# Navigating School Choice: A Deep Dive into Texas' Massive Voucher Program

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/growing-up-in-america-the-way-it-is-6419419/navigating-school-choice-a-deep-dive-into-texas-massive-voucher-program.md
Podcast: [Growing Up In America: The Way It Is](https://stenobird.com/podcast/growing-up-in-america-the-way-it-is-6419419)
Published: 2026-02-26T00:12:45+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/growingupinamerica/2579017
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/193875/2579017/growingupinamerica/2026_02_25_23_50_32_9a867863-0203-4f5a-8052-c67bc9208ba9.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3178

## Resource

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

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