Texas Gov. Abbott Signs $1 Billion Voucher Program Into Law, Capping Off Win For School Choice Advocates

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a schoolhouse prime measure into rule connected Saturday that will allocate $1 cardinal for a voucher programme that allows parents to usage nationalist costs to salary for their child's backstage schoolhouse tuition.

The program's implementation caps disconnected a yearslong effort by Republicans who person been advocating for schoolhouse choice. Voucher supporters person agelong focused connected Texas, wherever erstwhile efforts grounded amid guidance from Democrats and agrarian Republicans.

Last month, President Donald Trump called connected authorities lawmakers up of a cardinal ballot connected nan measure to yet nonstop nan measurement to Abbott’s desk. The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 2 by a party-line 19-12 ballot connected April 24 aft nan authorities House approved nan measure by an 86-63 ballot nan week before.

"When I ran for reelection successful 2022, I promised schoolhouse prime for nan families of Texas," Abbott said earlier signing nan measure astatine nan governor's mansion. "Today, we present connected that promise."

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a schoolhouse prime measure into rule connected Saturday. (REUTERS/Callaghan O'hare)

Abbott was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, authorities House Speaker Dustin Burrows, measure writer and authorities Sen. Brandon Creighton, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, schoolhouse prime advocates and students and their families.

"From present forward, [Texas students] will person unlimited imaginable and unlimited options successful acquisition to prosecute for nan remainder of their way and acquisition and what their families do best, and that successful of itself was worthy nan journey," Creighton said.

Texas joins much than 30 different states that already person akin programs. The Lone Star State will person nan largest voucher programme successful nan country.

School vouchers person been Abbott’s main attraction this year, pursuing past year's predetermination rhythm successful which he called for Republican superior voters to region from agency GOP lawmakers who voted against a akin measure successful nan past legislative convention that nan politician had supported.

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The Lone Star State will person nan largest voucher programme successful nan country. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

Supporters of nan measure opportunity it will springiness parents much options by allowing them to return their children retired of poor-performing nationalist schools successful favour of replacement nationalist aliases backstage schoolhouse choices.

"Gone are nan days that families are constricted to only nan schools assigned by government," Abbott said. "The time has arrived that empowers parents to take nan schoolhouse that is champion for their child."

Democrats and Republicans successful agrarian districts who person criticized nan programme reason that it will propulsion financial resources from Texas' nationalist schoolhouse students and subsidize nan backstage acquisition of able families.

"Let’s beryllium clear: this measure is only champion for nan richest group successful nan state, and agrarian Texas particularly will get nan shaft," Texas Democratic Party president Kendall Scudder said successful a statement. "To apical it each off, Abbott’s schoolhouse shut-downs are successful full-swing pinch nary extremity successful sight."

Texas joins much than 30 different states that already person akin programs. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

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Starting adjacent schoolhouse year, families tin person $10,000 per twelvemonth to thief salary for their child's backstage schoolhouse tuition aliases costs for home-schooling and virtual learning programs. Children pinch disabilities tin suffice for arsenic overmuch arsenic $30,000 per year.

The programme will beryllium capped astatine $1 cardinal for nan first twelvemonth and screen up to 90,000 students. But by 2030, it could costs up to $4.5 cardinal per year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.