Education committee passes school choice bill for a full Texas House vote

Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman
·2 min read
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Soho Jashwant, a University of Texas freshman and a member of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, speaks in front of the Capitol on Oct. 18. Public education advocates gathered for a press conference hosted by Texas Freedom Network to protest against school choice.
Soho Jashwant, a University of Texas freshman and a member of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, speaks in front of the Capitol on Oct. 18. Public education advocates gathered for a press conference hosted by Texas Freedom Network to protest against school choice.

A school choice bill will advance to the Texas House for the first time this year after a House education committee narrowly voted out Rep. Brad Buckley’s $7.6 billion proposal.

The vote sets the stage for a showdown in the House as early as next week over the controversial proposal, which has split House Republicans.

School choice, also called vouchers or education savings accounts, uses taxpayer funds to pay for a child’s private school tuition, among other school-related costs. Gov. Greg Abbott has spent the last year throwing his political weight behind the proposal and dragged lawmakers back for third and fourth special sessions after they refused to come to an agreement.

The Select Committee on Educational Enrichment and Opportunity voted out the bill with a 10-4 vote. Committee members voted as follows:

For: Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen; Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin; Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney; Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls; Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine; Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant; Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian; Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe; Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano; Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston.

Against: Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio; Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston; Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin; Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin.

Absent: Rep. Oscar Longoria, D-Mission.

Buckley's House Bill 1 would spend $7.6 billion to create a $10,500-per-student education savings account program, which would prioritize students with disabilities and those who are low income.

The bill also raises per-student funding by $540, from $6,160 to $6,700; creates a teacher training programs; increases teacher pay; and pumps other funding into traditional districts.

More: Greg Abbott has failed repeatedly in school voucher fight. Will that hurt him politically?

On Thursday, the Senate also swiftly passed its own versions of school choice and education funding legislation. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, ushered Senate bills 1 and 2 through rushed committee hearings and speedy floor sessions.

SB 1 would create a $500 million school choice program, giving each eligible student $8,000. SB 2 would invest $5.2 billion in teacher pay increases and funding for schools.

The bills are almost identical to bills Creighton filed during the regular and third special session.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Education committee passes school choice bill for full Texas House vote