Navigating School Choice: A Deep Dive into Texas' Massive Voucher Program
From Growing Up In America: The Way It Is by Dr. Robert Sanborn
February 26, 2026 · 53 min · Season 6 · Episode 8
About this episode
The episode explores the Texas Education Freedom Account voucher program and its implications for families and public schools.
This week, guest hosts Megan Menchaca and Elizabeth Sander , education reporters at the Houston Chronicle , dive deep into the controversial Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) voucher program. Going beyond the political headlines, they explore: The Data: Do voucher programs truly expand high-quality options for lower-income families? The Systemic Changes: How will this shift impact funding and enrollment in public schools? The Real Stories: How are families navigating their choice options to find the best fit for their children? Special thanks to our guests, Dr. David DeMatthews , Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at UT Austin, Amanda Bigbee , Division Director of Policy Services at TASB, and Deanna Sheaffer , Director of Business Development at Families Empowered. Resources: Houston School Finder : The Houston Chronicle's custom tool for exploring and comparing public, private and charter schools in Houston. Produced by: Owala Maima, Rico Henriquez, Briauna Derry
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Robert Sanborn
Guests: Megan Menchaca, Elizabeth Sander
Topics covered
- school choice
- voucher program
- education policy
- public schools
- family stories
Keywords
- Texas Education Freedom Account
- voucher program
- school choice
- public schools
- education policy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Houston Chronicle, UT Austin, TASB, Families Empowered, Houston School Finder
Places: Texas
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