Texas Gov. Abbott signs $1 billion voucher program into law, capping off win for school choice advocates

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, made a significant move on Saturday by signing a school choice bill into law. This bill will allocate $1 billion for a voucher program that allows parents to use public funds to pay for their child’s private school tuition. This initiative has been a long-time goal for Republicans in Texas, with previous efforts facing resistance from Democrats and rural Republicans.

President Donald Trump also showed his support for the bill, urging state lawmakers to pass it before it reached Abbott’s desk. The bill, known as Senate Bill 2, was passed by the Texas Senate in a party-line vote of 19-12 and later approved by the state House with an 86-63 vote.

During the signing ceremony at the governor’s mansion, Abbott expressed his commitment to fulfilling his promise of school choice for Texas families. He was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state House Speaker Dustin Burrows, bill author Sen. Brandon Creighton, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, school choice advocates, and students and their families.

The voucher program in Texas will now be the largest in the country, joining over 30 other states with similar programs. The initiative aims to provide parents with more options for their children’s education by allowing them to choose alternative public or private schools.

Supporters of the bill believe that it will empower parents to make the best educational decisions for their children, moving away from the traditional model of government-assigned schools. However, critics, including Democrats and rural Republicans, argue that the program will divert resources from public schools and benefit wealthy families.

Starting in the next school year, families can receive up to $10,000 per year to cover private school tuition, homeschooling, or virtual learning costs. Children with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 per year. The program will initially be capped at $1 billion and support up to 90,000 students, with projections of costing up to $4.5 billion per year by 2030.

While the school choice bill has sparked debates among lawmakers and stakeholders, it marks a significant milestone in Texas education policy. The Associated Press contributed to this report.