A scholarship program would fulfill the prayers of Rabbi Yisroel Katz of Torah Day School of Dallas who delivered the benediction. Quoting from Biblical sources, he stressed how each child is unique and every parent should have the ability to choose the educational setting that best meets the needs of his or her child. He then prayed that the elected officials should have the wisdom, kindness, and compassion to enact legislation helping all Texas children.
Following the rally, many of the participants visited with their state representatives and senators to advocate for school choice and share their unique perspective. They advocated for school choice proposals like a scholarship tax credit program that was recently introduced and an education savings account (ESA) proposal supported by Lt. Governor Patrick and many prominent elected officials. An ESA is like a debit card that a parent can use for a variety of educational services including private school tuition and tutoring.
The rally, the largest school choice rally in many years, was organized by Texans for Education Opportunity with the cooperation of many co-sponsors, including Agudath Israel of America.
“As someone who, together with local community leaders, has been involved in the school choice effort in Texas for more than a decade,” said Agudath Israel of America’s national director of state relations Rabbi A. D. Motzen, “I was happy to hear that so many officials reiterated their commitment to finally enact a meaningful private school choice program. Texas parents have waited long enough.”