Texas' Big Education Shift: What's Next for School Choice?

Texas is on the brink of a major change in how it funds education. The state's House of Representatives has given the green light to a plan that lets parents use state money for private school tuition. This move is a big win for Governor Greg Abbott, who has been pushing for more school choice options. He believes families need financial help to escape public schools that aren't meeting their children's needs. But not everyone is happy about this development. Many public school families, teachers, and Democratic lawmakers are worried. They fear that this new policy will take money away from public schools, which serve most of Texas' children. The vote was close, with 85 in favor and 63 against. All Democrats voted against the bill, along with two Republicans. The bill still has a few more steps before it becomes law, but Governor Abbott has promised to sign it quickly. He wants Texas to have the biggest school choice program in the country right from the start. To make this happen, Abbott has spent a lot of political capital and money. He targeted specific seats in Republican primaries to get the votes he needed. Republican legislators also blocked dozens of amendments from Democrats, including one that would have put the proposal to a statewide vote. The debate went on well past midnight, with tensions running high. Democrats tried to add amendments to address what they see as flaws in the bill. They wanted to ensure that no lawmaker's child could benefit from the funding and raised concerns about accountability and fiscal responsibility. Protesters also made their voices heard, filling the Capitol with chants of "No vouchers! " Supporters and opponents were easy to spot, with protesters wearing red shirts and supporters in blue. The Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) proposal would give families money for education expenses. Families in private schools could get about $10, 000 per year per child, while homeschooled students could get $2, 000. Children with disabilities would get even more, with private school students receiving $11, 500 and homeschooled students getting $2, 500. Republican state budget writers want to spend $1 billion of the state's surplus to fund the program. But a legislative advisory board projects that the cost could rise to nearly $4 billion by 2030. Democrats tried to cap the program's funding at $1 billion, but their efforts failed. They also pointed to Arizona's experience with ESAs, which has led to a budget shortfall. The bill also has a controversial provision: it would block undocumented students from qualifying. Only U. S. citizens or people lawfully in the country could receive an ESA, a point of contention for some lawmakers. Meanwhile, the House also approved a major boost to public school funding, adding about $8 billion to those campuses. This would be the first increase to the base per-student funding since 2019, but it might not be enough to keep up with inflation. It's clear that Texas is at a crossroads when it comes to education funding. The state is trying to balance the needs of public schools with the desire for more school choice options. It remains to be seen how this new policy will play out in the coming years.