AUSTIN, Texas — Texas House Democrats, led by Rep. Jon Rosenthal, wrote a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday urging him to call a special session to address the need for public education funding in the state.

In response, Abbott sent a letter to Rosenthal accusing him and other Democrats of voting against a school funding bill that’s tied to school vouchers.

“Texas public schools are facing serious budget challenges from inflation, historic underfunding, and unfunded mandates that will drive drastic budget cuts in ISDs across the state. These issues arise from the state’s failure to improve school funding since 2019,” Rosenthal wrote.

Abbott said in his letter that schools are experiencing a lack of funding because their COVID recovery benefits have run out.

“To be clear, there are several reasons why some public schools are facing budget shortfalls. One is that public schools received extraordinary funding from the federal government for COVID recovery, and that federal funding is no longer available. This means schools that used this funding for ongoing expenses are facing a shortfall,” Abbott wrote.

Democrats are asking Abbott to call a special session to increase the basic allotment and increase the school safety allotment.

Abbott pointed to low enrollment rates in classes as another reason districts have less funding due to “ideological leanings” in some public schools. It echoes Abbott’s reasoning for wanting to pass school vouchers. Democrats have been staunchly opposed to school vouchers because they divert state funding to private school tuition.

“In school districts across the state, schools have identified that another reason they have less revenue is that they have fewer students enrolled in classes: many parents across the state with whom I have visited complain about their growing dissatisfaction with the ideological leanings of education delivered by some public schools,” Abbott wrote.

Abbott said it’s the responsibility of the House to get enough votes to pass the school funding bill.

The Texas Democratic Party released a statement supporting House Democrats in their effort to send surplus funds to public schools.

“Greg Abbott has held public education funding hostage — leaving our classrooms in crisis. His failed attempt to blackmail the legislature into passing his private school voucher scheme has forced schools to make unprecedented budget cuts, adding strain on faculty and students, and depriving them of essential resources for success,” Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, Gilberto Hinojosa wrote in a statement. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Texas House Democrats in their call for more public education funding so our communities can thrive. It's time for decisive action — not for Greg Abbott to continue to point fingers and avoid addressing his self-made crisis.”