Sarah Thomasson

High School Librarian

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@magicschoolai loved everything I have learned about Magic School at TCEA 26!

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

At a PLC @ByronNelsonHigh and got to order lunch from the Bistro. It was DELICIOUS!! @ByronNelsonCAHA @NisdCTE @NorthwestISD

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

Education has always seemed to be focused on fixing teachers. Teachers don’t need to be fixed but they do need to be supported, encouraged, & appreciated. Thank you to all the leaders who do!

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@follettcontent I’m love, love,loving the Gold Star feature added to TitleWave! Makes building a book order so much faster! Thank you to our rep Ashley Bell for this!

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@BetsyDeVos @realDonaldTrump False. You might need to actually read the bill. Only a few will get vouchers.

[Accessit Library @AccessitLib]

School librarians are the heart and soul of a young person's literacy journey. On National School Librarian Day, we celebrate those who work every day to find the perfect book for each of their students. This day is for you! #ThankALibrarian

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

At my favorite conference of all time TLA. And got to see the screening of The Librarians, a powerful film about the state of libraries, the future of our rights. It is truly a must see film, especially if you care at all for personal freedoms& civil rights. Please watch it!

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@DawnNeufeld @mentack Yep. My 20 yo autistic son is eligible for service but in a waiting list for 12 more years.

[Bradley W. Carpenter @Brad_Carpenter]

#txlege

Hillary, until now, I have seen you be entirely professional in your communications. While we disagree about school choice, I respect your interaction with constituents.

That said, calling Dr. @joshcowenMSU a grifter whose data is influenced by liberal teachers' unions shows how little you know about research rigor, reliability, and validity.

The most extensive, empirically sound voucher studies clearly show that vouchers DO NOT positively affect all children. A quick search of empirically sound research provides the following:

Below is a list of empirically valid reasons why school vouchers may not benefit children of color, children with special education needs, and children in rural communities, supported by peer-reviewed citations where possible. These reasons are drawn from research examining voucher programs' impacts on these specific populations, focusing on equity, access, and academic outcomes.

For Children of Color

Increased Segregation and Inequity

Voucher programs can exacerbate racial segregation by allowing private schools to selectively admit students, often leaving children of color in underfunded public schools or in private schools with fewer resources. Research shows that voucher programs have historically been used to circumvent desegregation efforts, perpetuating inequities. Citation: Lubienski, C., & Lee, J. (2016). "The Impact of School Choice on Segregation: Evidence from Voucher Programs." Educational Policy, 30(5), 663-687. This study found that voucher programs in several states increased racial stratification, with children of color less likely to access high-quality private schools compared to their white peers.
Lower Academic Outcomes Studies indicate that voucher programs often fail to improve academic performance for children of color and, in some cases, result in worse outcomes compared to public school peers. This is partly due to the lack of accountability and quality control in private schools accepting vouchers. Citation: Dynarski, M., et al. (2018). "Evaluation of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program: Impacts After Two Years." American Economic Review: Papers & Proceedings, 108, 156-160. This peer-reviewed evaluation found that students of color using vouchers in Washington, D.C., experienced significant declines in math achievement compared to peers who remained in public schools.

Limited Access to Quality Options

Children of color, particularly from low-income families, often lack access to high-quality private schools due to transportation barriers, tuition costs exceeding voucher amounts, and discriminatory admission practices, undermining the promise of "choice." Citation: Waddington, R. J., & Berends, M. (2018). "Impact of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program: Achievement Effects for Students in Private Schools." Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 37(4), 784-808. This study highlighted that students of color in voucher programs experienced persistent achievement gaps, partly due to limited access to top-tier private schools.

For Children with Special Education Needs

Lack of Legal Protections

Private schools accepting vouchers are not required to adhere to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), meaning children with special needs may lose access to mandated services like individualized education plans (IEPs) and accommodations. Citation: McCarthy, M. M. (2016). "School Vouchers and Students with Disabilities: Legal and Policy Implications." Journal of Law and Education, 45(3), 321-345. This article demonstrates that voucher programs often leave students with disabilities without the protections they would receive in public schools, leading to inadequate support.

Exclusionary Practices by Private Schools

Many private schools can refuse admission to students with special needs or expel them if their needs are deemed too costly or disruptive, leaving these children with fewer viable educational options. Citation: Wolf, P. J., et al. (2017). "Special Education Students in Private School Voucher Programs: Evidence from the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program." Peabody Journal of Education, 92(4), 447-463. This study found that students with disabilities were underrepresented in voucher programs, suggesting private schools selectively admit students with less severe needs or exclude them entirely.

Insufficient Funding for Specialized Services

Vouchers often provide a flat amount that does not cover the full cost of educating students with special needs, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket or forgo necessary services, which public schools are legally obligated to provide. Citation: Figlio, D., & Karbownik, K. (2016). "Evaluation of Ohio's EdChoice Scholarship Program: Selection, Competition, and Performance Effects." Journal of Urban Economics, 95, 1-16. This research showed that voucher amounts were insufficient to meet the needs of students with disabilities, resulting in lower participation rates and poorer outcomes.

For Children in Rural Communities

Limited Availability of Private Schools

Rural areas often lack private school options, rendering vouchers ineffective as there are no nearby alternatives to public schools. This limits choice and can destabilize public school funding without providing benefits. Citation: Gulosino, C., & Liebert, J. (2019). "School Choice in Rural Communities: Accessibility and Equity Challenges." Rural Sociology, 84(2), 256-283. This study found that voucher programs in rural areas rarely increase educational options due to the scarcity of private schools, disproportionately harming rural students.

Drain on Public School Resources

When students leave rural public schools with vouchers, the fixed costs of operating these schools remain, leading to budget cuts that disproportionately affect remaining students, who are often from lower-income families reliant on public education. Citation: Howley, A., & Howley, C. B. (2015). "School Choice and Rural Education: A Review of the Evidence." Journal of Research in Rural Education, 30(4), 1-15. This peer-reviewed review concluded that voucher programs reduce funding for rural public schools, negatively impacting educational quality for students who stay.

Transportation Barriers

Even if private schools exist, rural students face significant transportation challenges, as voucher programs rarely cover travel costs, making it impractical for families to utilize them. Citation: Epple, D., Romano, R., & Zimmer, R. (2017). "Charter Schools and Vouchers: A Review of the Evidence." Journal of Economic Literature, 55(2), 441-492. This comprehensive review noted that transportation issues in rural areas limit the effectiveness of voucher programs, often leaving rural students unable to access private schools.

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@Brad_Carpenter Yup. Nailed it!

[Bradley W. Carpenter @Brad_Carpenter]

The number of Republicans Greg lost over pushing the agenda of billionaires is astounding.

I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it in my lifetime.

The attack on public schools looks to be his lasting legacy.

#txlege

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@LaneyHawes Imagine being a HS librarian, scouring the CURRICULUM, asking teachers for rec’s of what purchases best support their students & being jailed for a book purchase. So anatomy, art, science books are out? Why is KNOWLEDGE the enemy? I’m a FORMER red voter & I’m not alone. #voteblue

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

Hey Librarian friends,
Ready 2 bring magic back 2 the library? Join us for Library Lumos: Putting Magic Back in the Library, a Library EdCamp on 7/17/2025 where ideas spark, creativity flows, & collaboration shines! Register for FREE https://t.co/uYdQQIJ7wW #LibraryLumos #EdCamp

[Patrick Harvell @PatrickHarvell1]

Everyone knows that Jeff Yass is paying @GregAbbott_TX major monies to get vouchers passed. Why? Because he’s letting Yass’s company manage the voucher system to the tune of 80 million dollars for the next two years.

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@LaneyHawes Also would like clarification of what “Republican rule” means. I know what it used to mean, but I don’t think we think it means the same thing Mr. French.

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@LaneyHawes Hmmmm. I wonder exactly what routing is out means??

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@GregAbbott_TX What about “fees”????

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@educator4ever36 Crenshaw. Lovely. Heartbreaking. Such an important read.

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@audible_com Hatchet by Gary Paulsen read by Peter coyote. The Dark is Rising series, the Harry Potter series, the Percy Jackson series, and the Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan read by John Keating.

[Sarah Thomasson @ThomassonSarah]

@Tanstaafl59 @DFWJodyDean In Texas, there are no teacher unions. It’s illegal. There are teacher organizations and associations but they have no collective bargaining power as a traditional union would. At best, member (teacher) dues, NOT taxpayer money, help pay for legal defense for teachers.