Gov. Governor Greg Abbott said he would sign the law to a $1 billion measure prior to the 2025-2026 academic year.
Texas will become the country’s largest state to provide families with a universal school choice under the House bill approved in line with party policy on Thursday.
The billion-dollar measure passed homes 86-63 in an early-morning marathon session in favor of overwhelming support from the Republican majority and solid opposition from Democrats.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would sign the final bill to law, which would make Texas “the best state in the country to educate our children.”
Republican Rep. Brad Buckley, author of the bill, said that while most public schools in Texas do a great job of educating children, “not all students serve the best in local public schools.”
The measure will provide up to $10,000 for private school vouchers for each selected child. Children with special needs and children from low-income households are prioritized.
It also offers up to $2,000 for homeschooling costs and up to $30,000 for special education students who choose a different school. It also provides money for school transport, meals and other services as an educational savings plan that allows qualified recipients to set up a savings account for school expenses, as well as health savings accounts.
Universal school selection methods have failed in the past, but some of the Republicans who opposed it were not re-elected last year.
On the house floor on Wednesday, Democrats wore Lapel a “I love public schools” sticker.
Democrats argue that the choice of Texas Universal School will allow private schools to refuse students to enroll, despite the fact that they are being paid in taxpayer dollars otherwise attending public schools.
They also say many urban and suburban schools charge over $40,000 a year, making it impossible for low-income recipients.
Furthermore, Democrat opponents pointed out that all Texas families, even billionaires and billionaires, even those with children who already have children in private schools, are eligible to continue paying tuition without taxpayer assistance.
“That means not all children have the opportunity to use the program,” Democrat Alma Allen said private and public schools other than the applicant’s zip code are entitled to reject the applicant, unlike nearby schools assigned to families.
Democrat Harold Dutton proposed “put your money down” an amendment to the bill that would establish a sliding scale for tuition vouchers based on household income.
“Usually, it doesn’t fit anyone around here if one size fits everything,” he said.
“You’re giving your kids a 10-foot rope in a 12-foot hole. How do you expect them to get out of it?”
Supporters of the bill argued that the average private school in Texas costs less than $10,000 a year.
