Ft Worth Times

As Gov. Greg Abbott makes headway in his education savings plan, which he has made a priority for this year, mixed feedback is headed his way from teachers' unions and conservatives. Fellow conservatives are applauding his efforts, while teachers are sharing their concerns. 

About his plans, Abbott said, “By implementing education savings plans, we can empower families to make the best educational choices for their children, regardless of their zip code or income level. This is a win for Texas students and parents, who deserve the freedom to access the highest quality education possible.”

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are revolutionizing the way families approach their children's education. With ESAs, parents are given the ability to remove their students from their local public school district, and receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized accounts with multiple uses. These funds can be used to cover expenses ranging from private school tuition, online learning programs, tutoring services, community college costs and more. 

The idea of ESAs is one that promotes personalized learning experiences while still utilizing public funds. Families have access to these funds to use on approved materials and services that fit their child’s individual needs. Whether it be an online program or a brick-and-mortar school, ESAs give families the flexibility to choose what works best for them without sacrificing quality education for their children. 

Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) has proposed a new bill, Senate Bill 176, that would provide financial assistance to families who choose to homeschool their children. If passed, Texas families could expect average support of $10,000 per year for each student they school at home. This amount is equivalent to what Texas public schools currently spend on educating each of their students. 

A group of teachers in Waco, Texas is voicing their concerns about the potential for state funding to be reallocated away from public schools. The Waco chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has argued that allocating money towards alternative education routes such as charter and private schools will decrease the quality of public education. 

Pam Cooper, a former teacher and president of the Waco AFT chapter, stated: “When monies are taken away from public education to finance charter schools or vouchers for private schools, it’s detracting from what could be available for public schools — those resources are essential to providing an effective educational experience.” 

The Heritage Foundation pushed back on this argument, saying, "[t]axpayer dollars should help students to succeed with a great education, not prop up failing school systems," and stated their goal to "spearhead reforms at the state level to protect parental rights and expand education choice."

However, Abbott argues that education savings accounts will allow parents to choose the best education for their own children. On that point, he said, “That will give all parents the ability to choose the best education option for their child. The bottom line is this: This is really about freedom.”

In his State of the State address, Abbott declared school choice as one of his top legislative priorities for 2023. Aiming to "root out 'woke agendas' in the classroom," Abbott proposed using tax dollars to enable parents to send their children to schools outside the traditional public education system via Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). These ESAs would deposit state funds into accounts that could be used for educational expenses such as homeschooling or private school tuition.