Texas Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) announced that he has filed a bill that will give parents more flexibility when choosing schools for their children.
"Parents know their child best and should have the freedom to choose the kind of education that will best meet their needs. House Bill 619 is an ESA (educational savings account) approach that will provide flexibility and more options for parents to choose the best education for their child, without using public education funds," Shaheen told the Lone Star Standard.
According to Click2Houston, Shaheen filed House Bill 619 "relating to an insurance premium tax credit for contributions made to certain educational assistance organizations." HB 619 provides a tax credit to those who contribute to private school scholarship funds.
Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) also filed a school choice bill, Senate Bill 176, which would create an ESA program, a school choice policy where parents receive an account from the state to use for different educational means for their child. Middleton's bill would allow for families to use the ESA on a year-to-year basis, which would roll over, eventually allowing parents to use the funds for college.
The school choice debate is currently ongoing in the Texas Legislature. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has expressed his support for an ESA policy and making an education school choice bill a priority.
According to the governor's website, Abbott said, "We must ensure that our education system works for every child. Parents also deserve education freedom. Without it, some parents are hindered in helping their child succeed. That must change this year."
Abbott called on the Texas Legislature to work together to pass a bill in support of more funding for public schools, as well as for parents' educational freedom. Abbott also promoted teacher pay raises. The best way to go about giving parents this choice, according to Abbott, is ESAs. The governor plans to work with the Legislature to pass an ESA program. Texas currently has a limited ESA program for special needs students, which the governor plans to add funding to, but he also wants to expand an ESA program to all Texas families.
