Texas House Approves Private School Vouchers and Public School Funding Bill

Senate Bill 2: Private School Vouchers

• 🏛️ The Texas House has passed Senate Bill 2, dedicating public money towards private school tuition.
• 📅 Both legislative chambers will refine the bill's details before it goes to Governor Abbott, potentially next week.
• 🎯 Priority for the first 100,000 students will be given to students with disabilities and those from low-income households.
• 🏫 Participation is not guaranteed, as private schools are not required to join the educational savings account program.
• 💰 The bill includes no cap for high-income earners, and a $10,000 voucher may not cover the full cost of private school tuition.
• 📈 By fiscal year 2030, Senate Bill 2 is projected to cost $4 billion.

House Bill 2: Public School Funding

• 📚 Legislators also passed House Bill 2, representing the largest single investment in public schools at $7.7 billion.
• 💰 This bill will increase the state allotment by $395 per student, totaling just over $6,500 annually.
• 🧑‍🏫 An additional $1.5 billion is allocated for special education in Texas, along with funding to help more teachers get certified.

Legislative Perspectives

• ✅ Supporters, like Representative Jeff Leech, hail the bill as historic, an effort decades in the making.
• ❌ Opponents, such as Representative Raone Romero, express concern that the bill will lead to the depletion and closure of public schools.
• 🤝 Proponents argue that Texas has demonstrated it can support both public schools and parental choice simultaneously.