School Choice
New Opportunities for Education in Texas
Exciting opportunities are on the horizon for families looking to take control of their children’s education in Texas. When the 89th session of the Texas Legislature convenes in Austin in 2025, they will once again take up the task of providing school choice for Texas families.
FAQs about School Choice in Texas
How will it work?
School choice will provide families with Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) that are intended to help families access the school of their choice. Around $10,000 per student will be provided in order to make private education more accessible for families across the state. This groundbreaking initiative allows you to select a participating private school that fits your child’s unique needs, providing a flexible and supportive path to educational success.
Who will be eligible?
Many Texas families could benefit from this program, making it a significant opportunity for families who wish to have more choices for their children’s education. We expect the bill to give priority to low-income and special needs families, ensuring that those who need these resources most will have access. With this funding, you will have the power to choose the school environment that best supports your child’s learning style, strengths, and interests, enabling them to truly thrive both academically and personally.
Will all private schools participate?
Private schools also have choice. Schools can choose whether or not to accept ESA funds. Some schools may wish to accommodate families using ESA by providing scholarships to cover any difference between the ESA amount and full tuition. This means more options and fewer barriers to giving your child the educational experience they deserve. The choice is yours—take advantage of this upcoming opportunity to empower your child’s educational journey and discover a school that nurtures their potential.
What will the ESA program include?
Proponents of the ESA program are pushing for the following key points to be included in the potential bill:
- Approximately $10,000 offered per child—about 80,000 to 100,000 kids will be funded across the state.
- Only accredited private schools may participate; no unaccredited schools are allowed to participate.
- Must have religious liberty protections and private school autonomy language.
- Student Priorities: (1) low-income children; (2) special needs children; (3) other students if money remains.
Make Your Voice Heard in Austin
Get involved in the effort to bring school choice to Texas families by visiting Texans for Parental Choice in Education and making your voice heard!
How to Get Involved and Support School Choice in Texas
Advocating at the Texas Capitol isn’t just for trade associations, such as TPSA, and other education groups. Legislators love to hear from their constituents, and we certainly welcome and encourage anyone interested in school choice and private school education to add their voice to ours at the Capitol. Here are some ways you can get involved:
Learn Who Represents You
There are 150 state representatives and 31 state senators. Input your address on the Texas Legislature’s website to see who represents you. Each member also has a page on either the House or Senate website, where you can learn more about them.
Contact or Meet With Your Legislator
If you feel strongly about a bill, let your lawmaker know. Citizen input, or input by those personally involved with an issue, is extremely effective. You can contact them through the Texans for Parental Choice in Education website, or you can find their email addresses on their official House or Senate website.
Keep Up With Bills and Hearings
The Texas Legislature Online website allows you to search for bills by number, author or keywords, and chart their progress. You can also set up bill alerts and a personal list of bills to follow. You’ll also find committee schedules and links to live and archived committee hearings and House and Senate floor proceedings. The website has a wealth of other helpful information.
Watch the Action
Committee hearings and each day’s proceedings in the House and Senate are streamed live on the internet. You can also find archived recordings. Access the livestreams through the House and Senate websites or the Texas Legislature Online website.
Testify at a Public Hearing
Put your voice on the record. You can register through kiosks at the Capitol or online while using the Capitol Wi-Fi. You also can submit written testimony to the committee.
Be Social!
Engage on social media. X (formerly Twitter) is a popular platform for legislators to share news items or other information that is of interest to their constituents. The official hashtag for the Texas Legislature is #txlege. Education matters can be found on #txed. You can find a list of X handles for legislators here. The Texas Legislative Reference Library has also created a single feed where you can view legislators’ posts to X.
Stay Informed
The Legislative Reference Library curates a daily compilation of news article related to happenings at the Capitol. Its also has a FAQ on the Legislature and other resources
