School choice is an issue that has been in the news lately. The George W. Bush Institute's Ann Kimball Johnson Director of Education Robin Berkley explains what it means for families here in Texas.
School choice is an issue that has been in the news a lot lately. National and state leaders across the country have been talking about the positives and negatives of school choice. Including and throughout the last presidential election, to down the road in Austin in the current legislative session.
So what does school choice mean for families in The Lone Star State?
For the past few decades, choice has primarily referred to open-enrollment charter schools, and magnet schools, which admit students based on their qualifications. As of 2024, Texas has more than 900 charter schools, which serve roughly 375,000 students, about 7% of the state’s student population. While there are magnet schools across the state, there are far fewer serving less than 1% of students. Governor Abbott has made it clear that he intends to expand choice across the state, by creating an educational savings account program, funded at $1 billion. And the Texas Legislature is following his lead.
Educational savings accounts, or ESA’s for short, give parents access to public funding to pay for private school tuition and other supplemental education expenses. ESA’s can be controversial, because critics see them as diverting money from public schools, and they worry wealthy families will benefit more than others. Advocates believe they put parents in the driver’s seat, and allow them to choose the best learning environment for their children.
There are two bills currently being discussed: House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3. Both bills establish an ESA program that would allow parents to access funds to use towards their child’s education. And they both require accountability for private schools, using a nationally norm-referenced tests. This is an important point, as it helps to ensure that public dollars are being spent on schools that meet general standards for a strong education.
Along with ESA’s, the legislature is also considering open enrollment, in Senate Bill 686. Which allow any student to attend any school with vacancies, regardless of where they live, by establishing state-wide cross, and within district enrollment programs. Currently, most children are required to attend school in their district, and must request permission to move within districts, and among districts. If this bill passes, it will give parents even more choice in determining the best educational path for their children.
As a parent and a Texan, I deeply appreciate our lawmakers giving so much attention to the education of our children.
