The Texas Senate has sent the school choice bill to the governor for signature, concurring with the House proposed amendments last week. Governor Greg Abbott has pledged to sign it, as this was one of his top priorities for this legislative session.
The bill creates about 100,000 education savings accounts (ESAs), funded with $1 billion in state money, for parents to use on private school expenses. Each ESA will receive about $10,000, but the House tied it to 85% of per-student public school funding, allowing for future adjustments.
Students with disabilities can qualify for up to $30,000. The priority for ESAs will go to disabled and lower-income students, with a cap of 20% for families earning over 500% of the federal poverty level (about $150,000 for a family of four).
Supporters argue it centers education policy around students and expands family choice. Opponents argue it diverts funds from public schools, potentially leaving millions of students behind. Read more about the bill here.
Don’t miss out on our blog posts! Subscribe to the ED311 newsletter.