Our Schools

Texas Legislature 2023 | Special Session

Texas State Capitol close up with flag

The Texas Legislature meets in Austin from January through May of each odd-numbered year. The 88th Legislative Session ran from Jan. 10, 2023 - May 29, 2023. A special session was called on Oct. 5, 2023.

On Oct. 5, Governor Abbott announced a 30-day special session beginning Oct. 9, 2023 to provide private school subsidies, also known as vouchers or education savings accounts (ESAs).

Lawmakers will address vouchers, but public school funding is not included on the governor’s agenda. This is hugely disappointing as vouchers/ESAs provide public funds for private school choice while taking money away from public schools.

What are vouchers (education savings accounts)? A few facts to consider:

  1. Vouchers use tax payer dollars to offset the cost of private school tuition.
  2. Public schools are open to all students while private schools can pick and choose who they admit.
  3. Public schools have transparent accountability for academic and financial standards while private schools have zero public accountability.

Public schools are underfunded by billions, and any available funding should be prioritized for public school students, classrooms and staff.

Special Session Timeline

  • Sept. 26, 2023 | The Mansfield ISD Board of Trustees passed a resolution calling on the Texas Legislature to reject any diversion of public dollars to private entities in the form of education savings accounts and similar voucher schemes.
     
  • Oct. 5, 2023 | Governor Abbott announced a 30-day special session
     
  • Oct. 9, 2023 | The 30-day special session begins
     
  • Oct. 10, 2023 | Superintendent Dr. Cantu Addresses Special Session
     

Advocate for Public Schools

Contact Your Legislators

Contact your legislators to talk about what your public schools mean to you and how important it is to support Mansfield ISD teachers and staff. Need to know who to contact? The lawmakers who represent Mansfield ISD voters can be reached by entering your address at Who Represents Me?, clicking on a representative and sending an email.

Texas has the 9th largest economy in the world, and yet, we rank in the bottom third of the 50 states in public school funding. - Dr. Kimberley Cantu, MISD Superintendent

We'll share updates on this page to keep you informed as the session progresses.