Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expressed his support for educational freedom for parents at Parent Empowerment Night at Annapolis Christian Academy in Corpus Christi. 

Abbott said he believes parents should have the "freedom and opportunity" to choose the path for their child. He has previously supported limited ESAs (educational savings accounts) but called for a new legislative ESA package this legislative session.

"Our job, as leaders of Texas, is to provide the best education possible for our children,” Abbott said in a news release. “Hundreds of thousands of people move to Texas every year because of the freedom and opportunity that Texas provides, and because in Texas we don’t like government running our lives. 

"Parents know that same freedom and opportunity should apply to their children’s education," he added. "No one knows better how a child can flourish than their parents, but without educational freedom parents are hindered in helping their child succeed. That must change, and it must change this legislative session.” 

According to Edchoice.org, eight states currently have ESA programs. These are Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. 

ESAs are education savings accounts where the government allots a certain amount of money for parents to use for private school, homeschooling, online learning or approved learning circumstances. In some cases, an ESA will allow for part-time public school courses and private school courses, such as a trade school or apprenticeship.

According to the Wall Street Journal editorial board, the school choice movement is gaining popularity in the U.S. as Utah and Iowa implemented a new ESA program in early 2023. The new law will allow parents the funds to choose private school and other restricted options. Utah's ESA program allows for $8,000 per students in a savings account, Iowa allows $7,500. Low-income families are prioritized.

The WSJ board says approximately 12 other state legislatures have introduced bills on ESAs. Florida currently has an ESA program, but new proposed legislation will remove income limits while still maintaining priority for low-income families. The new legislation will allow homeschool students to be eligible for the first time.

According to the Texas Tribune, some Texas Republican legislators are optimistic about passing a bill on ESAs. 

"You’ve seen in school boards, not just across the state, but across the country, where a lot [of parents] feel like their voice may not be heard, but at the end of the day, this is just giving them the tools,” Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) told the Texas Tribune.

Middleton filed Senate Bill 176, which would grant ESAs to parents to use for private school, tutoring or online schooling. 

“What my bill would do is it would empower every single parent in the state of Texas to choose which education works best for their children’s unique educational needs,” Middleton said. 

Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have both expressed that ESAs and school choice should be a legislative priority this session.