Texas Home School Coalition: Jamie Kohlmann 'is committed to providing parents with more choices'

The policy director of the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) said her organization endorsed Jamie Kohlmann for the State Board of Education (SBOE) in District 12 because Kohlmann has been “unapologetic” in her stance to protect “the rights of Texas families.”

“Jamie Kohlmann is unapologetic on her stand and stance to ensure the rights of Texas families are protected,” Anita Scott, THSC’s policy director, told Collin Times. “Like THSC, Jamie believes that parents should be empowered to make decisions for the education of their children.”

Scott said the THSC chooses to be involved with the SBOE because her group is “focused on protecting families and children in public schools from indoctrination.”

“The SBOE impacts homeschooling in Texas because the SBOE deliberations and votes that are carried out influence legislation that impacts all Texas families,” said Scott. “There are legislative priorities that attempt to protect children in public schools whereas some attempt to undermine the rights of parents and we stay focused on ensuring families - not just homeschool families - are protected.”

Scott said her organization supports Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). 

Mandy Drogin, the campaign director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s “Next Generation Texas” campaign, told Collin Times on May 6 that ESAs are one way to improve public schools in Texas. 

Gov. Greg Abbott made passage of universal Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) a legislative priority in the most recent legislation, and though that effort fell short, Drogin said she's "highly confident" that Texas "could pass the nation’s largest ESA early in 2025."

While Drogin said the legislature, not the SBOE, will pass universal ESA’s in Texas, the SBOE in 2022 voted to approve legislative recommendations that opposed school choice. 

Fairview resident Pam Little, who represents District 12 on the SBOE, voted in favor of those legislative recommendations. She later voted to rescind the recommendations and now says she supports school choice.

Kohlmann, who is challenging Little in the upcoming Republican primary runoff election, is the former executive director of school choice group Texas Families First who also supports school choice.

“Jamie is committed to providing parents with more choices allowing parents to operate with more autonomy and more independence than is currently allowed in the system,” said Scott.

The Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) is an organization dedicated to serving and protecting the rights of homeschooling families in Texas. It provides resources, legal assistance, and advocacy for parents who choose to educate their children at home. THSC works to influence legislation and policies that impact homeschooling. The coalition also offers support services such as conferences, legal aid, and networking opportunities for homeschooling families. It aims to ensure that homeschooling remains a viable educational option in Texas.