Austin (Nexstar) – On Saturday afternoon, Texas Governor Greg Abbott enacted Senate Bill 2, establishing a significant school selection program, supposedly the largest of its kind in the nation.
After prior attempts fell short, Abbott saw this effort succeed amid accusations of pressure on Republican House members and a call from former President Donald Trump, marking one of his main legislative goals accomplished.
The front yard of the governor’s mansion was bustling with Texans who came out to witness this pivotal moment. According to a spokesperson for Abbott’s office, he received around 1,400 RSVPs for the signing event.
Abbott was joined by the bill’s sponsors, including Senators Brandon Clayton and Brad Buckley, as well as Lt. Col. Dan Patrick and House member Dustin Burrows. School choice advocates and private school representatives also expressed their support during the signing.
Abbott expressed gratitude towards his staff, parents, and lawmakers who made this law possible. “School choice is now a law in Texas,” he declared to cheers from the crowd. “Families shouldn’t be limited to government-assigned schools; now parents have the power to choose the best educational option for their children.”
What does the ESA look like?
The new ESA program enables accepted families to use public funds for private school expenses, including tuition, supplies, uniforms, and even travel. Initially, $1 billion is set aside for the program, but the cap may be subject to change in future legislative sessions.
How much does each student receive?
Students in the program will get 85% of the average funds allocated per student in public schools, which is currently just over $10,000 annually. Special education students can receive up to the same amount they would in public schools, capped at $30,000, while homeschooled students may obtain up to $2,000 per year.
Who gets priority?
Due to the limit on participants, the bill prioritizes students based on their educational needs and family income, detailed below:
| Priority Level | Qualifications |
| 1 | Children with disabilities from households earning below 500% of the federal poverty line. |
| 2 | Children from families earning below 200% of the federal poverty line. |
| 3 | Children from families earning above 200% but below 500% of the federal poverty line. |
| 4 | All other applicants. |
If the program receives more applicants than spots, a lottery system will be employed, giving automatic placement to siblings already in the program.
What’s next for public school finances?
Meanwhile, outside the governor’s mansion, a group of Democratic lawmakers and public education supporters gathered to protest the ESA program, unveiling a banner critical of the initiative.
At the same time, Texas passed both the school choice and public school finance measures, which Speaker Burrows dubbed the “Texas Two Stage” initiative. Opponents of the ESA program argue it threatens public schools’ funding as it is linked to student attendance.
“With his signature, Greg Abbott has let down nearly six million public school students in Texas,” proclaimed Senator James Tarico during the protest.
Supporters of the bill counter that it will foster competition among schools, ultimately enhancing educational quality. “We aim to make public schools more competitive,” said Lt. Col. Dan Patrick at the signing.
Democrats have voiced their desire for the $1 billion set aside for the school selection program to be redirected toward improving public school funding. The Public School Finance Bill, House Bill 2, has reportedly increased school funding by approximately $7.7 billion.
Yet, Democrats maintain the latest finance bill just doesn’t adequately address inflation-related needs for funding per student. While the last increase came in 2019, lawmakers propose just a $340 boost this time, arguing that a $1,400 increase would be necessary to keep pace with rising costs.
However, the School Finance Bill still awaits full approval from both legislative chambers, having recently been introduced in the Senate without a hearing scheduled. Concerns have been raised about the need for financial hearings, particularly amidst claims that public schools could face dire consequences without adequate funding.
Senator Clayton emphasized the similarity between the two public school finance proposals, noting ongoing work on a hybrid approach, with a hearing to be scheduled soon.
“This could represent the largest proportional increase in public school funding in Texas history,” Clayton commented.
The deadline for further consideration of all bills in the Texas Senate is set for May 28th.
