In the Texas Public Policy Foundation's (TPPF) Saving the Heartland of Texas video series, parents and students living in rural areas speak about witnessing a loss of opportunity and lack of economic resources in their towns. Many rural towns do not have proper training options for young people to enter the workforce, leading many away from their hometowns and creating the "decimation" of small town economies. TPPF suggests a solution for this problem is universal education savings accounts that give parents the freedom to send their children to a workforce training school, trade school or community college and be better prepared to enter the workforce right out of high school.

"Rural communities in Texas are being decimated by a lack of job opportunities because workers lack the skills employers need," The Texas Public Policy Foundation said in a press release. "With universal education savings accounts, parents would be able to afford to enroll their kids in programs that teach a trade or provide career and technical training so they can stay and build a career in the rural communities they love." 

In the video posted by the TPPF, one parent describes how she has to travel over two hours every day to work a full time job and support her family. She says she lives in "the most rural district in the state" in Cross Plains, Texas where the population has dropped by almost 50% in recent years. She said "it's like giving up being a mom" as there are no good jobs for her locally. Another local from El Dorado mentions how his community has "history" with his family being there for "almost 125 years primarily ranching." He says it is very important to "invest in rural communities" to keep them "vibrant." Andy from Cleburne said there is a "lack of vision for small towns."

According to TPPF, as loss of population and economic decay continues, rural towns are seeing a decline in high-paying jobs which leads to more families not being able to stay and live comfortably. A local parent says she knew of a young girl who has no options for school despite being a "genius kid... if she had more opportunities it would be life-changing." Another mother from Port Arthur discovered the GTECH program, which allowed her 17-year-old son to join an industrial training program to eventually work his way up and obtain the skills to work a high-paying industrial job. A GTEC instructor said, "You could make $21/hour when you're 18 years old... which opens the door for a young person to be independent immediately."

TPPF said the solution is "parent empowerment" through individual education savings accounts (ESAs). State funds that are allocated to each student are placed into ESAs "for parents to direct as they see fit." Parents can then use these funds for workforce training for their kids: Technical school, community college or on-the-job training. TPPF said an ESA program would allow for young people to stay local by obtaining certifications and skills required in high school to then enter a high-paying local job such as a refinery or manufacturing plant in their hometown. Giving parents the choice to choose which education opportunity is best for their child, Texas will see more "jobs, innovation, opportunities for people to live, thrive and grow."

Mandy Drogin, director of the Next Generation Initiative Campaign at TPPF, recently spoke with the Austin Journal saying, "That's what empowering parents with education savings accounts does, is ensure that every single parent, every parent, regardless of where you live, has the freedom that parents with resources and needs have. Every single parent has the freedom to select the school that best serves their child. That's what America is about. That's what Texas is about. We're about saying everyone should have this freedom. Every child deserves an amazing education, and that's why it supports and lifts up rural communities, urban communities, suburban communities. All of them are begging. They're demanding to give the power back to the parents who know and love their child best to make the choice for the education that will best serve their individual child.”

Sen. Brandon Creighton, chair of the Senate Education Committee, filed Senate Bill 8, which states that an education savings account program would be established with up to $8,000 available per student and controlled by the Comptroller of Public Accounts in Texas. The bill clarifies that school districts with less than 20,000 students are "held harmless" so as to not lose enrollment. The bill also grants no teaching on gender identity and requires parents be notified with any changes to their child's "mental, emotional or physical health."

The Texas Tribune reported that the bill is on its way to the Senate after the Senate Education Committee voted 10-2 to move it along.