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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.

Join us: bit.ly/OSODsignup
Learn more: linktr.ee/osodtexas
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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
Join public education supporters from across the state from February 2 to February 6 to highlight public school success stories and show that #TexansChoosePublicSchools.

Let’s work together to show Texans that our public schools continue to be the best option in the state!

#txed
The background is screenshots of Texans testifying against vouchers. In the middle is a cream box that is titled Our Schools, Our Stories. Below the title is the text: Despite years of Texans rallying, testifying, and organizing and oppose private school vouchers, Texas is scheduled to open voucher applications on February 4. From February 2 to February 6, let's show Texans that public schools continue to be the best option in the state! Post photos, videos, and stories from your school district to show that: #TexansChoosePublicSchools
January 22, 2026 at 5:45 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
🧵 2 weeks before Texas opens a $1b taxpayer-funded voucher program for parent applications and Texans are raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and fairness in the program.

#txed
January 21, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
meganmenchaca.bsky.social
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles played a central role early in negotiations for a nearly $1 million contract between a Texas charter school network and a for-profit Colorado consulting firm.

via @nusaiba.bsky.social + @houstonchronicle.com
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Exclusive: Mike Miles helped broker nearly $1M charter school consulting deal
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles helped broker a nearly $1M contract for HISD-style reform at a Texas charter network. Experts say it raises concerns.
www.houstonchronicle.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:07 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
This Feb 2-Feb 6, join public education supporters for a statewide voucher week of action.

Together, we can show that Texans demand transparency, accountability, and fairness for public school students. Join the next phase of the fight: bit.ly/KeepVouchersOut.

#txed
The background is screenshots of Texans testifying against vouchers. There is a cream colored box in the middle with the heading Join the voucher week of action and the text: Despite years of Texans rallying, testifying, and organizing to oppose private school vouchers, Texas is scheduled to open voucher applications on February 4. Join public education supporters from across the state for a week of action from February 2 to February 6 to highlight public school success stories and call for the voucher program to put transparency first, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure fairness for public school students. There is a red link at the bottom that directs you to bit.ly/KeepVouchersOut The background is screenshots of Texans testifying against vouchers. There is a cream colored box in the middle with the heading Join the week of action above a QR code and the text Sign up for templates to take action. The QR code leads to bit.ly/KeepVouchersOut. Below is the text: You can take action by: - Emailing your lawmaker to call for increased oversight. - Writing an op-ed to your local newspaper. - Posting photos, videos, and stories from your school district to show that #TexansChoosePublicSchools. - Signing up to speak at your school board meeting. - Hosting a local action to engage your community.
January 20, 2026 at 4:33 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Important and alarming reporting on the private schools currently enrolled in Texas' voucher program ⬇️
January 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
🚨🚨
❌ >70% TX counties currently have NO elementary, junior, or senior high schools accepting vouchers.
❌ ~1/3 schools charge tuition > the voucher amount for most participants. Few provide special ed.
❌ 100+ schools prioritize admitting students of the same faith.

#txed
texasobserver.org Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 10d
New from Josephine Lee: Our investigation of the state's voucher program shows that many schools discriminate against potential students. Around 40% of the religious schools have policies that favor their own faith and around 25% discriminate against LGBTQ+ students.
Texas Taxpayers Will Fund Dozens of Private Schools that Openly Discriminate
The state has signed off on voucher funds for schools that exclude non-Christian and LGBTQ+ kids.
www.texasobserver.org
January 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Check out our January newsletter at bit.ly/OSODNewsletter to catch up on:
🎉 OSOD's new executive director!
⛪ The first private schools that have joined Texas' taxpayer-funded voucher program
❌ Continued charter school closures

#txed
Logo of Our Schools Our Democracy and the text: Find the links to news and alerts and sign up for our monthly newsletter at bit.ly/OSODNewsletter!
January 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
According to the Comptroller, 775 schools are signed up to participate in Texas' taxpayer-funded voucher program.

As rural Texans warned, there are few options in rural districts - although all Texans will pay for the $1b+ program.

Top ranked private schools have so far not applied.

#txed
January 9, 2026 at 9:42 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
ICYMI: the TX Comptroller is asking to bar certain schools from the voucher program based on their alleged relationships to the Council of American-Islamic Relations (the largest Muslim civil rights group in the nation) and the Chinese government.

www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...
Comptroller asks to bar some Islamic schools from Texas voucher program
The comptroller has asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on whether schools linked to the Muslim advocacy group CAIR can be excluded.
www.houstonchronicle.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
"The closure of 17 charter districts in 2 yrs is a record compared to recent yrs" [email protected]

It's alarmingly clear that charter saturation & insufficient state oversight have real consequences for TX families.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
7 Texas charter schools will close next year. Is your school on the list?
Seven charter schools will close after this school year, according to the Texas Education Agency, affecting about 2,000 families across the state. Two schools are appealing the agency's decision.
www.houstonchronicle.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:26 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
"State auditors found 299 instances where students had unspent balances above that mark to an excess of $2.3m. But more pressing is the topline number of >$400m sitting in student accounts as of the end of last school yr."

politi.co/3YrhPM9 via @politico.com
Florida’s school choice headache: Millions of unused dollars
The massive sum is one of several revelations recently unearthed by shocking state audits, issues lawmakers are attempting to rectify in 2026.
politi.co
January 7, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
sosarizona.org
ICYMI: Last November, the nationally recognized non-profit think tank RAND released a sweeping report on AZ’s ESA voucher program.

Read the full report at bit.ly/VoucherReport
January 7, 2026 at 1:02 AM
osodtexas.bsky.social
We're so excited to announce Carrie Griffith as Our Schools Our Democracy's new executive director! With nearly 30 yrs of service in public education, Carrie is a passionate advocate who will lead our work to protect the rights of all Texans to a free, quality public education.
The OSOD logo is above the text Our Schools Our Democracy welcomes new Executive Director and Board President. Below are headshots of two women, Carrie Griffith and Daniella Lopez Vadez. The text reads "I begin this new chapter with a passion, energy and knowledge base ready to lead OSOD in the fight for our public schools. More importantly, I begin this work with a critical understanding that success in Texas does not happen alone. Public schools thrive because we are stronger when diverse backgrounds, identities and experiences come together, and I understand that only together will we be able to save our schools and save our democracy for the future of Texas 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 Carrie Griffith, OSOD Co-Founder & Executive Director. The text reads "As a local school board president, I see firsthand what happens when decisions are made about communities instead of with them. At a time when Texas faces unprecedented threats to public education, Our Schools Our Democracy is stepping up to ensure parents, educators, and communities have the data, the voice, and the power to protect neighborhood schools — so no child is left behind and no future is determined by a zip code or income level.." 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 Daniella Lopez Valdez, Brownsville ISD Board President & OSOD Board President
January 6, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Our Schools Our Democracy
propublica.org
One of our most-read stories of 2025: This Charter School Superintendent Makes $870,000. He Leads a District With 1,000 Students.

(Published March 2025 with @texastribune.org)
This Charter School Superintendent Makes $870,000. He Leads a District With 1,000 Students.
On paper, Salvador Cavazos earns less than $300,000 to run Valere Public Schools, a small Texas charter network. But taxpayers likely aren’t aware that in reality, his total pay makes him one of the c...
www.propublica.org
January 2, 2026 at 7:31 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Last month, OSOD submitted comments with concerns about federal vouchers:
❌ Harm to students, public schools, and our communities
🔎 Lack of accountability and transparency
⚖️ Equity, civil rights, & nondiscrimination concerns

Full comments: bit.ly/OSODinAction

#txed
The main image is the Our Schools Our Democracy logo above the headline "OSOD submits comments on federal voucher rules" above the image of the US Capitol. On the right is a box of text that reads: The federal voucher program will harm students, public schools, and communities. There is no consistent evidence of educational benefit for students who use vouchers compared to public school peers. Families can lose essential legal protections when they use vouchers, and private schools receiving voucher funds often reject or exclude students with disabilities, English learners, LGBTQ+ students, pregnant or parenting students, and others based on religious or ideological criteria. Voucher programs historically reinforce and exacerbate segregation by race and socioeconomic status. Diverting public funds to vouchers drains resources from neighborhood public schools that serve 90% of students nationwide and — in Texas — form the backbone of educational opportunity and community cohesion. The background is a faded photo of US Capitol. On the left is a box of text that reads: Constitutional conflicts in Texas. Texas maintains clear constitutional protections for public education that prohibit the allocation of public funds to private schooling. The Texas Constitution’s Article 7, Section 1 mandates an “efficient system of public free schools,” and Article 1, Section 7 prohibits public funding of religious instruction. Lack of accountability and transparency. Unlike public schools, private schools and scholarship-granting organizations have limited or no accountability for how public funds are used, who benefits, and what educational outcomes result. Current state tax credit voucher programs demonstrate pervasive fraud, waste, and abuse, including funds spent on non-educational goods and services. Any federal regulation should require robust, publicly accessible data and reporting. The background is a faded photo of US Capitol. On the right is a box of text that reads: Equity, civil rights, and nondiscrimination concerns. As required by federal law, public education guarantees civil rights protections that private entities receiving public funds under a voucher scheme do not have to honor. Under the proposed tax credit program, public taxpayer dollars could subsidize discriminatory practices and deny students essential civil rights. Alternatives to diverting public funds. Federal policy should focus on strengthening and adequately funding our public schools — not undermining them. Public tax dollars should remain dedicated to public education — a constitutional commitment in Texas and a fundamental civic responsibility. For educational, constitutional, fiscal transparency, and civil rights reasons, OSOD strongly opposes the federal tax credit voucher program. The background is a faded photo of US Capitol.
January 5, 2026 at 9:31 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
"If the program is not run in a completely transparent way, where people are keeping tabs on those things along the way, stuff might get out of control before people realize it happens...how do we make sure that that doesn’t happen in TX? The biggest [way] is information and transparency."

#txed
January 5, 2026 at 5:14 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
Reflecting back on a busy 2025! Here's to a new year where we continue to grow, build community, and strengthen our shared commitment to our neighborhood public schools ✨
The image is a chalkboard graphic with a collage of photos arranged into three groups: research & data analysis, statewide advocacy, and community outreach & organizing. There are 10 total photos of OSOD's report, staff, and partners. The title is Our 2025 in Review: Our Schools Our Democracy. The image is a chalkboard graphic with three photos showing OSOD's research and data analysis. The text reads: We officially launched with the release of our groundbreaking Facing Facts report! With our research, we educated parents, policymakers, and the public about the harms of school privatization to our students and our neighborhood public schools. The image is a chalkboard graphic with three photos showing OSOD's statewide advocacy. The text reads: We hit the ground running during a challenging legislative session that centered on public schools and education privatization. We showed up at the Legislature State Board of Education alongside other public school advocates to fight to increase charter school oversight, end different rules for charter schools, and protect Texas public schools from privatization.
December 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM
osodtexas.bsky.social
"The State Board of Education voted in 2021 to open the school. The construction of the campus, which opened in 2023, cost nearly $18 million."
expressnews.com San Antonio Express-News @expressnews.com · Dec 20
The Texas Education Agency moved Thursday to shut down an East Side charter school after just three school years of operation. bit.ly/3N9GJxb
December 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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 · Dec 4
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