Gov. Abbott signs Texas school choice bill into law

AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott signed school choice legislation into law on Saturday that will set aside $1 billion of taxpayer money for parents to pay for private schools. 

The legislation has been a long time coming for Abbott, who stepped in to campaign against Republican candidates after similar bills failed to pass in previous sessions.

What Happened:

The governor signed the bill at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, surrounded by private school students and their families. As he put pen to paper, the crowd erupted with applause as Texas began a new chapter in education.

"When I ran for reelection in 2022, I promised school choice for the families of Texas. Today, we deliver on that promise," the governor said shortly before signing the bill. "Gone are the days that families are limited to only the school assigned by government. The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school that's best for their child. Today, school choice becomes law in the great state of Texas."

Abbott was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, the bill's author, Sen. Brandon Creighton, U.S. Senator John Cornyn and school choice advocates.

What they're saying:

"From here forward, [Texas students] will have unlimited potential and unlimited options in education to pursue for the rest of their path and education and what their families do best, and that in of itself was worth the journey," said Senator Creighton.

"With ESA's, it's going to empower families like me, regardless of income, where you from, the zip code you live in, to change the education opportunities that fit best for their children," said parent Shinara Morrison.

The other side:

In response, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder sent out the following statement.

"After years of lying, cheating, and attacking any of those who stood up for public schools, Greg Abbott finally created his new entitlement program for the wealthy by forcing his school voucher scam into law. Abbott knows vouchers are unpopular– that’s why he did everything he could to stop the people of Texas from having an opportunity to vote on it. That is why he groveled and begged Donald Trump on the morning of the vote to convince Republican holdouts to check their spines at the door and throw every teacher and student in their districts under a bus. Now, any increase in school funding is held up in Dan Patrick’s senate as they sprint forward on fancy private-school-coupons where working people need not apply.

Let’s be clear: this bill is only best for the richest people in the state, and rural Texas especially will get the shaft. To top it all off, Abbott’s school shut-downs are in full-swing with no end in sight. Texas Democrats will keep fighting for public schools and make sure voters don’t forget this in 2026."

Opponents of the bill also held an event in Austin on Saturday, speaking out against school choice legislation.

"With the stroke of his pen, Greg Abbott is betraying nearly 6 million Texas public school students for the billionaire mega-donors who write him $6 million checks," said Texas Rep. James Talarico. "Remember this day the next time a school closes in your neighborhood. Remember this day the next time a teacher quits because they haven’t gotten a pay raise. Remember this day the next time your local property taxes go up because the state is not doing its fair share of school funding.

"Greg Abbott may have the money, but we have the majority. Big money is powerful, but it’s nothing compared to people power," Talarico continued.

The state representative also posted a photo of a banner outside of the Texas AFL-CIO building saying "Kids & teachers over billionaires (and those that cave to them)."

Texas school choice

The backstory:

The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 2 by a party-line 19-12 vote on April 24, despite a last-ditch effort to derail, or at least delay, the bill's final passage.

The House approved the bill 86-63 a week prior.

Dig deeper:

Senate Bill 2 would create a program to establish education savings accounts that allow parents to use public funds to pay for private school tuition and other expenses.

In its first year, the program would be capped at $1 billion and used by up to 90,000 students, but it could grow to nearly $4.5 billion per year by 2030. The money can be used for private school tuition, as well as costs for home-schooling and virtual learning programs. Families could get up to $10,000 each year per student under the program, and a student with disabilities would be eligible for as much as $30,000 per year.

More than 30 states have some form of school choice bill, but Texas' will be the largest.

Proponents say the legislation gives parents options about where to send their children. They argue the competition would force public schools to improve.

Opponents say the education savings accounts will take money away from public schools and will not help low-income students. Some have called it "welfare for the wealthy," saying the money will be used by those who are already sending their children to private schools.

What's next:

The bill will go into effect on September 1, 2025.

Texas school choice fight

Abbott listed school choice as one of his top priorities for lawmakers, after it failed in four special sessions in 2023.

Abbott campaigned against Republicans who voted against education savings accounts in the 2024 primaries.

When the House bill was approved 86-63, every Democrat and two Republicans, Dade Phelan and Gary VanDeaver, voted no.

Several other states have similar programs in place, but Texas' will be the largest in the country.

The Texas House also passed House Bill 2, which would provide $7.7 billion in funding for public schools.
 

Texas PoliticsTexasEducationGreg Abbott