State
BY HANNAH NORTON
Texas Senate advances $1B education savings account plan
The debate
“[The ESA funds] will possibly cover tuition, but it may not cover uniforms, transportation, lunch [or] books. If parents can’t afford to make up the difference, are they really eligible?” SEN. JOSÉ MENÉNDEZ, D-SAN ANTONIO
In a 19-12 vote Feb. 5, Texas senators passed their first bill of the 89th legislative session, Senate Bill 2. The proposal by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, was sent to the House. SB 2 proposes spending $1 billion annually for education savings accounts, which families could use to help cover the costs of private education. About 100,000 students would qualify for the program, Creighton said. “Across Texas public schools, despite the hard work of our teachers that we value and respect so much and the billions of dollars we spend in our state budget, many students are feeling left behind,” Creighton said on the Senate floor. “That is unacceptable.” The voucher-like proposal, also known as school choice, is a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other Texas Republican leaders. Abbott declared education savings accounts an emergency item during his Feb. 2 State of the State address, allowing lawmakers to fast-track the proposal. Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, filed a separate education savings account proposal, House Bill 3, on Feb. 20. HB 3 would give most participants a stipend equal to 85% of the state and local funds that public schools receive per student. This was about $12,800 during the 2022-23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. Neither measure had been scheduled for a House committee hearing as of Feb. 21.
Breaking down the bill Senate Bill 2 would give families an annual stipend to spend on tuition and other educational expenses, including:
“Anything helps. There are thousands of families in Texas that are low-income or middle-income that are struggling to pay for private school out of pocket already.”
$10,000 annually for each private school student
annually for private school students with disabilities
$11,500
NATHAN CUNNEEN, STATE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN
$2,000 annually for homeschooled students During the 2023-24 school year, the average cost of Texas private school tuition was: $10,965 for kindergarten-eighth grade $14,986 for high school
Also of note
Senators also discussed public schools Feb. 5, noting billions of new dollars for public schools were included in initial drafts of the 2026-27 budget. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, asked Creighton for his “commitment that the next bill we’re going to see for education will be an investment in our teachers.” Creighton said that would be the case. On Feb. 20, the Senate Education Committee sent SB 26, which would raise salaries for third- and fifth-year teachers, to the full Senate.
Quick facts
Any school-age student in Texas could apply for the ESA program.
Funds would be administered by the state comptroller.
If applications exceed available funds, 80% of the money would go to low-income families and students with disabilities.
SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS PRIVATE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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