School Choice Bill Flies Through State Senate, Paving The Way Homeschoolers & More

Shutterstock / Texas Capitol

Senate Bill 2 passed through the Texas Senate in early Feb, taking the state one big step closer to allowing families to use school vouchers for private and homeschool education.

Republican lawmakers are reportedly hopeful that SB 2 will pass and become law, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The bill is designed to help low-income families and students with disabilities have greater choice in their children’s education through access to public money.

SB 2 would also involves 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.

The bill will now move through to the Texas House, where it was defeated two years ago. “This is the sixth time the Texas Senate has passed school choice, with every previous bill dying in the Texas House. The Senate will pass school choice over and over again until the House passes this bill,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement shared in early Feb. “The days of limiting millions of Texas students to a one-size-fits-all approach are over.” (DEVOTION: Reclaiming Our Nation’s Values: Bringing the Ten Commandments Back to Education)

Opponents?

Those who oppose the bill are concerned the programs will take money away from public schools as more and more students choose to stay home or go to private institutions. All Democrats voted against the bill along with one Republican, Sen. Robert Nichols.

Some of those who oppose school vouchers also claim supporters are trying to sabotage public education by creating a separate system built around conservative Christian values, the Texas Tribune reported. (RELATED: ‘Bombshell List’ Of USAID Spending Exposes Jaw-Dropping Reality Of Where Your Tax Dollars Were Sent)

What Other States Are Considering School Choice?

School choice bills are popping up all over the country. At least 12 states “make, or are on track to make, all of the state’s K-12 students eligible to apply for some combination of vouchers, education savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships, and direct tax credits,” according to Education Week.

Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota are all moving toward school choice programs, with Georgia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia weighing options to expand eligibility for existing programs.

Tennessee’s House passed Gov. Bill Lee’s universal private school voucher bill with a 54-44 vote, followed by a 20-13 vote in the Senate, ChalkBeat reported. “I’ve long believed we can have the best public schools and give parents a choice in their child’s education, regardless of income or ZIP code,” Lee said in a statement.

The Club for Growth also launched “an extensive TV and print campaign in support of a school choice proposal” moving through Wyoming’s legislature, the Daily Wire reported in Feb. “A child’s future should be shaped by dreams not districts. Their dreams start with choice,” the TV ad narrator says. “No red tape, no limits, just the best education for your child. It’s choice, it’s opportunity, it’s freedom. Because their future shouldn’t be decided by district, but by you. Tell the Senate, ‘pass House Bill 199.’”

Is School Choice Important To You?

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