The Texas family last week introduced a bill that sets out a plan that would allow parents to use state funds to pay tuition fees for private schools. This is not what the Senate passed earlier this month. Lt. Col. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows both say they want to pass the law, a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, but it’s unclear which plan will win.
“Hospital Bill 3 gives what the Texans want – a true universal school selection program,” Burrows said Friday when he announced the bill’s submission at the Texas Policy Summit. “We have the votes to get it done.”
Both plans cost the state $1 billion, but it deviates from how much each voucher is worth and how students with disabilities prioritize.
How much money do you have in your educational savings account?
The Senate-Accessed version will set $10,000 for each eligible student and $11,500 for students with disabilities. Critics say an extra $1,500 of $1,500 is not enough to serve students with disabilities. They say that it is difficult for families who cannot afford to buy private schools to access the program if they have children with disabilities.
The house version includes up to $30,000 for children with disabilities, depending on the child’s needs.
Other eligible students earn 85% of the statewide average of state-wide and local funding per student. Using the latest figures from Texas Educational Institutions, it’s $10,892.
Children with disabilities have a higher cap, but Professor David Dematthews of the University of Texas said he doesn’t think it costs enough to serve some students.
“$30,000 isn’t much money yet,” said Dematthews, whose research focuses on improving fair and comprehensive schools.
“Specific special education services cost $80 or $90 per hour, and full-time, self-contained programs for autistic students cost between $50,000 and $60,000 per year for the district.” he said.
Which children are eligible?
The Senate plan is to fill 80% of the spots filled by lottery among students who have previously attended public schools and have low-income or disabilities. The remaining 20% will be filled by lottery tickets opened among all eligible applicants.
The House proposal will instead create a four-tier system. Students can prioritize in the following order:
Family disabled students (approximately $156,000 for a family of four) who have achieved up to 500% of federal poverty levels. Earn between 200% and 500% of the poverty level.
James Dickey is the executive director of Liberty for the Kids, an organization that advocates school choices. He sees the House bill as a response to Senate critics.
“One of the levelled criticisms against SB 2 came from people who wanted it to prioritize more children than they would come from families that earn less money,” Dickie said. I said that. “I will definitely do this.”
D-Austin MP James Talarico criticized the new plan at a press conference, saying that revenue caps could not be accessed to the program “to prevent billionaires and billionaires.”
Which plans will reach the governor’s desk?
The House bill has not yet been considered in the committee. Proposals like voucher died at the Chamber of Commerce in 2023, but the home structure has since been changed. If the House passes the plan, members must go to the Congress Committee to hash their differences with the Senate.
At this point it is unclear which plans will pass. Abbott met with House author Rep. Brad Buckley R-Salado last week, but has not approved either plan. Instead, the governor has broadly emphasized the need for school choices in the state.
