¶ Overview
- Herrera said he wanted to defund the Department of Education. He even went as far to say the United States should move away from federally-funding public education entirely. In 2024, Texas received more than $3.9 billion in funding from the Department of Education. This funding helped teach Texas students English and provided funding to rural schools.
¶ Herrera Supported Policies That Would Hurt Texas Public Schools
¶ Herrera Staunchly supported eliminating the department of education
¶ Herrera Said He Would Like To Defund The Department Of Education
Herrera Said He Would Like To Defund The Federal Department Of Education. According to a Brandon Herrera during an event, “ATTENDEE: What can we do to try and reform the existing Department of Education? HERRERA: I'd like to defund it. I'd like to defund it. The most Soviet shit that's come out of the United States in the last hundred years is deciding that we should all hand over our education to the government. It's a terrible idea. It should have never been implemented, and we're reaping the rewards of allowing that to happen. So, I like a lot of different policies as far as school choice and things like that that are bringing us away from federally funded education systems. [YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 10/12/23] (video), (00:09:36 -> 00:10:10)
- Herrera On The Department Of Education: “The Most Soviet Shit That's Come Out Of The United States In The Last Hundred Years Is Deciding That We Should All Hand Over Our Education To The Government. It's A Terrible Idea” According to Brandon Herrera during a campaign event, “ATTENDEE: What can we do to try and reform the existing Department of Education? HERRERA: I'd like to defund it. I'd like to defund it. The most Soviet shit that's come out of the United States in the last hundred years is deciding that we should all hand over our education to the government. It's a terrible idea. It should have never been implemented, and we're reaping the rewards of allowing that to happen. So I like a lot of different policies as far as school choice and things like that that are bringing us away from federally funded education systems. [YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 10/12/23] (video), (00:09:36 -> 00:10:10)
¶ Herrera Wanted To Move Away From “Federally Funded Education Systems”
Herrera Said He Supported School Choice “And Things Like That That Are Bringing Us Away From Federally Funded Education Systems.” According to Brandon Herrera during a campaign event, “ATTENDEE: What can we do to try and reform the existing Department of Education? HERRERA: I'd like to defund it. I'd like to defund it. The most Soviet shit that's come out of the United States in the last hundred years is deciding that we should all hand over our education to the government. It's a terrible idea. It should have never been implemented, and we're reaping the rewards of allowing that to happen. So I like a lot of different policies as far as school choice and things like that that are bringing us away from federally funded education systems. [YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 10/12/23] (video), (00:09:36 -> 00:10:10)
¶ Texas public Schools relied on funding from the department of education
¶ 2024: The U.S. Department Of Education Allocated More Than $3.9 Billion To Texas Public Schools
2024: Texas Education Agency, The State Agency That Serves Thousands Of Texas Public Schools, Received $3.9 Billion In Awards From The Department Of Education. According to Houston Chronicle, “How much funding does Texas receive from the U.S. Department of Education, and how does it serve schools? One way to gauge federal funding's impact is through the Texas Education Agency, the state agency that serves thousands of public schools. In fiscal year 2024, the agency received $3.9 billion in awards from the department, apart from funding from the U.S. Department of Labor ($3 million) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ($1.8 million). Federal funding helps serve rural and low-income communities, career and technical education, unhoused students, charter schools and more.” [Houston Chronicle, 5/19/25]
2024: Nearly One In Four Texas Students Were Emergent Bilingual And Texas Received More Than $132 Million From The Federal Government To Support Them Learning English. According to Texas Standard, “School districts across the country — including in Texas — receive a mix of federal and state funding to operate. The federal piece of that pie is usually dispersed to states on July 1 each year, ahead of the school year. This year, a number of grants are on hold. The day before, on June 30, the Trump administration notified states that it was withholding over $6 billion in previously approved federal education grants to schools. […] Becky Fogel, who covers education for KUT News in Austin, said the pause on bilingual education funding is particularly concerning in Texas. ‘Nearly one in four Texas students is emergent bilingual, which means they’re fluent in one language and are currently learning English,” she said. ‘If you think about Austin ISD, the largest school district in Central Texas, about 22,000 of their students – or about 30% of the district’s entire student population – is considered emergent bilingual. During the last school year, Texas received more than $132 million from the federal government to support students learning English.’” [Texas Standard, 7/3/25]
2024: The United States Department Of Education Allocated More Than $11,700,000 To Rural And Low-Income Schools In Texas.
[Houston Chronicle, 5/19/25]
¶ Herrera Supported School Choice In Texas
¶ Herrera Said He Supported School Choice Policies In Texas
Herrera Said He Supported School Choice “And Things Like That That Are Bringing Us Away From Federally Funded Education Systems.” According to Brandon Herrera during a campaign event, “ATTENDEE: What can we do to try and reform the existing Department of Education?? HERRERA: I'd like to defund it. I'd like to defund it. The most Soviet shit that's come out of the United States in the last hundred years is deciding that we should all hand over our education to the government. It's a terrible idea. It should have never been implemented, and we're reaping the rewards of allowing that to happen. So I like a lot of different policies as far as school choice and things like that that are bringing us away from federally funded education systems. [YouTube, Brandon Herrera, 10/12/23] (video), (00:09:36 -> 00:10:10)
2023: Herrera Was An Advocate For School Choice And Claimed, “The Public Education System Is Fundamentally Broken, And In Many Cases Has Become A Propaganda Arm To Indoctrinate Your Children With Anti-American, And Anti-Family Values.” According to Brandon Herrera’s campaign website, “The public education system is fundamentally broken, and in many cases has become a propaganda arm to indoctrinate your children with anti-American, and anti-family values. That is why I am an advocate for School choice. The public schooling system should not have a federally enforced monopoly on the education of your children.”
[Wayback Machine, Brandonherreraforcongress.com – Issues, Captured 8/12/23, Viewed 3/13/26]
¶ Herrera Promised To Sponsor School Choice Legislation If Elected
March 2026: Herrera Promised To Sponsor School Choice Legislation That Would Ensure Education Dollars Follow The Student. According to Brandon Herrera’s campaign website, “Parents, not bureaucrats, should decide how their children are educated. Brandon will sponsor legislation ensuring education dollars follow the student, whether they attend public, private, or parochial school, and will defend the God-given right of parents to homeschool.” [Brandonherreraforcongress.com – Issues, Viewed 3/13/26]
¶ School choice policies Would Slash Funding for texas Public schools
¶ Schools Across The State Of Texas Faced Budget Shortfalls Due To School Choice And Voucher Policies
Texas Democrats And Rural Republicans Argued School Vouchers Would Harm Already Struggling Public Schools, Which Were Major Employers For Working Families And A Resource Center For Texas Students From Low-Income Households. According to Texas Tribune, “Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday signed legislation authorizing a private school voucher program into law, marking the grand finale of an oftentimes ugly conflict that has largely defined Texas politics this decade. Senate Bill 2 will allow families to use public taxpayer dollars to fund their children’s education at an accredited private school or to pay for a wide range of school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation or therapy. The program will be one of the largest school voucher initiatives in the nation. [...] The law’s passage follows years of discord in the Legislature over school vouchers. The Democrats and rural Republicans who fought against it argued that the program would harm already-struggling public schools, a major employer for working families and a resource center for many Texas students — the majority of whom reside in low-income households.” [Texas Tribune, 5/3/25]
Public Schools In Texas Were Funded Based On The Number Of Students In Attendance; Meaning Student Departures Due To School Vouchers Would Deplete Public School Funding. According to San Antonio Express News, “In other states, vouchers have largely gone to students who already attend private schools, but any voucher system would likely result in some students leaving public schools for private ones. Since public schools in Texas are funded by the state based on the number of students in attendance, any student departures would deplete their dollars.” [San Antonio Express News, 10/3/24]
¶ Schools Across San Antonio Faced Funding Shortages Amid Texas’ School Choice Plan
2024: Almost Every Single School District In The San Antonio Area Faced Budget Issues After Governor Greg Abbott Tied School Funding To His Failed School Choice Proposal. According to Texas Observer, “Almost every single school district in the San Antonio area is facing a funding shortage after the Texas Legislature failed last session to use its $33 billion surplus to alleviate the growing financial crisis public school districts face from inflation, declining enrollment, and property tax cuts that have restricted local revenue. That crucial state aid became a casualty of Governor Greg Abbott’s political brinkmanship as he tied a $7.6 billion public school funding package to the passage of a failed private school voucher program. But even after a year-long pressure campaign and four grueling special sessions, Abbott’s top priority was still struck down by a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats in the Texas House.” [Texas Observer, 10/23/24]
West Campus High School In South San Antonio ISD Closed In 2024 Due To Budget Shortfalls. According to San Antonio Express News, “Lujan’s own alma mater, West Campus High School in South San Antonio ISD was closed this year as a result of budget shortfalls along with several other campuses. Judson ISD had to raise local property taxes through ‘disaster pennies’ and Harlandale ISD closed four elementary schools due to a $12 million deficit. The districts are two of the largest in the legislative district, educating more than 14,000 students in all.” [San Antonio Express News, 10/3/24]
2024: Almost Every Single School District In The San Antonio Area Faced A Funding Shortage After The Texas Legislature Did Not Use Its $33 Billion Surplus To Alleviate Financial Crisis In Public Schools. According to Texas Observer, “Almost every single school district in the San Antonio area is facing a funding shortage after the Texas Legislature failed last session to use its $33 billion surplus to alleviate the growing financial crisis public school districts face from inflation, declining enrollment, and property tax cuts that have restricted local revenue. That crucial state aid became a casualty of Governor Greg Abbott's political brinkmanship as he tied a $7.6 billion public school funding package to the passage of a failed private school voucher program.” [Texas Observer, 10/23/24]