AUSTIN, Texas — On Tuesday afternoon, the Texas Senate K-12 Education Committee listened to hours of public testimony on a proposed “school choice,” or voucher, bill.
Senate Bill 2, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), would create an “Education Savings Account” (ESA) program that would allow Texas families to use public tax dollars to help pay for private education.
Under SB 2, students who are awarded an Education Savings Account would get at least $10,000 from the state. The $1 billion allocated for the bill would fund 100,000 ESAs.
Because there’s a limited amount of money, if there are more applicants than there is money, $200 million would fund Universal ESAs, meaning any student could apply for those dollars. The other $800 million would be set aside for students with special needs or who are low-income.
The state would use a lottery system to decide who gets the ESAs.
“It will be very clear where the Texas Legislature stands on who we’re really working the hardest to help here and serve here, among the most vulnerable Texans,” said Creighton.
But some Democrats say they’re concerned low-income and special needs students won’t apply for the funds in large numbers, and instead students who are already in private school will benefit the most from the program.
“I am hopeful that we can look at the history of vouchers in this country, and that we will take into consideration all different perspectives,” said State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas).
At the committee hearing, Creighton made it clear that he takes issue with people calling his plan vouchers, saying that under his ESA program, families will not get the money directly. He also said SB 2 has the strongest anti-fraud provision in the country.
“Parents can direct their students approved funds to pre-approved providers, but never direct possession of the dollars themselves and no reimbursements are permitted,” Creighton said.
One of the main arguments against ESAs has been that they will take money away from the state’s underfunded public schools. Creighton said that’s not the case.
He pointed out the Senate is proposing almost $5 billion in new funding for public education this session.
The Senate passed a school choice program four times last session, but it died in the House every time. Republican lawmakers have been extremely vocal about making passing school choice a priority this session, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott has not announced what he is declaring as the “emergency items”, which lawmakers would be able to pass bills on during the first 60 days of the session. He is expected to announce those at his State of the State Address this Sunday evening.