The Texas House is set to introduce a $1 billion school voucher bill at the State Capitol on Tuesday. The proposed legislation, known as House Bill 3, will be reviewed during a House Public Education Committee hearing.
The bill aims to establish an education savings account, offering parents 85% of state and local funding per student to send their children to private schools. This amount is estimated to be around $11,000 per student. In contrast, the Senate's version of the plan proposes a flat $10,000 voucher per student.
The introduction of the bill comes amid strong opposition from educators. Texas teachers, led by the American Federation of Teachers, rallied at the State Capitol on Monday to voice their concerns.
Despite the pushback, House Speaker Dustin Burrows expressed confidence that the bill has enough votes to pass.
The debate over school choice continues to be a contentious issue in Texas, as lawmakers weigh the potential impact on public education funding and parental choice.
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