Texas families may soon be able to use tax dollars to fund private school tuition through a Republican-backed bill that cleared the Senate late Wednesday.
The controversial legislation, Senate Bill 2, now moves to the House, where top officials claim it has sufficient support to establish education savings accounts.
Debate Over the Bill’s Provisions
The debate over SB2 began Wednesday afternoon, with State Senator Brandon Creighton of Montgomery County, who also chairs the education committee, leading the discussion.
“(For the) education savings account plan, funding comes out of the surplus,” Creighton told our news partner ABC13.
“It doesn’t come out of public school funding, and it’s very responsible in this large surplus that we have to use it in ways that just like we’re working in ways to help taxpayers recover some of that money. We’re also working in ways to help our most vulnerable students in the State have education opportunities and their parents to have options.”
Under the proposal, funds will be distributed through a lottery system that prioritizes low-income or disabled students. Those attending accredited private schools could receive between $10,000 and $11,500, while home-schooled students may be eligible for $2,000 to $2,500.
Opposition and Concerns
State Senator Royce West of Dallas expressed concerns about the bill’s implications, calling for more accountability and questioning its historical context.
“It should be kids in disadvantaged, impoverished circumstances, in low-performing schools with disabilities should be prioritized that way,” West told ABC13 before the debate. “We need to make certain. We also have in place some sort of accountability measures. You know, we’re talking about giving taxpayer dollars to private concerns without any real accountability consistent with what public schools are required to do.”
Critics, including some Democrats, have labeled the bill a “voucher scam.” However, Creighton insists SB2 is not a voucher bill but an education savings account plan that covers various services beyond tuition.
“Education savings accounts offer a list of services like tutoring or behavioral therapy, speech therapy,” Creighton said. “Uniforms can be covered, (and) transportation. There are many different opportunities within the ESA, including tuition.”
Next Steps for the Legislation
The Texas Senate has passed similar legislation multiple times, with four approvals of some version of SB2 in 2023 alone. Despite its passage in the Senate, the House is expected to deliberate on amendments before finalizing its stance.
Gov. Greg Abbott has made school choice a priority for the 2025 legislative session, listing it among his seven emergency items. This designation allowed lawmakers to debate and vote on the bill before the standard 60-day filing deadline for new legislation. The bill’s final fate now rests in the hands of the House.
Keep up with the Texas Legislature with us on Que Onda Magazine.
