The fight over school vouchers
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
A private school voucher program, Gov. Greg Abbott's top priority of this year's legislative session, is inching closer to passage, but opponents haven't given up the fight.
Why it matters: Public school advocates warn that vouchers could harm public schools, even as lawmakers look to direct more money toward classrooms.
- Supporters argue parents shouldn't have to send their kids to their local public school if it's underperforming academically.
Driving the news: The House and Senate have offered separate bills that would allow families to use state money to pay for private school tuition or home schooling.
Catch up quick: The Senate approved SB 2 last month, sending the bill to the House. The measure would give families $10,000 a year per student to fund tuition at an accredited private school using education savings accounts.
- Students with a disability would get $11,500 annually. Families homeschooling their children would get at least $2,000 per child per year.
- The program is estimated to cost Texas $1 billion in fiscal year 2027. By fiscal year 2030, the cost is estimated to surpass $4.5 billion.
- House Bill 3, introduced last month, would put $1 billion toward education savings accounts (ESAs). Rather than a fixed amount for participating students, the House version would give families 85% of per-student public school funding, adjusting with education budgets.
The latest: 75 House Republicans — and no Democrats — signed on as coauthors of HB 3 — meaning there would be just enough votes, along with bill sponsor Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), for passage.
What they're saying: The House's strategy aimed to address concerns that vouchers could harm public schools' funding.
- "It was important that there be a linkage there, that we never wanted to have a situation where we were funding more for an ESA than public school amounts," Buckley, the House Public Education Committee chair, told reporters.
Between the lines: Abbott has ramped up online attacks on voucher opponents, calling state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) a "scam artist" after Talarico called vouchers a scam and accused Abbott of doing the bidding of his billionaire patrons.
- Abbott has also sent mixed signals on vouchers, claiming both that "school choice doesn't take a penny from public schools" and that when students leave public schools for private schools, they take state funding with them.
By the numbers: Almost 6.4 million Texas residents were between ages 4 and 18 in 2023, the most recent data available.
- Over 5.5 million were enrolled in Texas public schools in 2023-24.
Zoom out: School districts are also calling on state lawmakers to increase per-student funding, which hasn't changed since 2019.
- Austin ISD and school districts statewide have struggled to balance budgets amid rising costs, declining enrollment and stagnant state funding.
What's next: A public hearing on HB 3 is set for Tuesday. If it advances to the House floor, as expected, watch for a long, drawn out fight.