Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signaled that a monumental school choice measure may soon pass in the state after decades of turmoil and intraparty debate.

Two competing bills have been proposed for a universal school choice program, prompting debate within the legislature over the best way to implement the plan. Though the measures have garnered widespread support, hundreds of Texas residents have also protested the initiative, fearing school vouchers would strip public schools of funding.

“For the first time in our great state’s history, the Texas House has the votes to pass a universal school choice program,” Abbott said in a statement after 75 Republican representatives endorsed the House’s version of the bill. “This is a remarkable achievement for the countless parents, students, and educators across Texas who want school choice expanded to all Texas families.”

“This session, Texas will usher in a new era where families have the opportunity to choose the learning environment that meets the unique needs of their children,” Abbott continued. “I will continue working closely with both chambers of the Texas Legislature to get the biggest launch of any universal school choice program in the nation to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law.”

Texas’ Senate Bill 2 would allocate a flat $10,000 yearly voucher to students to attend any school of the family’s choosing, including opting to homeschool, and would reverse spots specifically for students with disabilities and those from low income households. Meanwhile, House Bill 3 would provide families with 85% of what public schools receive per student, matching any fluctuations in education funding.

The House bill also uses a ranking system to distribute vouchers, prioritizing students with disabilities from homes earning up to 500% of the federal poverty level first, then all families earning up to 200% of the poverty level, followed by students from families earning between 200% and 500% of the poverty level and finally all families earning above 500%, according to the bill.

School choice programs are meant to give children trapped in low-performing schools and children who need additional resources the option to attend schools that can better address their needs. Proponents argue that school vouchers give parents more freedom to direct the upbringing of their children.

Republican Rep. Brad Buckley, who authored the bill and chairs the House Public Education Committee, said the legislation will help “provide the best educational opportunities for all Texas kids.”

The dwindling state of public education which has led large swaths of children to fall behind national standards in reading and math has caused an influx of advocates demanding better education options. School choice programs have been shown to help close the performance gap between low-income students and their peers.

Many opponents of school choice measures have voiced their concerns over the programs, however, citing the already underfunded school districts in the state and fearing the program may leave children from low income families in failing schools, according to local Texas news site KVUE. Others pointed to logistical issues that may make it infeasible for some families to send their kids to better schools, even with the vouchers.

“The voucher didn’t cover the full cost of tuition at most private schools, and private schools don’t have to provide transportation or special education services. That’s not even to mention that the vast majority of the counties, 151, don’t have a private school in Texas,” Democratic Rep. James Talarico said, according to KVUE. “Once you put all those barriers in place, you realize how the only folks who can take advantage of this are the wealthier parents who already have their kids in private school.”

But the opposition to passing school choice legislation is not limited to Democrats. Republican lawmakers in rural areas have also voiced opposition due to the potential negative impacts on residents they serve, who may not have access to other schools and end up stranded in underfunded, failing public schools. Many were also turned off by estimates that the program may cost the state more than $2 billion annually, according to Politico.

After the state’s most recent measure failed in 2023, Gov. Abbott worked to oust GOP opponents from the Texas legislature, actively campaigning against members of his own party, Politico reported. The resulting makeup of the Texas House may finally allow for the program to pass.

HB 3 and SB 2 both remain in the House Public Education Committee for consideration, where the House bill has already garnered the support of 9 of the 15 members.

Abbott announced on Wednesday that enough Texas House members have signaled support for HB 3 to pass, leading the state one step closer to implementing the program.

Abbott has been a prominent advocate for school choice in his state, pushing for parents to have greater control over their children’s education.​_

Abbott’s office referred the Daily Caller News Foundation to the governor’s public statement in response to a request for comment.

While many Republican-led states have successfully passed and implemented school choice programs, other states have shot down similar efforts to expand educational freedom, with Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska all failing to adopt school choice programs.

Buckley and Talarico did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

Featured Image Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America