During Thursdays State of the State address, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for legislation that immediately addressed school choice.
The Republican noted that universal school choice was labeled an emergency item during the current legislative session.
According to the Daily Caller, Abbott said, This issue is so vital to the future of our state I am making education freedom an emergency item this session. When a governor makes such a declaration, it means that a particular rule in the Texas Constitution is enacted that will allow the legislature to introduce bills in the first 60 days of the state legislative session, which would not otherwise be allowed.
Abbott believes that providing parents the opportunity for school choice will give them educational freedom. He said, Without that freedom, some parents are hindered [from] being able to help their child succeed. That must change this year.
He continued, The way to do that is with school choice through state-funded education savings accounts. Weve seen them work in other states, and weve also seen them work right here in the state of Texas.
I created education savings accounts for special needs students. It worked so well a bipartisan supermajority passed it into law and are now seeking to increase funding for it, Abbott said, referring to an initiative in October 2020. The Supplementary Special Education Services (SSES) program offers up to $1,500 for eligible students to Texas families to buy supplementary education services.
The Texas governor is asking the legislature to include all families in the bill. The Daily Caller reported Abbott said, We want to expand that program to provide every parent the ability to choose the best education option for their child. To be perfectly clear, under this school choice program, all public schools will be fully funded for every student.
As expected, Texas House Democrats were unhappy with the Republican governors idea. In a letter they released before the State of the State address, they promised to fight against it. If passing private school vouchers is Governor Abbotts dream, then House Democrats will be his nightmare. Period, the letter read.
Texas Democrats took to Twitter after Abbotts speech, saying, Texas Republicans will preach school choice, but lets be clear about the choices theyre leaving public school parents: 19% less funding for public education, 66% of teachers leaving the profession.
Representative Brian Harrison told the Daily Caller, Gov. Abbot is exactly right to make empowering all Texam parents with school choice an emergency item. He said he is excited to get to work to help make school choice a reality for all Texas families.
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