school vouchers

Senate Bill 2 would create an education savings account program and has been Abbott's top priority.

After hours of debate — and years of pushing from Gov. Greg Abbott — the Texas House gave initial approval to a bill to create an Education Savings Account plan. The school voucher program would allow parents to use public funds towards private school costs.

Some Texas legislators may be done questioning the merits of education savings accounts as it moves to a vote in the State House, but voters aren't. Model programs in other states are showing rural voters could stand to lose the most, and they're preparing to do the math on election day.

Gov. Kevin Stitt anticipates the U.S. Supreme Court will accommodate state-sponsored religious education in its upcoming hearing of oral arguments in the St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond case. A recent study published in the state's Bar Association Journal suggests he's right.

This legislative session, creating Education Savings Accounts — which would let parents use public funds towards private education costs — is a top priority for many Texas Republicans. But the voucher plan has also caused contentious clashes between some rural voters and the lawmakers who represent them.

If passed, the legislation would create a program where parents could use state tax dollars toward sending their kids to private schools. While it’s a priority for many Republicans, those opposed to the idea aren’t staying quiet.

This long-awaited move comes weeks after the Senate passed their version of the bill.

Families participating in the program could receive about 85% of the amount public schools collect for each attending student from the state and local sources.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows reappointed state Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Killeen) to lead the committee. Buckley tried to get school voucher legislation approved in 2023 but rural Republicans and Democrats blocked the effort.

After seven hours of debate over Senate Bill 2 on the Senate floor Wednesday, the chamber suspended rules so lawmakers could expedite the process and send it to the Texas House for consideration.