The Texas House of Representatives Committee on Public Education will meet Monday to discuss how the state could again work toward crafting an education savings account program, a policy goal that Republicans failed to achieve last year.
KXAN reported that Monday’s agenda will allow members to examine how other states implement ESA programs.
Several states currently have some form of an ESA program, including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.
“It’s back to school season in Texas, and parents are demanding school choice. During the upcoming legislative session, we’re going to work to make school choice a reality. Parents matter—and choosing where they send their children to school matters,” said Gov. Greg Abbott in a social media post on Tuesday.
Democrat State Rep. Gina Hinojosa told the network in July that “as Democrats, we need to pick up about three more seats to defeat the governor’s voucher scam yet again and to save our neighborhood public schools.”
However, public opinion shows support for school choice, with nearly two-thirds of Texans supporting a program in a recent poll.
Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said, “When it comes to education, parents matter, and families deserve the ability to choose the best education opportunities for their children. Governor Abbott will not rest until Texans have their voices heard and school choice is the law of the land.”
As Texas Scorecard reported in early August, school choice will remain a top priority for lawmakers, with solid support from Republican voters who want parents to have the right to choose the best educational options for their children.
In July, the Texas State Board of Education approved opening four new charter schools for the 2025-2026 school year.