Texas Senate Proposes $1 Billion School Voucher Program with Universal Eligibility

The bill would provide $10,000 per student for private school tuition and prioritize low-income families and children with disabilities if demand exceeds funding.

• Senate Bill 2 introduces education savings accounts (ESAs) offering $10,000 per student annually for private school tuition and related expenses, with $11,500 allocated for students with disabilities.
• The program would be universally available to all Texas students, including those in public, private, or home-school settings, with prioritization for low-income families and children with disabilities if demand exceeds capacity.
• The Texas Legislature has proposed a $1 billion budget allocation for the program over the next two years, supporting up to 100,000 students, but critics argue this funding may not fully cover private school costs.
• The bill mandates a nationally norm-referenced exam for participating students but does not require adherence to state standardized testing, leading to concerns over accountability and comparability with public schools.
• Opponents, including education advocates, warn the program could undercut public school funding and fail to meet the needs of students with disabilities due to private schools' exemption from federal special education laws.

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