Education in Texas: A Potential Sweeping Change
In what could portend a sweeping change for education in Texas, the state House is set to vote on a school choice bill Wednesday that would create a $1 billion fund for parents who could then use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school education.
The vote is one of the few remaining hurdles for the legislation, which has been a top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott and passed in the Senate on Feb. 5. The proposal, Senate Bill 2, has been at the center of one of the most intense political fights at the Legislature over the past two years.
Support for the Bill
The bill appears to have enough support to pass the House. More than half of the chamber signed on as sponsors of the bill. Still, school districts and advocates will be paying close attention Wednesday to see if that support holds.
Passage in the House would give the bill a clear path to the governor’s desk. Changes could still be made to the bill in a conference committee of lawmakers from the Senate and House who would work out differences between the versions of the bill each chamber passed.
Previous Attempts and Current Outlook
Similar proposals in previous years have failed in the House after rural Republicans sided with Democrats to block school voucherlike proposals. This year could be different after Abbott successfully campaigned to unseat several Republican members of the House who voted against a similar bill in 2023.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, said that the bill will pass during a March 25 news conference alongside the governor and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
“We can fully fund public education and do school choice at the same time,” Burrows said, adding that he was “excited” to send the bill to the governor’s desk.
Additional Education Bills
The House will also take up a bill Wednesday that will provide teacher pay raises and increase the per-student funding for public schools. It is expected to pass with bipartisan support.
The Voucherlike Proposal
The voucherlike proposal the House will consider Wednesday would create a program to provide education savings accounts of roughly $10,000 for participants.
Public education advocates generally oppose any legislation that would send public dollars to private education for fear that it will siphon money from the public education system that educates the vast majority of Texas children.
Proponents say that it provides more education options for parents who can’t afford private school without government assistance.
Eligibility and Funding
Access to the program is universal for school-aged Texas children who are legal citizens or lawful residents. However, if more students apply than funding is available, a lottery process would prioritize children with disabilities and from households with incomes less than twice the federal poverty level. That equates to about $64,000 for a family of four.
Children receiving a homeschooled education would be eligible for $2,000.
The Texas comptroller’s office would administer the program, including the application process and the distribution of funds. Funds would be placed in a trust held by the state with disbursements made for eligible expenditures that include tuition, school meals, uniforms and educational materials.
Program Funding and Growth
The size of the education savings account is tied to the average amount of state and local funds spent on a student. That will allow for individual accounts to grow or shrink in size depending on how much money the state provides for public education.
While the education savings account program is capped at $1 billion of funding through 2027, the state estimates that it could grow to nearly $4 billion in 2030.
Conclusion
The potential passage of the school choice bill in Texas marks a significant moment in the state’s education history. With its implications on public and private education, it’s essential for Texans to understand the details and potential consequences of such legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the school choice bill about?
A: The school choice bill proposes creating a $1 billion fund for parents to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school education.
Q: Who is eligible for the program?
A: The program is universal for school-aged Texas children who are legal citizens or lawful residents, with priority given to children with disabilities and from low-income households.
Q: How will the program be funded?
A: The program will be funded through taxpayer dollars, with the size of the education savings account tied to the average amount of state and local funds spent on a student.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the bill?
A: The bill could potentially siphon money from the public education system, but it also provides more education options for parents who can’t afford private school without government assistance.
