The 3rd Special Session called by Governor Greg Abbott to primarily address education issues is coming close to an end. While the legislature successfully passed a bill to protect employees from being forced to get the COVID-19 shot (SB 7), there has been little movement on school choice legislation since the beginning of the special session.

The Texas Senate passed SB 1 by Senator Brandon Creighton on October 12. The bill would create a program for Education Savings Accounts that would provide $8,000 for families to use for various educational opportunities such as private school, tutoring, home schooling, school supplies, and other education expenses that would give students more options for success.

SB 1 was referred to a special committee in the House called the “Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Committee”. This committee has not met in this special session. The House filed its own education bill that has education savings accounts, but the bill contains a plethora of other special interests unrelated to school choice. However, no hearing has been scheduled for either the Senate or the House bill.

The clock is running out with only a few days left in the special session. If you would like to see school choice legislation passed this session, it is time to let your Texas House member know.

You can find your House member by clicking here.

You should also consider letting the Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment know that you want school choice to be discussed in a public hearing where parents and students can be involved in the process. Below are the members of the committee:

Your Texas Values team has been at the Capitol testifying on bills, meeting with legislators, and present at the Capitol during the special session to help advance education issues. Please stay updated on movement of our bills by downloading our Texas Values app. If you like the work that we do, consider making a tax-deductible donation here.