Texas Gov. Greg Abbott celebrates Senate passage of school choice bill now with House 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised the passage of his school choice bill in the state Senate Thursday, even as the chances for passing the bill in the state House remain murky.

“Congratulations to the Texas Senate on passing school choice legislation,” Abbott posted to X. “Great progress made toward delivering the education freedom Texas families deserve.”

He thanked state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, for his leadership in authoring the voucher bill and added, “Now is the time for school choice in Texas,” as exhortation to the Texas House, which will now consider the measure.

The program would give Texas residents an education savings account (ESA) with access to up to $8,000 per year for qualified expenses, which include, but are not limited to, tuition, school books and uniforms, reported the Texas Tribune.   

According to the bill, 40% of ESA’s would go to students who receive free or reduced lunch, while 30% would go to families who earn between 185% and 500% of the federal poverty line. Another 20% would go to those with disabilities, and 10% to the remaining applicants, said the American Federation of Children, which applauded the measure. 

The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled state House, where it’s fate is uncertain.  

A similar measure failed earlier this year when the House refused to advance the bill to a vote and instead voted 86-52 for a measure that would prohibit public money from being used for “school vouchers or other similar programs.” 

Still, Abbott remained undeterred, calling for a special session of the Legislature to take up the measure again, vowing to continue to press the House to approve school choice.  

“We’re going to have multiple special sessions until we get these issues addressed and there will be an appropriate time when we bring up school choice, and if it doesn’t pass, we’ll bring it up again,” Abbott previously told the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  

This time around, however, the effort includes a package of teacher pay raises, including $3,000 and $10,000 bonuses, depending on the size of the district, reported the Tribune.  

“I want to make sure we provide a carrot to make sure this legislation gets passed,” Abbott said of attracting more support for the bill from rural Republican lawmakers, according to the Texas Tribune.  

If that doesn’t work, Abbott is willing to go further, vowing to support primary challenges against those Republicans who don’t go along with school choice this time around, according to the Houston Chronicle.  

“There’s an easy way to get it done and a hard way to get it done,” Abbott said during a tele-town hall, according to local KXAN News.  “The easy way will be for these legislators to come into the regular session, this next special session, and vote in favor of school choice.” 

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said he’s optimistic that the pay raises, along with increased general school funding, can get a deal done this session. 

“I do feel like we can come to terms,” Phelan said, reported the Chronicle. “It’s going to take not just a path forward on school choice, but on school funding.”