School Choice Information
UPDATE
School Choice Coming to Texas
Senate Bill 2, officially establishing a statewide Education Savings Account (ESA) program, is likely to become law soon. However, the program would not begin until the 2026–2027 school year. We are committed to keeping you informed when implementation details are available.
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About SB 2 - the new private school choice program in Texas
School leaders can use the information below to talk to their board, teachers, and community about SB 2, the school choice bill that has passed both chambers of the legislature.
Mechanics
- $1 billion will be appropriated. This means approximately 80,000 students statewide could participate in the program in the first year. Families with children with special needs and incomes below $162,000 for a family of four will be prioritized.
- A child without special needs will receive around $10,000. Families apply for the ESA and the funds go to an online account for that child to be directed to pre-approved educational providers, including accredited private schools.
- A child with a special needs diagnosis may qualify for a larger ESA: up to $30,000 depending on the severity of the disability. Stay tuned for more information about how to document that disability.
- Once a family applies for and receives an ESA, they do not have to apply every year.
- Schools may opt in—this is NOT mandatory
- ESA students begin attending participating private schools in the fall of 2026.
- Admission policies and processes remain the same for private schools.
- Private schools to be paid quarterly for ESA students.
- Schools may charge the family the difference between the ESA amount and the actual tuition or may choose to use private scholarship funds. This is an internal school decision.
- Private schools that participate in the program must administer a norm-referenced test in grades 3-12. The parents of the ESA children will report those test scores to the organization administering the ESA program. These scores, along with a parental satisfaction survey of the program, are the reporting requirements of SB2.
SB 2 Met all TPSA Requirements for Support
- All participating private schools must be accredited.
- Religious liberty and private school autonomy language must be in the bill, completely unchanged. This allows private schools to operate in the same way they operate today—no strings attached due to participating in this program.
- Low income and special needs children should be prioritized.
- ESA students should not be required to take the state STAAR test. Private schools administer a norm-referenced test and the growth in these scores along with a parental satisfaction survey should be the reporting requirements to the state.
School Considerations
There are some key questions school leaders should ask to help them prepare for school choice in Texas:
Have you looked at your handbook and school policies to make sure they are up to date and fit the mission and vision of your school? Pay close attention to admission policies and hiring policies for your school. Having an attorney review these documents is a great first step before the bill is passed.
Have you talked to your board about if and how you may participate in an ESA program? Have you thought about what you will communicate to your community if you decide not to participate?
Do you have a clear communication plan for your existing school constituency as to how you are going to use the program in your school, and how your use of the program will further and not challenge your school’s unique mission?
Do you have supports for students who may come to your school behind other students who have been at the school for many years? What might that support look like in your community?
Questions?
If you have questions about ESAs, school choice, or how they will impact your school, please contact us.
