So, like, Governor Greg Abbott finally got his way after waiting forever, you guys. Surrounded by his buddies, the head honcho of Texas Republicans signed Senate Bill 2 into law at the governor’s mansion in Austin on Saturday. This whole shebang is a massive $1 billion school voucher deal that introduces Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Basically, these accounts let parents use state money to pay for their kid’s education outside of the public school system in Texas.
This signing event was like the end of a super long journey for the top Texas Republicans and the governor. Abbott was all like, “When I was running for reelection in 2022, I promised school choice for Texan families. And guess what, folks? Today, we’re making it happen.” He went on about how families don’t have to stick to just the school the government picks for them anymore. Now, parents can choose the best school for their kiddos.
It wasn’t a walk in the park to get this bill on Abbott’s desk, though. Millions of dollars were thrown around in media campaigns by different supporters, and there were some tough primary battles last year to kick out Republicans who weren’t down with a similar proposal in 2023.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) was all about praising the Texas House Republicans who voted to pass the bill. He was like, “Despite all the drama and haters, they knew school choice was the way to go.”
One mom, Shinara Morrison, spilled her guts at the event and talked about sending her son to public schools, charter schools, and even trying out private schools. But she couldn’t swing the costs for private schools. She’s all fired up about ESAs now, saying they’ll help families like hers, no matter what their income or zip code, pick the best educational options for their kids.
But hold up, not everyone is on board with this whole school voucher thing. Some protesters gathered outside the governor’s mansion, like Carrie King, who’s worried the program will take money away from public schools and not have enough checks on academic quality. She was like, “This bill is just making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Not cool, man.”
The ESA program is getting $1 billion to start, the biggest chunk of cash for something like this. More than 30 states have similar programs, according to The Associated Press. In Texas, parents can get around $10,000 (or 85% of what the state gives per student on average) to put toward private school tuition. Kids with special needs can get up to $30,000 in state funds. And families who homeschool can snag $2,000 for approved expenses.
When it comes to who’s eligible for ESAs, SB 2 lays it out in a four-tier system. Students with disabilities from low-income families get first dibs. Then it’s families making up to $62,400 for a family of four. Higher-income families come next. And after that, any leftover spots are up for grabs, no matter the income.
During the big debate at the Capitol, some Texas Democrats were all about that fourth tier. House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) was like, “Why are billionaires getting a slice of the pie? It should be about helping out poor folks.” But Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), the bill’s author, defended the tiered system, saying it gives the most options to students who need them the most.
So, this whole school voucher thing is a hot topic in Texas, with advocates and opponents going head to head. One group, The LIBRE Initiative, is all in on school vouchers to help Hispanic families. Their strategic director, Jorge Martinez, was all about saying, “If your kid needs extra help, you should be able to get it with your tax dollars.”
Not everyone is feeling the love for ESAs, though. Zeph Capo, President of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, called it an attack on public schools. He thinks this is just another way some lawmakers are trying to break down the public school system.
With Senate Bill 2 all signed and sealed, it’s time to get the program up and running. The Texas Comptroller has to set up the Education Savings Account program, and parents should be able to apply for funds by the 2026-27 school year.
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