Trump Supports Texas Legislators in Advocating for School Voucher Legislation
The ongoing discussions surrounding the larger $8 billion public school funding bill are significant, particularly in relation to school choice initiatives.
On Wednesday, a group of Texas legislators and Governor Gregg Abbott participated in a phone call with President Donald Trump to reinforce their Republican commitment to establishing universal school choice in the state of Texas.
This meeting occurred in Austin during a recess from the House floor. The proposed legislation, which has already received state Senate approval, allocates $1 billion for private school vouchers in its first year, allowing up to $10,000 per eligible child.
Moreover, the bill offers up to $2,000 to cover homeschooling costs and up to $30,000 for special education students opting for a different school. Priority will be given to low-income students, and the Legislature may increase funding in subsequent years based on interest from Texas families.
The vote on the legislation, Senate Bill 2, was deferred on Wednesday afternoon as House members needed to deliberate first on the $8 billion public school appropriations bill—House Bill 2. This is important because many Democrats argue that increased funding for public schools, particularly for special education, should take precedence over measures related to school choice.
The bill was passed with a vote of 144–4 and will now move to the state Senate.
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Trump remarked, “Texas is leading in energy and jobs, and now we’re aiming to lead in education as well. I believe this is a truly progressive vote.”
In the past, universal school choice legislation has faced challenges, but numerous Republicans who previously opposed it—many hailing from rural areas lacking alternative educational options—lost their re-election bids last year. According to Texas Policy Research, a nonprofit organization that monitors the state Legislature, there are sufficient Republicans in the House to advance school choice even if all 62 Democrats oppose it.
During the House session on Wednesday, Democrats displayed “I Love Public Schools” stickers on their lapels.
Democrats have raised concerns that Texas’ universal school choice permits private schools to reject student admissions, despite these vouchers being funded by taxpayer dollars that otherwise support public schools.
They also pointed out that many urban and suburban schools charge over $40,000 per year, making them inaccessible to low-income families.
Despite some apprehensions regarding funding disparities among schools offering bilingual programs, there seemed to be bipartisan backing for the $8 billion public school appropriations bill.
Throughout the afternoon, both Democrats and Republicans continued to propose amendments to House Bill 2.
Representative Brad Buckley (R-Salado) stated that the public school funding package encompasses increased funding per student, notable salary increases for teachers, additional financial support for teacher certifications and training, and over $1 billion for special education initiatives.
He remarked, “This is the largest school funding bill in Texas history.”
