Lopez Valdez: Education Savings Accounts only benefit a few

Good evening, Chairman Buckley and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. 

My name is Daniela Lopez Valdez, and I’m the vice president of Brownsville Independent School District, the largest district south of San Antonio, and I’m here to express my deep concern over the current proposal to implement Education Savings Accounts, particularly due to their impact on South Texas families. 

In South Texas, public schools are the backbone of our communities serving some of the most vulnerable families in the state. Education is truly our path to progress. Brownsville ISD is currently 58% underfunded, and Donna ISD is 74% underfunded, according to a Rice University study that was mentioned earlier.

Across our region, 27 districts are over 40% underfunded. Additionally, six of the top ten districts in Texas that lose the most money due to CAD comptroller disputes are in South Texas, costing us 51 million (dollars).

Coastal districts like Brownsville have also seen a 23% increase in property insurance costs in just one year, only adding to our financial burden.

Texans are looking at South Texas for economic development. But we cannot sustain this growth without basic infrastructure and proper funding. While we are grateful for our partnerships with these businesses, these relationships cannot replace the need for a well-funded public education system. 

ESAs would divert even more critical funds from our already struggling public schools, deepening educational inequalities.

This isn’t just a financial issue, it’s a safety issue for our children. 

Texas parents already have choices, but ESAs would only benefit a few, while leaving the majority of students with fewer critical resources. 

Public education is essential for our community’s future. Weakening it undermines our entire region. I urge you to oppose ESAs, and instead focus on strengthening our existing public schools to ensure that every child has access to a quality and safe education.

Thank you.

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was provided by Daniella Lopez Valdez at a hearing of the Texas House Committee on Public Education in Austin on Aug. 12, 2024. Lopez Valdez is vice president of Brownsville Independent School District’s board of trustees and a member of the Texas Association of School Board’s legislative advisory council. 

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