School choice died in last year's Texas Legislature, but it is alive and well in this year's elections. After Gov. Greg Abbott made school choice the main focus of his primary endorsements, the effort appears to have mostly paid off. In 10 of the 13 races where Republican incumbents faced primary challengers, the candidate supporting school choice either won or forced the incumbent into a runoff.
The results so far are encouraging to school choice advocates frustrated by last year's failure to get a bill passed. "I live in Texas, and Governor Abbott has been making his most forceful support of school choice that I've ever seen on the campaign trail," says Corey DeAngelis, senior fellow at the American Federation For Children, in an interview with Fox News. "Abbott even pointed out that this would be the most powerful push for school choice in Texas history."
"I believe him, and it's happening before our eyes right now."
Texas is just one of many red states where the school choice movement is gaining momentum. "I'm looking at Arkansas, Nebraska has a bill, Ohio, Indiana, Wyoming--their Senate just passed a universal school choice bill, South Carolina's Senate just passed an education savings account bill," says DeAngelis. "And in Oklahoma, they might be able to get it across the finish line."
Whether a school choice bill finally makes it across the finish line in Texas next year depends on what happens in the runoffs and in this fall's elections. But based on early results, it appears the chances will be better in 2025. "Teachers unions must be terrified right now (by this school choice movement)," says DeAngelis. "They're losing control over other people's kids, they're losing control over children's minds, and they're freaking out...and it's great."
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