New Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is leading a "school choice" rally supporting calls to expand voucher programs and charter schools statewide.
Organizers say Friday's gathering outside the Texas Capitol will be the largest of its kind in recent memory.
Bush served on the board of one of Texas' top charter-school operators, and his office oversees the nation's largest educational endowment.
Also speaking is tea party-backed state Sen. Donna Campbell who, alongside new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has been a strong supporter of vouchers that would funnel state funding to private and religious schools.
Last session, lawmakers overhauled public education, including approving a major expansion of charter schools.
But voucher proposals died in the House, which passed a bipartisan resolution declaring that public funding should stay with public schools.
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