What is school choice? Texas Gov. Abbott pushes for universal ESAs in special session

Today Texas lawmakers return to Austin after Gov. Greg Abbott sounded the horn for them to once again tackle ways to funnel public funds to private schools, among other priorities.

Abbott has pushed for education savings accounts throughout the past year, emphasizing parental rights. That was the only school-choice option he put on the call for this year’s third special legislative session.

“Together, we will chart a brighter future for all Texas children by empowering parents to choose the best education option for their child,” Abbott said in a written statement last week.

A group of GOP state senators previously unveiled a proposal that accelerated the fight over school choice in Texas.

The legislation would have created “education savings accounts” of up to $8,000, which families could use to pay for private school tuition, books and other materials, such as uniforms.

Some believed the political landscape is ripe for a renewed fight for vouchers or similar efforts.

However, such proposals historically have faced a tough road in the Texas House, with opposition from both Democrats and rural Republicans who don’t want to funnel state money away from public schools.

The special session can last up to 30 days.

Here’s what to know about education savings accounts, school vouchers and the school choice movement in Texas:

What are the school voucher or choice initiatives that might get play in Texas?

State lawmakers have previously proposed a variety of ways to give education funding — intended for public schools — to students, rather than school systems.

Three main forms of school choice initiatives have been used in other states, including education savings accounts, scholarship tax credits and vouchers, according to the National Council of State Legislatures. However, education savings accounts are the only school choice option Abbott put on the call.

Education savings accounts

Education savings accounts, or ESAs, establish dedicated savings accounts fueled by public funds that families can tap into to pay for education expenses.

Arizona established such a system in 2011 with Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Families can use the money for more than just tuition, including reading books, textbooks, educational games and flashcards.

Students are eligible for the Arizona program if they meet certain criteria, such as being the child of an active-duty military parent, being a K-12 student with special needs or attending a D- or F-rated school.

Currently, about a dozen states offer ESAs.

What ESA proposals has Texas considered this year?

The package that the Texas Senate rolled out during the regular session appeared designed to sway holdout Republicans in rural areas. The bill dangled incentives that included hefty payments to public schools for every student they lost.

Districts with fewer than 20,000 students have had a “hold harmless” measure, which would ensure their funding doesn’t drop off immediately and dramatically if students leave.

That proposal would have given those districts $10,000 for each student who left for a private school.

What are school vouchers?

Vouchers are state-funded scholarships that pay for students to attend private schools. States sometimes limit these programs to certain areas of the state or districts.

For instance, Ohio offers the Cleveland Scholarship Program gives students in the region the opportunity to attend private schools by contributing up to $5,500 for students in elementary and middle school and $7,500 for those in high school. Parents are responsible for the difference in tuition if it exceeds the state’s contribution.

Some states impose regional or income restrictions on such programs, while others make them available only to students who require special education services.

Scholarship tax credits

Another school-choice option some states use are scholarship tax credits. These permit taxpayers – either individuals or businesses – to dedicate part of their taxes toward public and private school scholarships for students.

Florida lawmakers established a similar program more than two decades ago that directs the scholarship money toward children from low-income families. The average amount the scholarship fund awarded was less than $7,000 for a student’s enrollment in an eligible private school.

How many states already offer school voucher-like programs?

About 75 education choice programs are offered across at least 30 states as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to school choice advocacy group EdChoice.

Many surrounding states offer some kind of school choice program, including Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Why do public school advocates oppose vouchers?

Educators and advocates say funneling money away from public schools takes away resources from campuses that already struggle to meet students’ needs and that the initiatives often leave behind the most struggling children.Last month, public school leaders implored Texas lawmakers to reject any voucherlike programs and instead help them pay for teacher raises, implement safety upgrades and tackle learning loss.

“We’re not interested in compromising for vouchers to gain school funding. This is a hill that we’re willing to die on,” Whitehouse ISD Superintendent Christopher Moran said.

Many education advocates also note that private schools don’t have accountability. Public schools are graded on how well students do on STAAR and on how much progress they make.

Failing schools tend to be more prominent in areas with higher levels of poverty, where students need more access to food, stable housing and medical care.

How are Texas public schools funded?The Legislature essentially sends state dollars to public schools based on how many students show up for each day. Fewer students means less money.

Public school advocates say voucherlike efforts would amount to subsidizing wealthy families’ tuition as those in low-income areas don’t have as many private school options or the money to make up financial differences to attend such campuses.

Why do some Texans support school choice?

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has cited “dropout factories” in urban areas as a reason why parents should be able to change schools for their kids.

He and others have cited the escalating culture wars over what’s taught in schools as a reason for expanded choices. The Senate, led by Patrick, has traditionally supported voucherlike programs.

Abbott echoed such reasons and has made school choice part of his push for parent empowerment.

In a tele-town hall with Christian clergy last month, Abbott urged pastors to plug school-choice legislation during worship services on Sunday.e

“Speak from the pulpit to your congregation and let them know how important this is to the moral fabric of the future of Texas.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has also been a longtime supporter of such choice efforts.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from The Beck Group, Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Todd A. Williams Family Foundation and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.