As Senate Bill 2 progresses, concerns remain about how funds will be allocated and who will benefit most.
Austin, Texas — In a historic move, the Texas home has taken a major step in promoting state school vouchers, giving initial approval to a bill that allocates a $1 billion taxpayer fund to private school tuition fees.
“It’s really historic,” said R-Plano Rep. Jeff Leach following the vote.
The proposed law would create what is called the Education Savings Account Program, allowing parents to use public funds to cover the costs of private schools. Supporters say it could benefit 100,000 students at first. However, vouchers do not guarantee admission to private schools.
Opponents, including public education advocates, argue that the bill is disproportionately favorable to wealthy families and risks deepening inequality in education.
“Not all private schools are created equal,” said the Texas Teachers Association and Clay Robison. “People who can qualify for the best private schools are already students who can afford tuition fees. That’s what will benefit families already upstream. Children and billionaires who are already in public schools can get vouchers to get tax subsidies for tuition fees.
The bill includes provisions to prioritize students with disabilities if public demand exceeds the program’s capabilities.
Genevieve Collins, along with American advocacy group for prosperity, said the bill’s focus was on expanding educational opportunities.
“It’s really focused on kids,” Collins said. “Make sure that every child has an opportunity to succeed in an environment that best meets their needs.”
Despite the momentum, lawmakers are still facing important questions about how the program actually works. Important issues such as funding and eligibility prioritization should be resolved in a meeting committee between the House and Senate.
“I think that can be tightened,” Collins said. “That’s what happens in the conference committee, and more importantly, what are the rules and how do you develop this?
In addition to the voucher plan, the House has given preliminary approval to another $7.7 billion package to boost funding for public schools.
However, critics argue that the voucher program could ultimately undermine public education.
“Public schools are underfunded,” Robison said. “Now after this voucher bill passes, they’ll be even more underfunded.”
If enacted, the bill marks a turning point for Texas education policy. This could have lasting impacts for years to come.
