After decades of advocacy, Texas conservatives are seeing their efforts materialize with the launch of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, potentially the largest school-choice program in the United States. The program kicked off with remarkable enthusiasm, with 8,000 registrations within just one hour. By the end of its first day, the total climbed to 42,000, and just three days later, it stood at 62,000. Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock anticipates that the program will reach 100,000 registrations by the March 17 deadline, highlighting a burgeoning demand for educational flexibility.
Hancock, who oversees the program, views this initial success as a victory for “educational freedom.” He stated, “We figure in the State of Texas, we lead the nation in economic freedom; we might as well lead the nation in educational freedom.” Governor Greg Abbott’s administration has prioritized school choice, with Abbott signing the initiative into law last May. Under this program, families will receive $10,000 annually to offset private school costs, homeschooling, or virtual learning programs. Families of children with disabilities can claim as much as $30,000.
Despite this positive reception, establishing a comprehensive school-choice program in a state as large as Texas has not been without obstacles. Hancock, who has championed school choice for three decades, acknowledged previous setbacks. “We got close at times in the state of Texas,” he recalled. “And frankly, a couple of years ago, before Gov. Abbott got involved, I myself was like, ‘OK, I don’t know that we’re ever going to get there.’”
The program faces staunch opposition, particularly from teachers’ unions such as the Texas American Federation of Teachers and the Texas State Teachers Association, which argue that the initiative siphons funds from public schools. The Texas AFT condemned the program as a “growing billion-dollar boondoggle,” asserting that it prioritizes private education for affluent families while undermining public schooling.
TSTA President Ovidia Molina argued that the state cannot adequately fund both public education and the new school-choice initiative and criticized the religious schools participating in the program for potentially discriminatory practices against LGBTQ students. Molina maintained that public schools serve all students, regardless of identity or background. “Public schools do not discriminate,” she asserted.
Hancock countered these claims, clarifying that the school-choice program does not compromise public school funding. Texas, he argued, has managed to fund this initiative alongside significant investments in public education, including record teacher pay. “We want to be number one, not only in this program, but in education as a whole,” he stated.
He viewed opposition to the program as a defense of the existing system, which benefits those who resist competition. He outlined a business perspective on the matter, expressing a desire for a competitive educational landscape. “What’s the best for children is competition,” he remarked.
The overwhelming number of signups reflects a pressing need for alternatives within the Texas education system. Hancock articulated that the record turnout signifies Texas families’ demand for more educational choices. “We’re meeting the customers’ needs, and the customers are Texans,” he concluded.
As the program unfolds, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts could reshape not just the state’s educational landscape, but also set a precedent for school-choice initiatives across the nation.
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