Advocates for school choice are celebrating the recent introduction of legislation promoting education savings accounts (ESAs) in the Texas Legislature.
This move is seen as a major step toward bringing more autonomy and flexibility in educational decisions to Texas families, according to The Dallas Morning News. The legislation aims to empower parents by giving them the ability to decide how best to allocate educational funds for their children, thereby increasing the opportunities for tailored and quality education.
“Texas has long been a leader when it comes to freedom, and it should be no different when it comes to education,” Government Affairs Director Tiffany Barfield said, according to Yes. Every Kid. “Every family deserves the freedom to access the learning opportunities that best fit their unique needs and individual differences. Legislation that ensures families are in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s education will benefit every kid. We thank Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Chairman Brandon Creighton, Chairman James Frank, Sens. Angela Paxton, Mayes Middleton and Donna Campbell, Chairman Briscoe Cain, and Reps. Jacey Jetton, Brian Harrison, Lynn Stucky, Steve Toth, Carrie Isaac and Terri Leo-Wilson for their unwavering commitment to giving every Texas child access to the best education.”
Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) has recently filed a new bill proposing the creation of education savings accounts that would provide families with up to $8,000 for various educational expenses, such as private school tuition, books, tutoring, transportation, uniforms and other necessary materials. This financial support would be closely monitored by the comptroller's office to ensure proper use of the funds.
Unlike similar legislation in other states, the bill stipulates that families will not receive the money up-front and may only use it at private schools and other vendors approved by the state.
This bill would take effect for the 2024-25 school year. A recent poll by the Yes. Every Kid. foundation found that 70% of respondents opposed an ESA bill that excluded rural communities.
During his State of the State address in February, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) passionately advocated for the expansion of ESAs to be made available to every student in Texas. By declaring educational freedom as an emergency item, Abbott conveyed the urgency and importance he places on providing families with increased control over their children's education.
As education costs continue to rise, more parents are seeking alternatives to traditional public schooling. ESAs provide parents with financial assistance to cover any educational expenses they deem necessary, such as private and charter school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring and even extracurricular activities.
Unlike other school choice alternatives like private schools and charter schools, ESAs allow parents the opportunity to use the funds allocated for public education on any educational expense they choose. This flexibility can be beneficial for families that don’t have access to alternative forms of schooling in their area or whose budget doesn’t permit them to pay for additional fees or supplies.