school selection Texas has faced significant legislative challenges over the past two years. Despite being a key priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, the bill has yet to reach his desk.
Mr. Abbott’s best chance to pass meaningful school choice legislation appears to be in the upcoming 2025 session, when pro-choice lawmakers are joining the House. It’s worth taking a look back at how we got to this point, what worked, and what worked. What went wrong in previous sessions?
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp33@EE F?56CE@@< 2 D49@@= 49@:46 4CFD256 :? a_aa) w6 255C6DD65 E96 AC6DD 5FC:?8 2? 6G6?E:? z:?8H@ @5(k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^E96\324<\>:4^E96\324<\>:4\233@EE\G@:46D\D49@@=\49@:46\DFAA@ CE\E6I2D\8@A\;@:?D\6= 64E:@?\7C2F5\AC@D64FE:@?\677@CE^2CE:4=60bhgf_cb_\b6df\dfc3\2c6a\72h`3e6ee`4e)9E>=QmkDA2?mDE2E:?8k^DA2?mk^ 2mkDA2?m( “%9:D FA4@>:?8 D6DD:@?( J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ D66 2 DEC@?86C( DH:7E6C( >@C6 A@H6C7F= >@G6> 6?E 25G@ 42E:?8 D49@@= 49@:46 E92? J@F’G6 6G6C D66? 😕 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 $E2E6 @7 %6I2D)” k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%9:D “A@H6C7F= >@G6>6?E” E@@< 9:> 24C@DD E96 DE2E6( 9625=:?:?8 2 ?F>36C @7 C2==:6D 2?5 6G6?ED)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“!2C6?ED D9@F=5 ?@E 36 7@C465 E@ D6?5 E96:C 49:=5 E@ 2 8@G6C?>6?E\> 2?52E65 D49@@= E92E E62496D 4C:E:42= C246 E96@CJ(” 96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^E96\324<\>:4^E96\324<\>:4\d\=2C86DE\E6I2D\8@G6C?@C\5@?2E:@? D\=:DE65\233 @EE\5@F3=6D\5@H?\@?\D49@@=\49@:46^2CE:4=60gcf4`65f\7_26\d53d\g624\2436eb_g6`h3)9E>=QmkDA2? mD2:5k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m2E2? 6G6?E:? u@CE $E@42D< 282:?DE E96:C A2C6?ED' 56D:C6( @C :D 7@C4:?8 E96> E@ 2EE6?5 2 D49@@= E92E :D?’ E D276)”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%9:D H2D 2=D@ E96 E:>6 H96C6 %6I2D 3642>6 >@C6 :?E:>2E6=J 72>:=:2C H:E9 D49@ @= 49@:46 !prD( =:<6 E96 p>6C:42? u656C2E:@? 7@C r9:=5C6?)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp33@EE 2=D@ :?EC@5F465 9:D AC@A@D65 “k^DA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH)8C68233@EE)4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_aa^_`^!2C6?ED)~}t!pvt#)A57QmkDA2?m!2C6? E2= q:== @7 #:89EDk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2?m” 😕 a_aa( H96C6 96 H2?E65 E@ 4@5:7J 😕 E96 %6I2D r@?DE:EFE:@? “E92E A2C6?ED 2C6 E96 >2:? 564:D:@? >2<6CD : ? 2== >2EE6CD :?G@=G:?8 E96:C >:?@C 49:=5C6?)”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mw62565 :?E@ E96 ggE9 {68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? 😕 a_ab( E96 =6256C @7 E96 FAA6C 492>36C F?56C E96 !:?< s@>6 H2D 2=D@ 369:?5 D49@@= 49@:46)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“%96 8@G6C?@C 2?5 x 2C6 2== 😕 @? D49@@= 49@:46(” {E) v@G) s2? !2EC :4=QmkDA2?mD2:5k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m:? y2?F2CJ a_ab) “(6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ A2DD D49@@= 49@:46 2?5 x 9@A6( 7:?2==J( E92E E9:D 😀 E96 D6DD: @? E92E H6 ;@:? @G6C b_ @E96C DE2E6D 😕 8:G:?8 A2C6?E2= C:89ED E@ A2C6?ED E@ 49@@D6 E96 D49@@= @7 E96:C 49@:46)”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%92E D2>6 >@?E9( !2EC:4< C6:E6C2E65 E92E DFAA@CE 5FC:?8 %96 %6I2?'Dk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^=68:D=2EFC6^ggE9\D6DD:@?^=E\8@G\52?\A2EC:4<\ E2=A\GD\56D2?E:D^2CE:4=602bfc_4b7\`44h\d4ce\3fh3\`g224fg5b3gh)9E>=QmkDA2?mggE9 $6DD:@? z:4<@77k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m6G6?Ei “(6 92G6 E@ 92G6 D49@@= 49@:46 … H6 ;FDE 92G6 E@ 92G6 : E)”k^DA2?mk^AM
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m}@EE@ 36 @FE5@?6( 7@C>6C v@G) #:4< !6CCJ( 2 =@?8E:>6 25G@42E6 7@C D49 @@= 49@:46( 3642>6 >@C6 24E:G6 😕 E96 4@?E6>A@C2CJ A@=:E:42= D49@@= 49@ :46 D46?6 AC:@CE@ E96 ggE9 {68:D=2EFC6)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?msFC:?8 2?k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^=68:D=2EFC6^ggE9\D6DD:@?^6I4=FD:G6\ 7@C>6C\8@G\C:4<\A6CCJ\@? \D49@@=\49@:46\8@G\ 8C68\233@EE\7FEFC6\@7\65F42E:@?\:?^2CE:4=60434323`3\2fe2\dg37\g37c\`gh_`2g47`c3)9E>=QmkDA2?m:?E6CG: 6Hk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?mE92E |2C49( !6CCJ E@=5 %96 %6I2?i “(6’C6 2 DE2E6 E92E 36=:6G6D 😕 7C665@> 2?5 =:36CEJ 2?5 H6 2C6 AC@F5 @ 7 E92E) × E9:?< 8:G:?8 A2C6?ED E96D6 @AE:@?D :D 8@@5 x E9:?< 2?5 E92E'D A2CE @7 H92E E96D6 A:646D @7 =68:D=2E:@?)” k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 7@C>6C 2?5 4FCC6?E 8@G6C?@CD 2?5 E96 =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C 2== 2AA62C65 E@ 36@? E96 D2>6 A286 >@G:?8 :?E@ E96 ggE9 $6DD:@? C682C5:?8 D49@@= 49@:46 — 3FE E96 =6256C @7 E96 %6I2D w@FD6 D66>65 D<6AE:42= 23@FE :ED AC@DA64ED)k^ DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mw@FD6 $A62<6C s256 !96=2? W#\q62F>@?EX( 5FC:?8 2 C25:@k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^I)4@>^3C25;0%)^DE2EFD^`da`ddhfhhggbgfcb_cnDla_QmkDA2?m:?E6CG: 6Hk^DA2?mk ^2m kDA2?m:? a_aa( D2:5 96 H@F=5 “92G6 ?@ AC@3=6> H:E9 2? FA @C 5@H? G@E6 @? E96 7=@@C @C 😕 4@ >> :EE66” H96 :E 42>6 E@ D49@@= 49@:46 =68:D=2E:@?) k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 %6I2D w@FD6( @H? 7@C :ED 8C62E6C A2CE:D2? 2?5 :56@=@8:42= 5:G6CD:EJ E92? E96 $6 ?2E6( 92D ?6G6C >2?2865 E@ 3C:?8 D49@@= 49@:46 =68:D=2E:@? E@ E96 7=@@C 7@C 2 G@E6 😕 E96=2?’D 5@ F3E 23@FE :ED 492?46D @7 A2DD:?8 H@F=5 7@C6D925@H E96 =68:D=2E:G6 8C:5=@4< @? E96 :DDF6)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mq@E9 E96 FAA6C 2?5 =@H6C 492>36CD 8@EE@ H@C< 2E E96 DE2CE @7 E96 ggE9 {68:D=2E:G6 $6DD:@?( H:E9 E96 $6?2E6( 92G:?8 2 #6AF3=:42? DFA6C>2;@C:EJ( AC@G:5:?8 2 D>@@E96C A2E9H2J 7@C :ED D49@@= 49@:46 AC@A@D2=) %96 %6I2D w@FD6 6 ?4@F?E6C65 :ED 7:CDE >2;@C 492==6?86 H96? E96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^=68:D=2EFC6^ggE9\D6DD:@?^E6I2D\9@FD6\2AAC@G6D\3F586E\2>6?5>6 ?E\E@\ 32?\A F3=:4\7F?5:?8\7@C\D49@@=\49@:46\AC@8C2>D^2CE:4=607_7c5cgh\dbbb\d3d5\3c5g\c5c6b_4637g4)9E>=QmkDA2 ?m”w6CC6C@ 2>6?5>6?E”k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m7C@> #6A) p36= w6CC6C@ Ws\#@3DE@H?X 😕 E96 DE2E6 3F586E AC6D6?E65 :ED6=7 @? E96 7=@@C)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 2>6?5>6?EH@F=5 92G6 AC@9:3:E65 E96 FD6 @7 DE2E6 5@==2CD 7@C 2 D49@@= G @F496C @C 65F42E:@? D2G:?8D 244@F?E Wt$pX AC@8C2>( 2?5 H9:=6 :E H2D F=E:>2E6=J C6>@G65( E96 E6DE G@E6 AC@G:565 2? @>:?@FD 7FEFC6 7@C D49@@= 49@:46)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?ms6DA:E6 E96 E96>6 @7 D49@@= 49@:46 DEC:76 😕 E96 w@FD6($6?) qC2?5@? rC6:89E@? W#\ r@?C@6X( H9@ H2D =625:?8 E96 492C86 @? 65F42E:@? 😕 E96 $6?2E6( C6>2:?65 @AE:>:DE:4) k^ DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m“tG6?” >6>36CD @7 E96 w@FD6 E92E >2J 92G6 G@E65 7@C E92E 2>6?5>6?EE@ E96 3F586E — D@ 7@ C :E( 2?5 282:?DE D49 @@= 49@:46 — x E9:?< E92E E96C6 2C6 D@>6 @A6? >:?5D 2?5 @A6? 962CED @? E96 4@?46AE @7 D49@@= 49@:46 2>@?8 >2?J @7 E9@D6 > 6>36CD ( 3FE E96J ?665 E@ D66 E96 562=(” 96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^=68:D=2EFC6^ggE9\D6DD:@?^G:56@\D6?\3C2?5@?\4C6:89E@?\@?\D49@ @=\49@:46\AF3=: 4\F?:G6CD:EJ\E6?FC6\=@42=\AC66>AE:@?^2CE:4=60c_hf`fbe\ca_f\d72e\2e73\gag67__4472f)9E>=QmkDA2?mE@=5k ^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m%96 %6I2?)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mpD E:>6 E:4<65 5@H? 5FC:?8 E96 C68F=2C D6DD:@?( rC6:89E@? >256 @?6 =2DE 677@CE E@ 86E D49@@= 49@:46 24C@DD E96 7:?:D9 =: ?6 😕 E96 7@C> @7 wq `__ — 3FE E96 3: ==k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^DE2E6^=68:D=2EFC6^ggE9\D6DD:@?^E6I2D\D49@@=\49@:46\3:==\5:6D\:?\7 :?2=\DE286D\56 DA:E6\=2DE\5:E49\677@CE\7C@>\D6?2E6^2CE:4=60fcb`afe3\a53c\d7df\hdc`\2a4g6b3be6`h)9E>=QmkDA2?m5:65k ^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m:? 4@?76C6?46 4@>>:EE66) k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp33@EE 925 C@FE:?6=J >256 AC@>:D6D E@ 42== 255:E:@?2= DA64:2= D6DD:@?D :7 D49@@= 49@:46 5:5 ?@E A2DD( 2?5 96 7@==@H65 E9C@F89 H:E9 E92E ?@E:@?) w6 42==65 >F=E:A=6 DA64:2= D6DD:@?DE@ C2:D6 E96 DE2<6D @7 A2DD:?8 E96 <6J A:646 @7 =68:D=2E:@?)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 3:886DE 9FC5=6 7@C AC@\D49@@= 49@:46 >6>36CD H2D ?@E ;FDE 96D:E2?E #6AF3=:42 ?D( 3FE w@FD6 s6>@4C2ED — H9@ 96=5 >F=E:A=6 AC6DDk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^:DDF6D^65F42E:@?^9@FD6\56>@4C2ED\4C:E:4:K6\3: ==:@?2:C6\>682\5@ ?@CD\2?5\H24<@\=:36CE2C:2?\:5 62=D\:?\D49@@=\7F?5:?8\3:==\2??@F?46>6?E^2CE:4=60g_`ce`fc\e63h\“ 66\h3`7\73_4c443_5ca)9E>=QmkDA2?m4@?76C6?46Dk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?mE@ AFD9 324< 282:?DE H92E E96J 42==65 E96 “G@F496C D42>)”k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mr@?E:?F65 4@?46C?D 7C@> 2?E:\D49@@= 49@:46 >6>36CD 2?5 AC@\AF3=:4 D49@@= 24E:G:DE @C82?:K2E:@?D 3682? E@ 962E FA) r@?EC2DE:?8k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E9642??@?@?=:?6)4@>^3FDE:?8\E96\?@\>@?6J \>JE9 ^QmkDA2?mC6A@CEDk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m23@FE D49@@= 7F?5:?8 7=@@565 %6I2?D’ D@4:2= >65:2 E:>6=:?6D( 6249 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ D6E E96 ?2CC2E:G6 2?5 AC6D6?E :?7@C>2E:@? E@ 82:? DFAA@CE 7@C E96:C >:DD:@?) k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mqJ E96 E:>6 E96 E9:C5 DA64:2= D6DD:@? 42>6 E@ 2 4=@D6( #6A) qC25 qF4<=6J W#\z:==66?X( H9@ H2D =625:?8 E96 t$p 677@CE :? E96 w@ FD6( AC@A@D65 2? 65F42E:@? @>?:3FD 3:== 😕 E96 7@C> @7 wq ` 😕 2? 677@CE E@ 7F=7:== E96 H2?ED 2?5 ?665D @7 2== >6> 36CD 😕 )k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mt?E6C:?8 E96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^:DDF6D^65F42E:@?^9@H\E6I2D\8@E\96C6\D49@@=\49@:46\=625:?8\FA\E@\ E96\ 7@FCE9\DA64:2=\D6DD:@?^2CE:4=60c4`h_hh6\f6gh\“66\3__f\23_f72`64`73)9E>=QmkDA2?m7@FCE9k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?mDA64:2= D6DD:@?( :E H2D E96 7:?2= 492?46 7@C D49@@= 49@:46 =68:D=2E:@? E@ A2DD) k^DA2 ?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m#F>@CD @7 2?k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^:DDF6D^65F42E:@?^D49@@=\49@:46\C6>@G65\7C@>\9@FD6\65F42E:@?\@>?:3FD \3:==\27 E6C\7@FC\DA64:2=\D6DD:@?D^2CE:4=605fdd`_4_\gdga\“66\2h6_\3f`24fbh7f5_)9E>=QmkDA2?m2>6?5>6? Ek^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?mE@ DEC:A t$pD — E96 AC676CC65 >6E9@5 @7 D49@@= 49@:46 2D 4@>A2C65 E@ G@F496CD — 42>6 E@ 7CF:E:@? 3J E96 H2J @7 #6A) y@9? # 2?6J W#\r@==686 $E2E:@?X) k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m#6AF3=:42?D 2EE6>AE65 E@ BF6== #2?6J’D 2EE6>AED E@ C6>@G6 t$pD H:E9 #6A) %@? J %:?56C9@=EW#\pC=:?8E@?X 42==:?8 2 A@:?E @7 @C56C( 4=2:>:?8 E92E E96 2>6?5>6?EH@F=5 492?86 E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 3:== 2?5 H2D ?@E 😕 =:?6 H:E9 E96 8@G6C?@C’D 42==) w@H6G6C( 9:DA@:?E @7 @C56C H2D ?@E DF446DD7F= 😕 DBF2D9:?8 E96 2>6?5>6?E)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 677@CE E@ A2DD D49@@= 49@:46 =68:D=2E:@? H2D F=E:>2E6=JF?DF446DD7F=( >62?: ?8 E96 :?:E:2E:G6 H2D 67764E:G6=J =67E 7@C 5625 😕 a_ab)k^DA2?mk^AM
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?myFDE 52JD 27E6C E96 3:== 5:65 @? E96 w@FD6 7=@@C( E96 8@G6C?@Ck^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^6=64E:@?D^a_ac^233@EE\6?5@CD6D\dg\9@FD6\C6AF3=:42?D\H9@\G@E65\E @\<66A\D49@@ =\49@:46\:?\65F42E:@?\3:==^2CE:4=60667`4dcc\gf74\``66\2_2`\6f3442fe`7_`)9E>=QmkDA2?m6?5 @CD65k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?mdg :?4F>36?ED H9@ G@E65 E@ <66A t$pD( 2?5 96 4@?E:?F65 E@ 42>A2:8? 7@C AC@\D49@ @= 49@:46 42?5:52E6D E9C@F89@FE E96 a_ac AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@?D62D@?)k^DA2?mk^ Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp33@EE’D 677@CED H6C6k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^6=64E:@?D^a_ac^E6I2D\=68:D=2EFC6\82:?D\?6H\4C@A\@7\AC@\D49@@= \49@:46\C6AF3=: 42?D\27E6C\?@G6>36C\6=64E:@?^2CE:4=607`3bb5e2\2_ef\“67\3c7_\_b452f4_ff_6)9E>=QmkDA2?mC6H2C565k^DA2?mk^ 2m kDA2?mH:E9 2? 6DE:>2E65 g_ AC@\D49@@= 49@:46 >6>36CD 6?E6C:?8 E96 %6I2D {68:D=2EFC6 😕 a_ad( =625:?8 >2?JE@ 36 =:6G6 D49@@= 49@:46 =68:D=2E:@? H:== 92G6 2 36EE6C @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C A2DD:?8 😕 E96 FA4@>:?8 D6DD:@? a_ab)k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 “%6I2D !2C6?E2= t>A@H6C>6?E p4E @7 a_ad” 😀 E96 7:CDEk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96E6I2?)?6HD^:DDF6D^65F42E:@?^D49@@=\49@:46\@E96C\65F42E:@?\3:==D\7:=65\7@C\ FA4@ >:?8\a_ad\=68:D=2E:G6\D6DD:@?^2CE:4=60aaega4`e\2`b4\“67\ha7e\fbf7e`dfffgf)9E>=QmkDA2?mF? :G6CD2= D49@@= 49@:46k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m=68:D=2E:@? E@ 36 7:=65 E9:D J62C — H:E9 >@C6( 😕 2 G2C:6EJ @7 5:776C6?E :E6C2E:@?D (E@ 4@>6) k^DA2? mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 ghE9 {68:D=2E:G6 $6DD:@? 92D 2=C625J 366? 5F3365 E96 “D49@@= 49@:46 D6DD:@?” 3J >2? J( 2?5 H:E9 p33@EE 2?5 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D >2<:?8 E96 :DDF6 2 E@A AC:@C:EJ( E96 492?46D 7@C A2DD:?8 D49@@= 49@:46 =68:D=2E:@? a_ad 92G6 366? 8:G6? ?6H 9@A6)k^DA2?mk^Am
