Texas Education Freedom Accounts: What the New School Choice Program Means for Brownsville Families — And Why It Matters After Tragic Accidents
When Opportunity Knocks, But Safety Fails: A Landmark Education Initiative Meets Real-World Risks
The news out of Austin feels like a breath of fresh air for Texas families: $1 billion invested in Texas Education Freedom Accounts, a sweeping school choice program designed to give parents unprecedented control over their children’s education. For the first time, families across the state — including right here in Brownsville — can access state funds to customize learning paths through private schools, homeschooling, tutoring, or other qualified educational expenses.
It’s an ambitious vision. One that promises to break down barriers, empower parents, and create new opportunities for students who’ve been underserved by traditional public schools. Applications are pouring in, and the excitement is palpable.
But here’s the hard truth: while Texas is investing billions in educational freedom, it’s failing to protect students from preventable tragedies that can derail their futures in an instant.
We’ve seen this play out before. A landmark initiative launches with fanfare. Families embrace new possibilities. And then — because of systemic failures, negligent oversight, or corporate indifference — a single moment of negligence changes everything.
At Attorney911, we’ve spent 25+ years holding powerful institutions accountable when they fail to keep people safe. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has secured multi-million dollar verdicts against some of the largest corporations in America — including trucking companies, refineries, and even universities — when their negligence caused catastrophic harm.
And that’s why this new education program, as promising as it is, raises serious questions about safety, accountability, and what happens when institutions prioritize enrollment over protection.
Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from representing families devastated by preventable tragedies — from 18-wheeler crashes on I-69 to industrial explosions in the Ship Channel to hazing scandals at major universities — it’s this:
Opportunity without safety is just another form of risk.
The Dark Side of Educational Freedom: When Institutions Fail to Protect
The University of Houston Hazing Case: A Warning for Texas Families
Just last year, our firm — Attorney911 — filed a $10 million lawsuit against the University of Houston, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, and 13 individual members after a student was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney failure due to seven weeks of systematic hazing.
The allegations were horrifying:
- Simulated waterboarding during physical exercises
- Forced overeating to the point of vomiting
- Sleep deprivation from overnight shifts driving fraternity members
- Extreme physical punishment — hundreds of pushups, squats, and bear crawls
- Public humiliation — carrying degrading items in a “pledge fanny pack”
- Collapsing from exhaustion — and being forced to continue
The student, Leonel Bermudez, wasn’t even enrolled at UH yet. He was a “ghost pledge” — someone who hadn’t yet started classes but was subjected to the same brutal initiation rituals.
And here’s the kicker: the university and the fraternity knew.
The lawsuit alleges that both institutions failed to intervene despite being aware of the ongoing hazing. The fraternity’s national headquarters even closed the chapter just days before the lawsuit was filed — a clear admission that something was terribly wrong.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. It was a systemic failure — one that left a young man fighting for his life in a hospital bed.
The Lesson for Texas Families: Choice ≠ Safety
The UH hazing case is a stark reminder that educational institutions — whether public, private, charter, or homeschool co-ops — don’t always prioritize student safety.
And when parents choose alternative education paths through programs like the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, they’re often trading one set of risks for another:
| Traditional Public Schools | Alternative Education Options |
|---|---|
| Pros: Oversight, accountability, standardized safety protocols | Pros: Customization, flexibility, specialized support |
| Cons: Limited choice, bureaucratic inertia, one-size-fits-all | Cons: Less oversight, inconsistent safety standards, potential for abuse |
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program is not subjecting private schools or homeschool programs to the same safety regulations as public schools. And that means parents must be extra vigilant when choosing where and how their children learn.
Because when institutions fail to protect students, the consequences can be catastrophic.
2. Transportation Risks: The Overlooked Danger in School Choice
When families opt for private schools, homeschool programs, or tutoring centers, they often take on transportation responsibilities that public schools handle internally.
And that means more time on the road — where the risks are real and deadly.
The I-69 Corridor: A Trucking Danger Zone for Brownsville Students
Brownsville sits at the southern tip of I-69, a major freight corridor that connects the Port of Brownsville to Houston, San Antonio, and beyond. It’s a critical route for commercial trucking — and a dangerous one for passenger vehicles.
Trucking Accident Statistics on I-69:
– I-69 is one of the deadliest highways in Texas for truck-related crashes
– Underride collisions (where a car slides under a truck trailer) are particularly common on high-speed corridors
– Fatigued driving is a leading cause of trucking accidents — and I-69 is a long-haul route where drivers often push legal limits
– Cargo spills and rollovers occur frequently due to improper loading and speeding on curves
The Risk to Students:
If your child is commuting to a private school, tutoring center, or extracurricular program, they’re sharing the road with 80,000-pound trucks — many of which are operating in violation of federal safety regulations.
And here’s the terrifying truth: trucking companies often prioritize profit over safety.
How Trucking Companies Cut Corners — And Put Your Child at Risk
At Attorney911, we’ve seen firsthand how trucking companies violate federal regulations to meet deadlines and boost profits. Some of the most common violations include:
| Violation | FMCSA Regulation | How It Endangers Students |
|---|---|---|
| Hours of Service (HOS) Violations | 49 CFR § 395 | Drivers exceed 11-hour driving limit, leading to fatigue-related crashes |
| False Log Entries | 49 CFR § 395.8 | Drivers falsify ELD records to hide HOS violations |
| Brake Failures | 49 CFR § 393.48 | Poorly maintained brakes fail, causing rear-end collisions |
| Cargo Securement Failures | 49 CFR § 393.100-136 | Improperly secured loads shift or spill, causing rollovers or debris hazards |
| Unqualified Drivers | 49 CFR § 391 | Untrained or medically unfit drivers behind the wheel |
| Distracted Driving | 49 CFR § 392.82 | Cell phone use while driving leads to lane departures and crashes |
The Consequences?
– Underride collisions that decapitate passenger vehicles
– Rollover accidents that crush smaller cars
– Jackknife crashes that block multiple lanes and cause pileups
– Cargo spills that create deadly obstacles on the highway
And if your child is injured or killed in a trucking accident while commuting to a private school or program funded by the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, who’s responsible?
The answer is complicated — and it’s why legal representation is critical.
What Happens When Educational Freedom Leads to Tragedy?
The Legal Landscape: Who’s Liable When Things Go Wrong?
When a student is injured, abused, or killed in a private school, homeschool program, or extracurricular activity, multiple parties can be held legally and financially responsible:
| Potentially Liable Party | Basis for Liability | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Private School or Program | Negligent supervision, unsafe premises, failure to protect | A student is bullied to the point of suicide because the school ignored repeated complaints |
| Homeschool Co-op or Microschool | Negligent hiring, lack of safety protocols | A tutor with a criminal record abuses a student because the co-op failed to conduct a background check |
| Transportation Provider | Negligent driving, vehicle maintenance failures | A private shuttle van transporting students crashes due to bald tires, causing catastrophic injuries |
| Trucking Company | Hours of service violations, fatigued driving, brake failures | A fatigued truck driver falls asleep at the wheel and crashes into a school van on I-69 |
| Truck Driver | Reckless driving, distracted driving, impairment | A truck driver texting while driving rear-ends a car carrying students to a private school |
| Cargo Loading Company | Improper securement leading to rollovers or spills | A poorly secured load shifts on I-69, causing a rollover that blocks the highway and leads to a multi-vehicle pileup |
| Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer | Defective brakes, tires, or safety systems | A defective brake system fails on a school shuttle, causing a crash into a guardrail |
| Government Entity | Dangerous road design, lack of safety barriers | A sharp curve on I-69 lacks proper guardrails, leading to a fatal rollover involving a private school van |
The Role of Insurance: Will There Be Enough to Cover the Damages?
One of the biggest misconceptions about private schools and alternative education programs is that they carry the same insurance protections as public schools.
They don’t.
| Entity | Typical Insurance Coverage | Potential Gaps |
|---|---|---|
| Public Schools | $1M+ in liability coverage, often backed by government self-insurance pools | Sovereign immunity can limit recovery |
| Private Schools | $100K–$1M in general liability, sometimes no coverage for transportation or extracurriculars | Exclusions for abuse, hazing, or negligent supervision |
| Homeschool Co-ops | Often no insurance at all | Parents may be personally liable |
| Tutoring Centers | $300K–$1M in professional liability | May not cover accidents or injuries |
| Transportation Providers | $750K–$5M in auto liability (required by FMCSA for commercial vehicles) | Some operate with minimum coverage |
The Bottom Line:
If your child is seriously injured in a private school, homeschool program, or transportation-related accident, the available insurance may not be enough to cover medical bills, rehabilitation, lost future earnings, or pain and suffering.
And that’s where legal action becomes essential.
What Brownsville Families Can Do to Protect Their Children
1. Vet Every Program Thoroughly
If you’re using Texas Education Freedom Accounts to enroll your child in a private school, homeschool co-op, or tutoring program, ask the hard questions:
✅ What safety protocols are in place?
✅ Are background checks conducted on all staff and volunteers?
✅ What’s the student-to-teacher ratio?
✅ Are there emergency response plans for medical incidents, fires, or natural disasters?
✅ How are transportation providers vetted?
✅ Is there liability insurance? What does it cover?
If a program can’t answer these questions clearly, walk away.
2. Demand Transparency on Transportation
If your child will be commuting to a private school or program, insist on details:
✅ Who provides transportation?
✅ Are drivers properly licensed and insured?
✅ Are vehicles regularly inspected and maintained?
✅ What’s the route, and are there known hazards (like I-69’s trucking dangers)?
✅ Are seatbelts required? Are there enough seats for all students?
If a program outsources transportation, demand proof of insurance and safety records.
3. Document Everything
If your child complains of bullying, hazing, or unsafe conditions, document it immediately:
– Save all communications (emails, texts, social media messages)
– Take photos or videos of unsafe conditions
– Report incidents in writing to program administrators
– Follow up if no action is taken
If a program ignores your concerns, it’s a red flag — and a potential legal liability.
4. Know Your Rights — And Act Fast
If your child is injured, abused, or killed due to negligence in a private school, homeschool program, or transportation incident, time is critical.
- Texas has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims
- Evidence disappears quickly — especially in trucking cases (ECM data can be overwritten in 30 days)
- Insurance companies move fast to minimize your claim
Call Attorney911 immediately at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.
If Tragedy Strikes, We’re Here to Fight for You
If your child has been injured, abused, or killed due to negligence in a private school, homeschool program, or transportation-related incident, you don’t have to face this alone.
Attorney911 is here to protect your rights, preserve the evidence, and pursue every dollar you deserve.
Call Us Now for a Free, Confidential Consultation:
📞 1-888-ATTY-911 (1-888-288-9911)
📞 Direct: (713) 528-9070
📧 ralph@atty911.com
🌐 https://attorney911.com
We answer 24/7. Evidence disappears fast — don’t wait.
Why Choose Attorney911?
✅ 25+ years of experience fighting for injury victims
✅ Former insurance defense attorney on our team — we know their tactics
✅ Multi-million dollar verdicts against major corporations
✅ Federal court admission — we handle complex cases
✅ Contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we win
✅ Hablamos Español — Lupe Peña and our team provide fluent Spanish-language services
Don’t Let Negligence Define Your Child’s Future
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program is a step forward for Texas families. But when institutions fail to protect students, the legal system must step in.
Call Attorney911 today at 1-888-ATTY-911.
We’ll fight for your family — so you can focus on healing.
Learn More About Your Rights:
📺 The Victim’s Guide to 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries
📺 Can I Sue for Being Hit by a Semi Truck?
📺 The Definitive Guide to Commercial Truck Accidents
📺 What to Do After a Car Accident?
📺 I’ve Had an Accident — What Should I Do First?