Overview

• Senate Bill 2 proposes $10,000 per student in taxpayer-funded education savings accounts (ESAs) for private school tuition, with $11,500 allocated for children with disabilities.
• The bill prioritizes low-income families and children with disabilities, defining low-income as households earning up to 500% of the federal poverty level—roughly $156,000 for a family of four.
• Critics argue the income threshold is too high to prioritize the neediest families and question the lack of accountability measures, such as standardized testing requirements for ESA students.
• Supporters, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, claim the program will enhance school choice and improve public school performance through competition.
• Opponents, including educators and advocates, warn the $1 billion program could divert resources from public schools and lacks sufficient data to ensure equitable outcomes.