Houston Republic

Bob Young, a parent from Houston, expressed his desire for Texas to have passed school choice legislation "years ago." He provided this statement to the Houston Republic on February 25.

"It would have been good if we'd had school choice legislation years ago," said Young, Parent from Houston, TX.

In Texas, the debate over school choice has intensified with the advancement of Senate Bill 2. According to NBC DFW News, this bill proposes a $1 billion voucher program that would provide families with $10,000 per student annually for private school tuition and related expenses. Governor Greg Abbott supports the initiative, stating it empowers parents to choose better educational options for their children. The bill has passed the Texas Senate but faces challenges in the House, where a coalition of rural Republicans and Democrats have historically opposed similar measures.

Attendance is already under scrutiny in Texas, with state laws enforcing strict limits on absences in the Houston Independent School District (ISD). Students who miss more than 18 days of school (or nine in a semester-based schedule) risk losing class credit or even repeating a grade. Excessive absences can lead to academic struggles or dropping out. Parents may also face consequences, including fines up to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to a year if their child's absences become excessive.

A 2022 report by EdChoice analyzed 40 private school choice programs across 19 states and Washington, D.C., finding that these programs collectively saved state and local taxpayers between $12.4 billion and $28.3 billion through fiscal year 2018. This translates to savings of $3,300 to $7,500 per student participating in these programs. EdChoice suggests these savings could be redirected to public schools, potentially adding resources and enhancing the quality of public education.

Houston ISD is the largest public school district in Texas, serving over 180,000 students across more than 270 schools. According to its website, it is currently under state control due to governance and academic performance concerns, with Texas Education Agency-appointed leadership implementing major reforms.