $270m in taxpayer funds it took to support them, according to the state Senate Appropriations Cmte on Pre-K-12 Educ."

@washingtonpost.com

www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
How Florida lost track of 30,000 students, a ‘cautionary tale’ for vouchers
The state’s auditor general found “a myriad of accountability problems” in the nation’s largest voucher program.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
‼️ Important new report from the Nat'l Center for Charter School Accountability
network4pubed.bsky.social Network for Public Education @network4pubed.bsky.social · 14d
Groundbreaking Report by National Center for Charter School Accountability Released Today - Support for charter schools has dropped dramatically, from 7 in 10 Americans in 2013 to 46% today. Part II of the Charter School Reckoning report explains why. networkforpubliceduc...
December 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Did you miss our December newsletter? Catch up on our latest news and updates now at bit.ly/OSODNewsletter, and make sure to sign up for our monthly newsletters!
The header reads November Highlights and is bolded to the right of an orange cartoon leaf. The bullets read: We continue to update our voucher webpage, including with the Comptroller’s final voucher rules. After an intensive 16-week program, we graduated with the rest of our cohort from BRIDGE! Thank you to BRIDGE and our cohort members for investing in Our Schools Our Democracy. We joined Texas public education advocates to strategize and deepen our relationships at the Friends of Texas Public Schools summit, the Texas Tribune Festival, and more. At the bottom is the link to learn more: bit.ly/OSODNewsletter. The background of the post is a semi-transparent collage of OSOD staff in action at community presentations and events.
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
🚨 "The comptroller rejected a slate of measures pushed by public education groups as a way to add more accountability to the program."
From @houstonchronicle.com
www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...
Final rules on Texas’ voucher program are out. Here are the key takeaways
The rules come as the program is set to open up applications next month for private vendors that want to participate. Applications for families are set to open in February.
www.houstonchronicle.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
“Given Odyssey’s track record of operational mismanagement and misuse of state funds in much smaller voucher programs, Texans should sound the alarm about the Comptroller’s decision to entrust Odyssey with $1 billion of our taxpayer dollars and the educational outcomes of our children"
November 14, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
byjustinmiller.bsky.social
The company that won the contract to run Texas' new school voucher program leans on former Abbott aides for help www.texasobserver.org/texas-vouche...
Texas’ Top Voucher Vendor Taps Abbott Allies in Contract Bid, Program Rollout
The New York firm Odyssey is now running the state’s lucrative voucher scheme with a little help from the governor’s friends.
www.texasobserver.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
texasobserver.org
New from @byjustinmiller.bsky.social: Even as the lege debated school vouchers, corporate voucher vendors were already competing behind the scenes for the lucrative contract. A closer look at how Odyssey became the big winner... and whose influence helped make the decision.
Texas’ Top Voucher Vendor Taps Abbott Allies in Contract Bid, Program Rollout
The New York firm Odyssey is now running the state’s lucrative voucher scheme with a little help from the governor’s friends.
www.texasobserver.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:49 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Did you miss our November newsletter? Catch up on our latest news and updates now at bit.ly/OSODNewsletter, and make sure to sign up for our monthly newsletters!
The header reads October Highlights and is bolded to the right of an orange cartoon pumpkin. The bullets read We updated our voucher webpage to share regular updates on the latest news, key facts, and a timeline to track implementation. Along with concerned Fort Worth parents and community members, we raised the alarm about the government takeover of Fort Worth ISD - despite the recent closure of a low scoring TEA-approved charter school. We’ve been out in the community talking with Texans about education privatization and the fight for our public schools. At the bottom is the link to learn more: bit.ly/OSODNewsletter. The background of the post is a semi-transparent collage of OSOD staff in action at community presentations and events.
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Keep track of the Comptroller’s role in Texas’ voucher program: osod.org/take-action-...
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
texastribune.org
Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year signed a law authorizing a $1 billion private school voucher program, tapping the state comptroller’s office as the entity responsible for its creation.

Here’s what you need to know about the comptroller’s role in shaping the voucher program.
Texas comptroller's role in voucher program, explained
The Texas comptroller holds tremendous power over the program, including choosing which companies the state will pay millions to help manage it. Voters will decide who runs the agency next year.
www.texastribune.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
The state takeover of Fort Worth ISD comes despite the recent closure of a TEA-approved charter school which was the lowest scoring Fort Worth ISD elementary school within 3 miles of its campuses.

#txed
The text reads "Commissioner Morath’s handpicked charter school, Rocketship Public Schools, closed in June with F ratings three years in a row. Rocketship had the lowest STAAR scores of all the Fort Worth ISD elementary schools within 3 miles of its campuses...If Commissioner Morath can’t manage to oversee his own charter in Fort Worth, how can he hope to oversee an entire school district almost 100 times as large? This takeover doesn’t make sense." The text is centered between two oversized red quotation marks. At the top is a red Texas centered between light blue lines.
October 27, 2025 at 11:15 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Our Facing Facts report estimates Austin ISD lost $624m to charters in 2020-2024. From transport (which 47% of charters spend $0 to provide) to teachers (most of whom aren't req'd to be certified at charters), a district can't just cut costs $ for $.

www.statesman.com/news/educati...
AISD’s steep enrollment drop fueled by factors inside and outside the district
Demographic change, affordability and wide immigration crackdown fuel Austin ISD's student decline. But advocates, families and the district say AISD could do more.
www.statesman.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:32 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
❓ How do our state $$ flow from the Legislature to private schools?
🧐 What's a certified educational assistance organization & why are they getting $26m?
🔍 Who decides if a student will be admitted to private school (hint: not parents)?

osod.org/take-action-...

#txed
The text reads: Who Controls What. Learn how voucher money and decision-making power flows through: Texas Legislature Texas Comptroller Certified Educational Assistance Organizations Texas Education Agency Private Schools Education Service Providers and Vendors of Education Products There is a popout box that reads: Parents, policymakers, and the public deserve transparency with the $1 billion-plus of state funds being spent on this program. But the voucher law does not require public audits. The word "public" is underlined for emphasis. At the bottom is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo. The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill. On a cream colored box there is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo above the text Learn more and get involved above a red box with the link to OSOD's voucher resource: https://osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/ The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill.
October 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Texans deserve transparency into the $1b+ voucher program to prevent questionable spending like:
🧱 $1m on Legos (AZ)
🎢 State funds spent on Disney & Sea World passes (FL)

Learn more & get involved: osod.org/take-action-...

#txed
The text reads: Taxpayer Alert. The voucher will not cover tuition and fees at many private schools. A private school participating in the voucher program cannot be held subject to federal and state laws that protect the rights of students with disabilities in public schools. Up to 3% of the budget can be spent on Comptroller administrative costs (up to $30 million in the first two years). New York-based company Odyssey will receive $26 million in state funds to administer the program for the first two years, with ~$1.2 million subcontracted to market vouchers. At the bottom is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo. The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill. On a cream colored box there is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo above the text Learn more and get involved above a red box with the link to OSOD's voucher resource: https://osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/ The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill.
October 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Did you miss last spring's hearing where Texans stayed at the Capitol for 22 hours to testify against vouchers? Need to catch up on the years of data on voucher failures in other states?

Our Schools Our Democracy has you covered: osod.org/take-action-...

#txed
The text reads: Texas Vouchers 101. Start date: 2026-27 school year. Eligibility: All Texas children who are eligible to attend public schools can apply for a voucher if they provide proof that they are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawfully admitted to the U.S. Priority: The program establishes priority categories based on disability status and income. No upper income limit: Despite prioritization, families of all income levels will be able to take advantage of vouchers if there are not enough applicants in priority categories. Cost: $10,330+ per private school student; $2,000 per homeschool student; up to $30,000 per student with disabilities. At the bottom is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo. The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill. On a cream colored box there is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo above the text Learn more and get involved above a red box with the link to OSOD's voucher resource: https://osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/ The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill.
October 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Vouchers may be law but Texans haven't stopped fighting for our public schools 💪

Our Schools Our Democracy has created a new online resource to help you track the voucher rollout: osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/

#txed
On a cream colored box there is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo above the text Learn more and get involved above a red box with the link to OSOD's voucher resource: https://osod.org/take-action-against-vouchers/ The background is faded tiled screenshots of Texans testifying against the voucher bill.
October 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
The Comptroller has chosen Odyssey to run TX’s voucher program.

But check receipts (& not just the up to $50m in state funds that we could pay Odyssey just in the next 2 yrs).

Odyssey has an alarming record of mismanagement, delayed payments, & inflated costs in multiple states.

buff.ly/BuV0D4w
The text reads "Given Odyssey’s track record of operational mismanagement and misuse of state funds in much smaller voucher programs, Texans should sound the alarm about the Comptroller’s decision to entrust Odyssey with $1 billion of our taxpayer dollars and the educational outcomes of our children." The text is centered between two oversized red quotation marks. At the top is a red Texas centered between light blue lines. At the bottom is an attribution for the text from Maggie Stern, OSOD's Director of Community Engagement.
October 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
propublica.org
With our Private School Demographics database, you can look up detailed demographic information about thousands of private schools across the country and compare them to nearby public schools.

Check it out ⤵️
ProPublica Releases New Private School Demographics Lookup
Now you can look up detailed demographic information about thousands of private schools across the country and compare them to nearby public schools.
www.propublica.org
October 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Did you miss our October newsletter? Catch up on our latest news and updates now at bit.ly/OSODNewsletter, and make sure to sign up at our website for our monthly newsletters!

#txed
The background is a half-transparent collage of photos of OSOD testifying and at community events. In the center is text on a cream-colored background that reads "September highlights" next a red apple graphic and then bullet points that read: We testified to the State Board of Education about poor performance among new charter campuses. Ten of the 39 charters approved from 2013 to 2023 have already closed – leading to disruption and instability for thousands of Texas families. We called for public transparency at the recent hearing on proposed rules for the voucher program. We partnered with Northside ISD, Northside AFT, and San Antonio Councilman Ric Galvan for a public education forum to share the good work happening in Northside’s public schools. At the bottom is red text that reads Learn more: bit.ly/OSODNewsletter.
October 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
🗣️ “Texans should know how our taxpayer dollars are being spent, especially as the $1b budget for year one of this program is likely to increase in the future,” said Maggie Stern, director of community engagement for the public education advocacy group Our Schools Our Democracy.
October 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
texastribune.org
Texans ask for eligibility fixes, stronger accountability in school voucher program.
Texans ask for eligibility fixes, stronger accountability in school voucher program
For the first time since Texas authorized the program, the state heard public testimony from people concerned about pre-K funding, special education provisions and data reporting.
www.texastribune.org
October 1, 2025 at 12:25 AM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Today the Comptroller heard public comments on proposed rules for the new voucher program.

Alongside other public school advocates, OSOD raised concerns about public transparency into this $1,000,000,000+ program.

Read our full comments at osod.org/osod-comment...

#txed
OSOD Comments on Proposed Voucher Rules - Our Schools Our Democracy
Comments by Our Schools Our Democracy at the September 30, 2025 Comptroller hearing on proposed ESA/voucher rules. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rules regarding the ESA…
osod.org
September 30, 2025 at 8:31 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
This week, Our Schools Our Democracy testified to the State Board of Education on alarming trends among newer Texas charter campuses: underperformance, under-enrollment, and high rates of closure.

#txed
September 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
emsimani.bsky.social
Earlier this year, we revealed three charter leaders in TX who have made hundreds of thousands on top of what's been reported to the state.

New accountability ratings show that each of their districts have failing or near-failing performance. One may be shut down.
www.propublica.org/article/texa...
These Charter Superintendents Are Some of the Highest Paid in Texas. Their Districts Are Among the Lowest Performing.
Three charter school districts in Texas underreported the compensation paid to their top leaders. The same three districts have also had failing or near-failing performance ratings in recent years.
www.propublica.org
September 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM