Texas state senators acting as jurors vote on the articles of impeachment against suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Public schoolteachers in Texas say the state desperately needs to boost its overall investment in students and education programs. Instead, lawmakers are focused on a private school voucher program.

Halfway through its third special session, the Texas Senate passed a bill to set aside taxpayer dollars for families to use on private schools, with a competing bill introduced in the House.

Nicole Hill, communications director for the American Federation of Teachers-Texas, said no deal on vouchers is an acceptable deal.

“What we heard from members remains the same,” Hill explained. “We are not willing to play pawn to the ultimate defunding of public schools for a short-term gain. We will accept no voucher, and we will fight all attempts to privatize public education in Texas.”

Hill said 52% of Texas teachers have a second job after the school day, on top of grading papers and preparing lesson plans. And nearly 70% have thought about leaving the profession in the past year for something higher-paying and more stable.

Hill pointed out students, parents, communities and businesses rely on public schools to provide high-quality education and ensure a bright future for Texas kids. She noted the concepts of vouchers and “school choice” originated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 racial segregation of public schools was unconstitutional.

“They stem from a desire to segregate schools, and to support ‘white flight’ from those public schools,” Hill stressed. “Not acknowledging that is just trying to sneak something by voters today.”

Proponents of voucher bills said they would improve educational opportunities for Black and brown students and those from low-income families. Hill countered too often those schools are financially out of reach, lack transportation options and don’t take all students.

“They can deny admission for behavioral issues, which we know catches a lot of our special education population up in that,” Hill explained. “They can deny special education services altogether.”

Five million students attend public schools in Texas.