Texas Republicans Strengthen Push for Educational Freedom

Brandon Waltens | August 5, 2024 – When the issue came to the House floor for a vote last year, 21 Republicans joined Democrats in killing the proposal.

Putting to rest any doubt that school choice remains a top issue heading into the next legislative session, the Republican Party of Texas has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering parents with the right to choose the best educational pathways for their children.

A resolution in support of school choice passed unanimously at Saturday’s quarterly meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee after 79.5 percent of Republican voters approved a proposition earlier this year stating, “Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student.”

The resolution cites the party platform approved by delegates to the Republican Party of Texas Convention in May:

We support further empowering all Texas families to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education and funding which shall follow the student with no strings attached. We oppose regulations on homeschooling or the curriculum of private or religious schools and believe a constitutional amendment should be adopted accordingly. In lieu of funding, citizens may use property tax exemptions.

The resolution also references the successful adoption of school choice programs in 32 states and Washington D.C., highlighting the long-standing Educational Savings Account programs in states like Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Since 2021, additional states such as Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia have also implemented ESA programs.

Gov. Greg Abbott has made the issue of educational freedom his top priority, spending $6 million during the 2024 Republican Primary to support candidates aligned with his vision.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has also prioritized the issue, which passed the Senate numerous times. House Speaker Dade Phelan, however, has not. When the issue finally came to the House floor for a vote last year, 21 Republicans joined Democrats in killing the proposal. Phelan abstained from the vote.

With many Republican school choice opponents defeated or retiring, Abbott says the chamber now has the votes to pass a school choice program.

The issue of educational freedom is one of several motivating factors in the movement to replace Phelan as Speaker of the House at the next legislative session, with Patrick stating recently that Phelan intends to work against school choice if re-elected as Speaker again.

This post originally appeared here.