Gov. Perry To Address Board Of Education

Gov. Rick Perry is set to address the State Board of Education, which features eight new members after November's election.

He will speak to the board's 15 members Friday morning.

Discussing his priorities for the new legislative session this week, Perry said lawmakers should increase the number of public charter schools statewide. Current law caps licenses to operate charters in Texas at 215.

Perry also said Texas should offer scholarships "that give students a choice, especially those who are locked into low-performing schools."

Critics say that's code for a voucher system, which would allow parents to use public money to send their children to private schools.

Expanding "school choice" with vouchers has been championed by many leading Republicans in the Legislature, including Dan Patrick, head of the Senate Education Committee.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.