Universal school choice likely in Texas; House pushes bill

The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday voted in favor of a contested bill creating taxpayer-funded education savings accounts for children. The measure was approved in an 85-62 party-line vote, with two representatives marked absent and two Republicans joining Democrats to vote against it, local news reported. The bill would allow parents of children in prekindergarten through 12th grade to apply for money for education. A final vote was scheduled later Thursday to send the bill to the state Senate. Governor Greg Abbott said he believed the bill would pass both chambers soon and was ready to sign it.

How did this get approved? The 2 a.m. vote followed 11 hours of debate. Democrats suggested dozens of amendments, including one that would have put the measure before voters in a statewide ballot. Protesters against the measure filled the Capitol Rotunda before the vote, CBS Texas reported. President Donald Trump called Republican state lawmakers before the vote to express his support for school choice, Abbott said.

How did we get here? Abbott made school choice legislation a priority during the last several biennial legislative sessions. But the legislation repeatedly failed to get sufficient House approval, despite Abbott calling two special sessions for that purpose in 2023. In the 2024 primaries, the governor used money from his own war chest to finance campaigns against Republicans hostile to school choice, flipping several seats to candidates who shared his goals.

How much money does the program set aside for education? The program's overall funding would be capped at $1 billion for the first two years. Children accepted into the program would receive $10,000 per year if they attend a private school. Homeschooled students would get $2,000, and disabled students would receive up to $30,000. If the program receives more applicants than it has funding, the bill says it should prioritize disabled and low-income students.

What types of education expenses are covered? The bill says money received under the program can only be used to purchase materials and services from education providers and product vendors approved by the state comptroller. It makes an exception for third-party sellers of textbooks and school supplies. The bill also covers online classes for homeschoolers but may not apply to things like fees at co-ops and other informal groups.

Will the school choice program hurt public schools? Opponents of the legislation say public schools could lose plenty of funding if enrollment numbers drop as a result of the program. The Texas House on Wednesday gave nearly unanimous initial approval to a bill to increase public school funding by about $8 billion and allow schools’ basic allotment to increase every two years. Republicans characterized the measure as a necessary companion to the school choice legislation.

Why are some conservatives opposed to school choice legislation? The bill includes legal protections for homeschoolng, but may require homeschoolers who apply for the program to take a national reference test. The Home School Legal Defense Association and the CEO of Classical Conversations said last year they were concerned that taking the money would lead to government regulation of homeschooling. Some conservatives in rural towns are also worried that the legislation will gut public schools, which often are cornerstones of small communities.

How many states have state-funded school choice programs? Sixteen states have programs similar to the one Texas is likely to pass, as of April 2025. Twenty states have tax-credit scholarships, according to Education Week.