On Wednesday, lawmakers in the Texas House are expected to hear and debate bills that would create a private school voucher program.
Senate Bill 2 has already been passed in the upper chamber and has the support of Gov. Greg Abbott, who pushed a similar proposal in 2023. That year, a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats banded together to defeat similar legislation. In a statement to the American-Statesman, however, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he believes there are enough voucher supporters in the House this legislative session to pass the program.
What is Texas Senate Bill 2 and Texas House Bill 2?
Senate Bill 2 would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to fund a child’s education at an accredited private school.
SB 2 would also prompt the creation of an education savings account (ESA) program, which would distribute the following funds:
$10,000 per year for each student who attends an accredited private school.
$11,500 per year for each student who attends an accredited private school with a disability.
$2,000 per year for each student who is homeschooled, to use on qualifying educational expenses.
Debate of SB 2, the school voucher bill, at the Capitol Wednesday February 5, 2025.
Another bill that House members are scheduled to debate Wednesday, House Bill 2, proposes to allocate $1.8 billion for special education funding as part of a $7.6 billion school finance package.
What is Texas House Bill 3?
Also included in the nearly-$8 billion school finance package is House Bill 3, a revision of Senate Bill 2.
Unlike the Senate’s proposal, the House’s substitute legislation prioritizes special education students above all others for a voucher, which proponents also call school choice or education savings accounts. The House’s proposal would provide up to $30,000 for students’ special education services at a private school, instead of the standard roughly $10,000.
What are school vouchers in Texas?
School vouchers promote what is often called “school choice” and give families access to public money to pay for private school tuition and some homeschooling costs.
Opponents of school vouchers, like the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT), worry such programs will sap public school funding and more students opt for a private education. Last month, Texas AFT President Zeph Capo expressed concerns about how this would impact the public school districts throughout the state that are already facing budget deficits.
During the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott made school vouchers his signature issue and told lawmakers he wouldn’t sign a school funding bill until they delivered him his priority program. School vouchers, however, proved controversial, and a bloc of rural House Republicans joined Democratic lawmakers to thwart the proposal.
“The fact that the Legislature denies funding because they didn’t get their way or the governor didn’t get his way has resulted in a significant uptick of school closures, of programs dismantling, of school districts passing deficit budgets,” Capo said.
How would Texas school vouchers impact low-income and rural students?
Senate Bill 2 outlines a system that would prioritize low-income and special education students who were enrolled in public schools for 80% of the available funds. In doing so, proponents of the program say it would open up new education options for students who may struggle to receive adequate services from their local public school.
The programs exist in multiple other states, and many, such as Florida, have expanded their programs in recent years. Some parents and disability advocacy groups, however, question whether a voucher program would present a solution for students with the high-needs or those who are economically disadvantaged.
The bill defines low income as an annual income at or below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines, which amounts to $160,750 or less for a family of four.
Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, also worried the program wouldn’t provide any options to students in rural areas, which tend to have lower concentrations of private schools.
“Rural Texas gets screwed on this bill,” Gutierrez said.
But Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, insisted other states with voucher-like programs see an uptick in private schools opening in rural areas.
Republican senators rejected several amendments put forward by Democratic lawmakers. One of the amendments, proposed by Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, aimed to protect school districts from losing funding when students leave their campuses to participate in a SB-2 supported program for three years.
“In my own district, many of my schools are facing steep budget deficits and they have crippled their ability to provide services and resources to their students,” Menéndez said.
During a February committee hearing, Creighton pointed out that he had a hold harmless measure for rural schools included in the 2023 version of his school voucher legislation, but took it out in this proposal.
Before the final vote, Creighton lashed out against senators who opposed the bill, accusing them of not having students’ best interests at heart.
“What are you fighting for: mediocrity?” Creighton asked. “Of course our families are looking for choices, and isn’t it amazing that they have to beg.”
Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, right, and Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, standing at left, debate SB 2, the school voucher bill, at the Capitol Wednesday February 5, 2025.
Texas school district facing budget deficits
The Senate’s debate also highlighted bitter tensions between cash-strapped public schools and those who support school voucher proposals. Senators on both sides of the aisle committed to funding public schools and giving teacher pay raises, though Democrats worried a voucher program could financially harm districts.
Since 2019, the state hasn’t increased its public education basic allotment, or the per-student funding that school district administrators say offers the most flexibility in salary funding. Statewide, many districts are facing budget deficits, with some having to close down schools, lay off teachers or cut student programs.
“At the end of the day when we’re finished, this is going to be a commitment to all students in the state,” Creighton said.
Number of special education students grows in Texas
Since 2019, the number of special education students in Texas has grown from about 522,000 to 765,000 last year, and from 9.6% of the total student population in 2019 to 14%, according to Texas Education Agency data.
Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must provide services for students that are outlined in a unique plan created for them, but these therapies, tutoring services and accommodations can be expensive. The difference between the funding that Texas provides schools for special education and what districts statewide actually spend is about $1.8 billion.
Special education teachers are also harder to retain. A recent report by the University of Texas found that in 2019, 39% of special education teachers left after three years, compared to 22% of general education teachers.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What are school vouchers in Texas? House debates Senate Bill 2