Governor Greg Abbott | Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images
(Texas Scorecard) – Removing any doubt that school choice remains a top issue heading into the next legislative session, Texas Republicans have reaffirmed their commitment to giving parents the right to choose the educational path that’s best for their children.
The resolution supporting school choice passed unanimously at the State Republican Executive Committee’s quarterly meeting on Saturday after 79.5 percent of Republican voters approved a proposition earlier this year stating that “Texas parents and guardians should have the right to choose a school for their children, whether public or private, and funding should follow the student.”
The resolution cites the party platform approved by delegates to the Texas Republican Convention in May.
We support giving every Texas family more power over their children’s education and funding to choose from public, private, charter or homeschool options that follow the student without constraint. We oppose any regulation of homeschool or private or religious school curriculum and believe a constitutional amendment should be adopted accordingly. In lieu of funding, citizens can utilize property tax exemptions.
The resolution also notes the successful implementation of school choice programs in 32 states and Washington, D.C., and highlights long-standing Education Savings Account programs in states such as Arizona, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee. As of 2021, states such as Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah and West Virginia also have ESA programs in place.
Gov. Greg Abbott has made the issue of educational freedom a top priority, spending $6 million in the 2024 Republican primary to support candidates who align with his vision.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has also made the issue, which has passed the Senate multiple times, a priority, but House Speaker Dade Phelan has not. When the issue came up for a vote in the House last year, 21 Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting the proposal. Speaker Phelan abstained from the vote.
With many Republican school choice opponents defeated or retired, Abbott said the Legislature now has the votes to pass a school choice program.
The issue of educational freedom is one of several motivating factors in the movement to replace Phelan as Speaker in the next legislative session, and Patrick recently stated his intention to oppose school choice if Phelan is re-elected speaker.
