Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tours Christian schools to promote school choice

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is taking his message of educational freedom to Christian schools around the state.

On Tuesday, Abbott attended Covenant Christian School’s Parent Empowerment Night in Conroe.

“We must empower parents to choose the best possible academic opportunities for their children,” the governor said before a packed audience. “With education freedom an emergency item this session, we will add more funding for public schools as well as school choice across Texas.”

Abbott also recently visited Park Meadows Academy in Corsicana, Annapolis Christian Academy in Corpus Christi, and Central Texas Christian School in Temple, to express his desire to advance school choice during the current legislative session.

“Now is the time to expand ESAs (education savings accounts) to every child in the state of Texas,” he said in Corpus Christi.

In Temple, the local superintendent complained about the governor’s advocacy, calling it a “false narrative.”

“I think a lot of parents are walking around believing a false narrative that they truly do have a choice,” he said. “A lot of non-public schools are not known for taking students from low income or with disabilities or English language learner needs because they’re not required to provide the same services public schools are.”

Supporters of school choice in Texas argue that won’t hurt public schools, while also creating more educational options for most Texas families.

“We do not see ourselves in opposition to public schools,” Laura Colangelo, executive director of the Texas Private Schools Association, told CBS Austin. “We very much want public schools to succeed, they’re going to continue to serve the majority of Texas students, but we see private schools as another option.”

Colangelo also argues that since the public school will still keep a portion of state funding even when a student leaves, public schools’ per-pupil-funding stands to increase.

Abbott is confident that parents will rally together for educational freedom.

“We got to do a better job of educating our kids,” the governor said in Corsicana. “And that starts with you, the parents, you the taxpayers, who must get involved. This is a fight. I cannot fight alone.”