Texas State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) expressed his support for expanded school choice options in the state in a Feb. 2 tweet.
"Educational choice is simple," Middleton wrote. "It’s about trusting every parent and having money follow their child, so each parent gets to decide which educational options work best for their child’s unique needs."
The Texan described education savings accounts (ESAs) as "most often accounts funded based on the state’s per-pupil formula that families may then use for education purposes." ESAs function in a similar manner to vouchers, or state funds granted to parents through tuition checks often split between the state and private schools, but they are sometimes applicable to more than just tuition for a specific facility or institution.
Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton
| Senate.Texas.gov
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) spoke in favor of ESAs during an event in Corpus Christi on Jan. 31.
“Parents should not be helpless; they should be able to choose the education option that is best for their child,” Abbott said. “The way to do that is with ESAs — Education Savings Accounts. We’ve seen them work in other states, and we’ve seen them work in the state of Texas also. No one knows what is better for their child’s education than parents; they must have the freedom to choose what is best for their child.”
According to the governor, expanding school choice options will help ensure that all state students will have access to high-quality education, and ESAs would be especially helpful for low-income families who may not otherwise have the resources to give their children a high-quality education.
"Now is the time to expand ESAs to every child in Texas," Abbott said.
"In Texas, parents matter," Middleton told The Texan. "Education savings accounts will allow money to follow every child and allow parents to decide which educational options work best for their children’s unique needs. Children belong to their parents — not the government. No one knows what a child’s educational needs are better than their parent."
According to the Heritage Foundation, the school choice movement is becoming more popular in many states, with supporters arguing that it allows families to choose the education options for their children, while opponents argue that it takes necessary resources away from public schools.
In response to this, school choice supporters cite evidence suggesting that competition can improve the quality of public schools, as they must compete for both students and funding. Additionally, many school choice programs include provisions ensuring that public schools aren't abandoned financially and student-wise, such as Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, which provide additional funding for public schools in areas with high ESA program participation.
The Heritage Foundation deemed 2021 the "Year of Education Choice," with 19 states enacting 32 new or expanded school choice policies, such as Florida's Tax Credit Scholarship program.
