Ft Worth Times

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling on Texas legislators to expand school choice programs through state-funded education savings accounts (ESA), proposing that an ESA program would not only improve the quality of education, but also benefit public schools through increased competition.

In an op-ed published by the Odessa American, Abbott argued that parents must have the freedom to choose the best educational opportunities for their children, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing concerns raised by parents about the quality and content of their child's education.

"Lawmakers this session have the opportunity to ensure all Texas students, regardless of ZIP code or family means, can live up to their highest potential and together keep our state’s future rich with possibilities," Abbott wrote. 

This comes as Abbott said Texas has emerged as a leader in "economic growth, industry and innovation," prompting him to believe that Texas's success lies in its ability to maintain a pro-business climate, its relatively low cost of living and its commitment to ensuring that personal liberties are protected. In the op-ed, Abbott said Texas's economic growth is driven by diverse industries such as aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, energy and healthcare, while new innovators will continue to keep Texas at the forefront of advancement.

"Working with the legislature, I have provided more funding for public education and teacher pay raises than any governor in Texas history," Abbott wrote, boasting his education accomplishments. "Through recent landmark school finance reforms, statewide per student funding is now at an all-time high. This session, we will allocate even more money for public education and teacher pay raises." 

With this, he said many parents across the state have become concerned with their children's education but have nowhere to turn for an alternative. School choice, he said, would mean parents are "no longer hindered in their ability to secure the best education for their child," underscoring why he made education freedom an emergency item this legislative session to place control back in the hands of parents.

Among comments, Abbott cited a recent survey from the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs demonstrating that a majority of Texans are in favor of some form of school choice. He cited the concern over whether the emergence of charter schools would hurt public schools in Texas, saying the "concerns never materialized" as public schools receive record funding.

Abbott also highlighted the success of educational choice, referencing other states with school choice programs.

"Other states offering school choice further prove that giving parents options does not harm public schools, but rather improves the overall quality of education through a competitive market," Abbott said. 

According to Senate Bill 8, filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-TX), chair of the Senate Education Committee, an ESA program would be established, with up to $8,000 available per student and controlled by the Comptroller of Public Accounts in Texas. The bill clarifies that school districts with less than 20,000 students are "held harmless" so as to not lose enrollment. The bill also grants no teaching on gender identity and requires parents be notified with any changes to their child's "mental, emotional or physical health."

Creighton will move SB 8 to the Senate floor soon as the bill was voted out of the Senate Committee on Education.