AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A board with veto power over new charter schools in Texas voted unanimously Friday to allow its members to take privately-funded trips to see such schools in other states, even though critics contend it could lead to junkets and conflicts of interest.

The “fact-finding missions” for Texas Board of Education members can be funded by private foundations or individual donors but not taxpayers or the charter schools themselves. They also would be limited to charter networks seeking to expand into Texas.

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