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The Truth About School Choice in Texas

When it comes to school choice in Texas, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. As a Texan, you deserve clear, accurate information to make the best decisions for your child’s education. That’s why we’re breaking down the most common myths and providing the facts—so you can separate truth from fiction. Whether you’re exploring private school options for your family or just want to understand what school choice really means for Texas, this guide will help you navigate the conversation with confidence.

School choice will divert money away from the public schools to private schools.

In other states, funding increased and public schools improved

In states with the oldest and largest educational choice policies, the inflation-adjusted per-pupil funding has increased, and the average performance of district schools is as good or better than when the choice policies were first enacted.

Public schools will still be a great option for families

Most students will continue to benefit from a public-school education, because the many advantages offered by public schools, such as sports and other extra-curricular activities, are attractive to families.

Most families will choose schools based on location

School choice programs may slightly add to the fluctuation of student enrollment, but an overwhelming number of American families are still choosing schools based on ZIP code. School choice will give families in failing schools another option.

School choice funds won't come from the same source as public school funding

Funding for school choice in Texas will come from the general revenue, not funds that are set aside for public schools.

School choice gives taxpayer money to wealthy families who send their children to private schools.

Poor families are priroitized

The school choice proposal in Texas prioritizes helping poor and vulnerable students, with the goal of helping those who most need access to educational options.

School choice levels the educational playing field

The wealthy already benefit from school choice because they have the means to pay for private school or the means to move to live in the best public-school districts. They do not need these programs. The economically disadvantaged do.

School choice funnels taxpayer dollars to private schools without transparency, accountability, or oversight.

Private schools must be accredited

The school choice proposal in Texas stipulates that funds only go to accredited private schools. Read more about accreditation.

Accreditation ensures high curriculum standards

Private school accreditation is a detailed process that covers curriculum standards and fiscal oversight. Accreditation requires that the curricula used in private schools be at least as rigorous as that used in public schools. Many private schools choose curriculum that is even more rigorous than that used in public schools

This proposal is just the beginning; this program will expand to take more and more public-school funding.

Only successful programs will expand

School choice programs will only expand if they are successful, and families demand more access. This means students are being well-served by having increased choice.

32 other states happily have some form of educational choice

Some form of private school choice currently exists in 32 states. These programs co-exist beautifully with robust public school systems.

School choice violates the separation of church and state.

The U.S. Supreme Court said it is constitutional

The constitutionality of school choice programs has been proven many times, most recently in the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case Carson v. Makin, where the court said Maine’s “nonsectarian” requirement violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

School choice respects religious rights

Not all private schools are religious, but when all parents have the opportunity send their children to the school of their choice, this is not an endorsement of religion but the free exercise of a parent to choose their school.

Private schools will be able to pick their students, and the poor will remain left behind, if not pushed further back.

School choice benefits poor students the most

Data from other states suggests that school choice benefits low-income students in major ways. Florida has the nation’s largest school choice program and the average household income is recipients is $43,123. 65% of program participants are Black and Hispanic, and 43% of the children are from single-parent households. Similarly, the average household income of recipients of the Illinois tax credit scholarship is $43,357.

School choice increases college enrollment of low-income students

School choice can boost college enrollment among low-income students. According to a study by the Urban Institute, 57% of Florida Tax Credit Scholarship students enrolled in college, compared with 51% of non-scholarship students. Students in Florida had higher college-going rates in all sectors: two-year, four-year public, and four-year private colleges.

School choice will hurt rural schools the most.

Rural parents can choose rural public schools

Parents in rural areas will still have the option to send their kids to rural public schools. In general, rural schools are not beset by the problems in large, urban districts. They are smaller, safer, and more community-centered—the very reasons urban parents choose non-public options.

Urban school choice will have no impact on rural districts

Non-public school options are not as available in rural areas. The likelihood of a rural school experiencing a mass exodus is remote. Families in another public school district choosing a non-public option will have no impact on the per-student funding in rural areas.