Lubbock, Texas (KCBD) – Educational savings accounts are a top priority for Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature in this session.
Born from the concept of “school choice,” lawmakers want to give Texas families the opportunity to take their children out of public schools and send them to private schools.
“The main problem I heard from my parents is that they’re angry at the “awakening” agenda being forced on (public schools) children,” Gov. Abbott said last week that he was meeting at a private school. He spoke in.
The concept of “school choice” is not new. The American First Policy Institute reports that at least 32 states across the country have some form of voucher system. These include vouchers, tax editorial scholarship programs, and educational savings accounts.
A voucher is a simple taxpayer dollar that is made available to families for use in private school tuition fees. The tax scholarship program includes businesses or individuals who donate to the scholarship fund in exchange for tax credits.
The education savings accounts that Texas legislators hope to implement are state-supported bank accounts that allow parents to access tuition fees and transportation in private schools.
In SB2, the Texas Secretary’s office must set up these accounts and comb through the application. It also proposes accountability measures. The bill requires the Secretary’s office to sign contracts with a company that regularly audits its accounts.
Senate Bill 2 proposes that $10,000 will be available per student per year. That number could increase to $11,500 for students with disabilities and also offer $2,000 for homeschooled students.
Children already enrolled in public schools, from Pre-K to seniors in high schools, are eligible for a savings account. Children who are already enrolled in private schools can also apply.
It is important to keep in mind. However, private schools do not need to accept students, even if they can pay tuition fees. This is one of the main concerns for lawmakers and parents who oppose SB2.
“Do you say this bill would allow the ability to present hard-working Texans tax dollars to private institutions that can deny the student?” State Sen. Jose Menendez of San Antonio said the author of the bill. I asked. “The Texas Constitution requires equal educational opportunities. It is up to us to do that. How do you coordinate the two?”
Both chambers of Congress agreed to initially set aside $1 billion for the program. According to the Texas Educational Institution, there are over 5.5 million students enrolled in Texas public schools. This means that only 0.018% of the student population can switch to private schools.
That percentage has an interest lawmaker, questioning who will receive the funds at the end of the day.
“From the perspective of our public school system, it’s mainly a minority, isn’t it? And is private schools mostly white? Sen. Royce West of Dallas asked on the Senator’s floor. , currently seeking to fund components of the state’s education system.
If demand exceeds state funds, only children with disabilities or children who have fallen 500% under the federal poverty line will be considered for the account. In 2024, the federal poverty line for a family of four was $31,200. Five times that amount to $156,000 a year.
The state conducted a financial analysis of SB2 last month. The report estimates that Texas needs to secure $4 billion in savings accounts by 2030. Public schools rely on state funding attendance, and the report estimates that 98,000 students will leave private public schools by that same year.
It is not yet clear when the house will take up SB2. The committee was prepared on Thursday. This means that the bill must pass the House Public Education Board before it can be brought to the floor for a vote.
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