Lawmakers in Austin debated late into the night on a controversial bill that would allow families to use public school tax dollars for private and home schools. Senate Bill 2, being discussed in the Texas Senate Committee on K-16 Education, includes $1 billion over the next two years to provide up to 100,000 students with education savings accounts. The bill is designed to be managed by the Texas Comptroller and state-approved vendors to prevent fraud. While there are few strings attached, such as a testing requirement, parents can choose religious or home-school options for their children.
However, some lawmakers raised concerns that the program may not prioritize low-income families enough, with a requirement for families to make 500 percent of the poverty line to qualify. Democrats voiced concerns about the lack of focus on children from academically failing schools and questioned whether families with the education savings accounts would be able to afford additional costs beyond the allotted amount.
If the bill passes through the House and Senate, it is expected to face legal challenges from public school advocates who believe it diverts resources from the current public school system, potentially violating the state constitution. Despite these concerns, Governor Abbott is confident he has the support to pass the bill, emphasizing the need for more flexible educational options for Texas students.
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