It seemed pretty straightforward at the time.
Texas lawmakers last year overwhelmingly approved legislation to strengthen dropout-prevention efforts. But a pilot program to help people age 25 and under who have quit school earn a diploma has since come under fire.
The Texas State Teachers Association has described the program, as implemented by the Texas Education Agency, as little more than a 鈥渟tealth voucher plan鈥� providing money to private groups. And some lawmakers claim it goes against their intentions.
鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 push vouchers through the legislature in an above-board way,鈥� Rita C. Haeker, the union鈥檚 president, said in a press release. 鈥淪o they went through the back door to divert public dollars to private school programs, even though lawmakers warned them not to do so.鈥�
The union has sued to block the state from sending money to the private organizations. No court date has been set.
The program allows private, nonprofit groups鈥攊n addition to other entities like public school districts, charter schools, and universities鈥攖o receive funding under the $6 million program.
And in August, three of 22 grants were awarded to private nonprofit organizations: Christian Fellowship and the Healy-Murphy Center Inc., both of San Antonio, and the San Marco-based Community Action Inc.
Barbara Scroggie Naggs, an associate commissioner at the Texas Education Agency, rejects the notion that the dropout-recovery pilot is a voucher program. She said the program doesn鈥檛 provide scholarships, but helps providers set up recovery programs.
鈥淭hree nonprofit organizations received funding,鈥� she said. 鈥淭wo of them operate private schools, but the private schools aren鈥檛 participating in this program.鈥�
But Rep. Diane Patrick, a Republican from Arlington, said she and some other lawmakers believe the program as implemented disregards legislative intent.
鈥淭hese are dollars that were intended for public schools,鈥� she said. The money was to flow directly to school districts and public charter schools. 鈥淧ublic school [entities] are the fiscal agents,鈥� she said.
