HOUSTON, Texas– Texas lawmakers are debating two school voucher bills, House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 2, which would allow families to use state funds to pay for private school tuition.
The bills, which have a combined proposed funding of $1 billion, aim to expand educational opportunities, particularly for low-income students.
However, concerns have arisen over the broad eligibility criteria and the potential impact on disadvantaged children.
Both bills would make nearly all Texas families eligible for taxpayer-funded education savings accounts (ESAs) to pay for private school tuition.
If demand exceeds the available funding, lawmakers have stated that priority will be given to the most vulnerable students, including those with disabilities and low-income families.
“These are parents living paycheck by paycheck,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a recent event in San Antonio, emphasizing that the bills are designed to help families who are doing everything they can to provide the best education for their children.
Sen. Brandon Creighton, who leads the Senate Education Committee, highlighted the scope of the bills, stating that they would create the largest school choice program in the nation.
“Both chambers are prioritizing low-income and special needs students,” Creighton said in late February.
However, the bills’ broad eligibility criteria have raised concerns among education experts and public education advocates.
Some fear that the vouchers could benefit families who are already able to afford private school tuition, rather than helping the neediest students.
SB 2 reserves 80% of the available spots for students with disabilities and low-income families, which the bill defines as households earning up to $156,000 annually for a family of four.
However, the bill’s broad definition of “low-income” has raised concerns, as it includes families earning more than the state’s typical low-income threshold.
Education advocates warn that while the bills define eligibility broadly, they do not ensure access to suitable educational options.
Liz Cohen, policy director for FutureEd, a nonpartisan education think tank at Georgetown University, noted that access means not only qualifying for the program but also being able to enroll in a private school that meets a child’s needs.
Both bills allow participating private schools to set their own admissions criteria, meaning they are not required to accept all students, including those from diverse racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds.
Furthermore, the bills do not mandate that private schools administer state standardized tests, though they would require students to take nationally recognized exams like the SAT or ACT. Proponents argue that parent satisfaction should be the primary measure of success.
The bills have also raised concerns about the adequacy of voucher amounts. The average private school tuition in Texas is about $11,340, which may not cover the full cost of tuition at some schools.
Many private schools in the state have a predominantly white student body, a stark contrast to the majority Black and Latino student population in public schools.
Additionally, there is no provision in the bills to address what would happen if a student cannot find a private school to accommodate their needs, particularly in rural areas or for students with special needs.
Josh Cowen, an education policy professor at Michigan State University, questioned the bills’ ability to achieve their intended goals.
“What they’re trying to do is craft a universal voucher bill to give a win to the governor while adhering to a policy intended to help lower-income and middle-income families,” Cowen said. “And those two are conflicting goals.”
Sen. Creighton has dismissed these concerns, asserting that the bills will prioritize students with disabilities and low-income families.
He emphasized that the legislation allows families the flexibility to decide whether they want to use the voucher or not, and noted that any issues with the program’s implementation could be addressed in future legislative sessions.
The Texas House Public Education Committee is set to hold a public hearing on the voucher proposal next week, while the Senate version has already been approved.
Both bills are expected to continue to face scrutiny as they move through the legislative process.
