The push for school choice is gaining momentum in Texas.
State lawmakers will have dozens of education bills to sift through in 2023, including several that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their children's private school.
Some conservatives are confident the Texas legislature will pass school choice this year. However, lawmakers know it won't be easy. Public education advocates, Democrats, and some Republicans from rural areas have pushed against bills that support school choice in years past. Education expert Melissa Martin, on the other hand, believes it’s a good idea some policymakers in Austin are pushing for a voucher-like program, which would use taxpayer dollars to pay for private education.
“It’s really deceptive to claim that we can meet the needs of every student,” Martin explained. “It’s time for parents to be able to make the decisions for their own children on who educates them and what system they’re educated in.”
She says one of the biggest differences this year compared to years past is the growing popularity of school choice. Approval is now at an all-time high among Texans. In addition, lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced, and in some cases, passed bills that promote similar policies.