President Donald Trump praised Texas’s monumental step forward in education reform as the state Senate passed what’s being called the largest school choice program in U.S. history.
Trump specifically commended Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s leadership and Senator Brandon Creighton’s efforts in crafting the comprehensive $1 billion legislation aimed at benefiting 100,000 Texas students through education savings accounts. However, he made no mention of Gov. Greg Abbott, despite Abbott’s years-long push to expand school vouchers across the state.
Abbott has spent years championing school choice, arguing that public funds should be available for private and home-based education. Yet, his exclusion from Trump’s remarks raises questions about his standing in the broader conservative movement on the issue.
The bill’s fate now rests with the Texas House, where similar efforts have repeatedly stalled. Former House Speaker Dade Phelan didn’t push for a school voucher proposal, saying that “the votes just were not there.” But with newly elected Speaker Dustin Burrows at the helm, momentum has shifted. After Trump publicly called for school choice legislation, Burrows simply responded, “I will.”
Senate Bill 2, which passed the Senate in a 19-12 vote, would provide $2,000 annually to students opting for private or home education, increasing to $10,000 for those attending accredited private schools. Lt. Gov. Patrick remains adamant about its passage.
“This is the sixth time the Texas Senate has passed school choice, with every previous bill dying in the Texas House,” he said in a statement. “The Senate will pass school choice over and over again until the House passes this bill. The days of limiting millions of Texas students to a one-size-fits-all approach are over.”
Supporters of SB2 argue that school choice empowers parents to decide the best educational path for their children, fostering a more competitive academic environment that could drive improvements across both public and private schools. They believe the legislation expands opportunities for underserved communities by giving families access to funds that could help cover private or home-based education costs. Advocates also contend that introducing more educational options forces schools to improve performance to retain students, ultimately benefiting the broader education system.
“Competition has never really hurt any place, and it’s helped. If you look at Florida, their public schools were near the bottom before school choice passed. Now, by many metrics, they are number one in the nation,” stated Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, during a Texas Senate debate last week.
However, critics warn that SB2 could divert essential resources from public schools, potentially weakening the state’s already strained education system. Educators and public school advocates express concerns about accountability, questioning the oversight of private institutions that receive public funds.
Additionally, opponents highlight equity issues, arguing that while the bill provides up to $10,000 for private school tuition, many families—particularly lower-income households—may still struggle to afford the full cost, making the program more accessible to wealthier students while leaving others behind.
Richard Tedder, Superintendent of Cross Roads ISD, further condemned the measure as a political maneuver that benefits campaign interests at the expense of public schools. “Put vouchers to a vote statewide in Texas, and you will see this fiasco go down in flames,” he said.
Tedder also criticized the funding disparity, noting that while SB2 would provide private school students with $10,000 or more, public school students have been funded at a stagnant $6,160 for the past six years. “If you think the private schools will serve handicapped kids or the severely handicapped students, you are sorely mistaken,” he added, underscoring concerns that private institutions will continue to select students at their discretion, leaving the most vulnerable behind.
