Source: San Antonio Express News

A Texas Senate committee kicked off its first round of hearings Tuesday on a controversial measure that would give public funds to parents who want to enroll their children in private schools or public charter schools. Senate Bill 3 by Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, would establish educational savings accounts and tax credit scholarships to fund costs associated with parents moving their children from traditional public schools to private, parochial or charter schools. Outside the capitol, a coalition including the Senate Hispanic Caucus, Mexican-American Legislative Caucus and Texas Latino Education Coalition, took exception to Taylor’s view, as about 50 people gathered in protest of SB 3. State Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, vice chair of the Senate Hispanic Caucus, said vouchers would strip money for education from already vulnerable Latinos, African-Americans and other minorities in Texas.