Universal school choice is coming to Texas. On May 3, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law the largest day one Education Savings Account (ESA) program in American history. 

Senate Bill 2 will give students $10,000 per year for education-related expenses, including textbooks, transportation, and private school tuition. Students with disabilities may receive up to $30,000.  

The $1 billion program will launch in the 2026-2027 school year.  

Texas is Now the 16th State with Universal School Choice  

Texas joins 15 other states with “universal” private school choice programs, which means all students in the state are eligible to apply. Those states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.  

Most states adopted these programs after the COVID-19 pandemic, a turning point when parents became more engaged in their children’s education and demanded greater flexibility and control. 

As America continues to grapple with the dismal results of our nation’s report card, it’s time to rethink our one-size-fits-all approach to education. ESAs promote choices and flexibility, especially for students from low-income families, by expanding access to a variety of learning environments—whether that’s private, homeschool, or hybrid.  

Decades in the Making: Texas Public Policy Foundation Drives this Win for Texas Families  

The effort to pass school choice in Texas was decades in the making—and would not have been possible without the work of several groups, including the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). For years, TPPF encouraged policymakers to pass an ESA bill, highlighting how this reform would benefit Texas students and their families.  

Through research, legislative testimony, strategic engagement, grassroots mobilization, coalition building, and a compelling video series, TPPF made the case for education freedom, underscoring that a student’s ZIP code shouldn’t limit their ability to access quality education options. 

Mandy Drogin, Campaign Director for Next Generation Texas at TPPF said:  

“The passage of SB 2 is a monumental victory for the parents and students of Texas. With universal eligibility and $1 billion in funding, this is the largest launch of a school choice program in America—Texas may not have gone first, but we’re going big!  

Parents, students, and teachers will all benefit—as Florida, Arizona, Indiana, and dozens of other states have shown us, school choice is a rising tide that lifts all boats and improves achievement everywhere. Texas parents are now empowered with educational freedom, and we can’t wait to see the possibilities that get unlocked.” 

Beyond the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the American Federation for Children, EdChoice, yes.every kid., The Heritage Foundation, the Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity, and America First Policy Institute were also involved in this win for Texas families.  

Jane McEnaney, State Policy Network’s Director of Education Policy Initiatives, added:  

“State Policy Network is proud to have supported the Texas Public Policy Foundation in its efforts to empower families with educational choice. With Texas now joining the growing list of states that offer private school choice, more than half of U.S. families can pursue learning environments beyond their default, zoned district school. This is a landmark victory for the education freedom movement and a win for Texas parents who now have greater opportunity to customize how and where their children learn.” 

TPPF Celebrates the Full Passage of School Choice Bill 
Texas Public Policy Foundation 

The Right Idea | Episode 83: History Is Made—TX House Passes School Choice! 
Texas Public Policy Foundation 

Texas Approved the Country’s Largest School-Choice Bill. Here’s How Families Will Benefit 
National Review  

Everything you need to know about Education Savings Accounts  
State Policy Network