An education savings account bill is currently being debated and is facing challenges in the Texas House of Representatives after advancing in the Texas Senate.
“Proud to lay out #HB4807 (universal school choice) tonight in committee,” Texas State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) said on Twitter. “Thirty other states have already empowered parents with education freedom. #Txlege must make up for being late… by being BOLD. The next generation is on the line.”
A Texas House committee recently heard testimony from more than 200 witnesses regarding three different school choice measures. Harrison is on the 13-member House Public Education Committee, which is chaired by State Rep. Brad Buckley, (R-Salado).
The Texas Education Savings Account bill, Senate Bill 8, was advanced in the Texas Senate on April 6, by a vote of 18-13, with all Republicans voting for and all Democrats voting against, the Texas Tribune reported. The Texas House recently voted for an amendment against school vouchers in their House budget vote, specifically naming education savings accounts.
There are school choice programs available in 32 states currently, which doesn’t include Texas, The Dallas Morning News reported. Part of the blame for why this hasn’t happened is the manner in which Texas schools receive their funding, as the formula for school district funding in Texas essentially comes down to how many students show up to class each day.
The education savings account bill that passed the Texas Senate would create education savings accounts of up to $8,000 for families to be used for private school tuition, books, tutoring, transportation, uniforms and other materials, The Dallas Morning News reported. These purchases would be overseen by a comptroller’s office. In this bill, families won’t get money up front and it can only be used for private schools and other vendors which are approved by the state. It also has provisions for rural Texans to help ensure that rural school districts aren’t defunded through this. These provisions appear to be in response to criticisms of other state’s ESA bills.
Education savings accounts are one of many alternatives parents in various states have to public schooling. ESAs allow parents to use the financial assistance on any qualifying educational expense, not just private or charter schools. Other school choice alternatives, such as private schooling, homeschooling and charter schools don’t allow the parents to receive the benefits and funds allocated to students for public education.
In his State of the State address in February, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott specifically called for legislation to make education savings accounts available to all Texas students, making “education freedom an emergency item.”
