Guest post by Bogdan Laurentiu
In a landmark moment for education policy, on Saturday, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 (SB2) into law, marking a major victory for school choice advocates and cementing Texas as home to the largest Education Savings Account (ESA) program in the nation.
Years in the making, SB2 creates a universal school choice initiative that gives parents direct control over how public education funds are spent on their children. The new ESA program allows families to use their taxpayer dollars for a wide range of educational expenses, including private school tuition, homeschool materials, tutoring services, online coursework, and standardized testing fees.
“For the first time in Texas history, our state has passed a universal school choice bill out of both chambers in the Texas Legislature. This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children,” Abbott said. “I applaud the legislators who took a stand with the overwhelming majority of Texans who support school choice.”
The program will be overseen by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, who is charged with implementing and regulating the accounts. The Comptroller may partner with Certified Educational Assistance Organizations (CEAOs) to help manage eligibility, disburse funds, and ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars. Strong accountability measures are built into the bill, including audits and compliance reviews to prevent misuse or fraud.
The legislature capped the program’s funding at $1 billion for the 2025–2027 biennium, with enrollment beginning in the fall of 2025. Importantly, SB2 prioritizes students transitioning from public schools: no more than 20% of total ESA funds may be allocated to students who were not enrolled in public school for at least 90% of the previous academic year.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said, “You cannot live the American dream if you don’t have a quality education.”
Representative Brad Buckley shared the sentiment adding, “Children’s potential is too great to be subjected to a one size fit educational system.”
Eligibility is broad but designed to support those most in need. Children from low- and middle-income families, as well as students with disabilities, are prioritized for participation—groups that have long faced systemic challenges in traditional public schools. The law mandates a transparent application process and clear guidance for families participating in the program.
SB2 represents a sweeping shift in how Texas approaches K–12 education funding. Supporters hail it as a major step toward educational freedom and parental empowerment, while critics have raised concerns about long-term impacts on public school funding.
Still, with Governor Abbott’s signature, Texas now stands at the forefront of the national school choice movement.
Texas Speaker Dustin Burrows noted, “School choice is now the law in the state of Texas.”
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