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Abbott Endorses Universal School Choice Through Education Savings Accounts
Elderberry:
Texas Scorecard by Darrell Frost February 2, 2023
Giving his strongest affirmation of universal school choice yet, Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed “education savings accounts” for all Texans.
“It is time for education freedom in Texas,” said Abbott, at Annapolis Christian Academy in Corpus Christi.
Speaking at the school’s Parent Empowerment Night earlier this week, Abbott endorsed education savings accounts. He said ESAs are the solution to widespread dissatisfaction with public schools and the demand for alternatives that all families can access, and should be available regardless of their financial situation or where they live.
ESAs are individual state-funded accounts that families can use to pay for education expenses. To date, 11 states have authorized education savings account programs, the majority having done so within the past two years. While most ESA programs have some eligibility restrictions, those in Arizona, West Virginia, and Iowa are available to all students.
State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Wallisville) has filed legislation that would create an ESA program for Texas. If passed into law, Senate Bill 176 would require the state to fund the account of each child enrolled in the program with an amount equal to the average annual cost incurred per student by Texas public schools (about $10,000). These funds would be managed by the child’s parents and could be used for private school tuition, homeschooling curriculum, online learning fees, and tutoring, among other options.
Although Abbott has expressed support for public school alternatives throughout his time in office, he has pushed the issue more adamantly and consistently during the past year. Since the rise of COVID-19 in 2020, demand for public school alternatives has grown exponentially as parents pushed back against virtual education, mask mandates, and political indoctrination. In his speech, Abbott said public schools have “stiff-armed parents away from their child’s education.”
More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/abbott-endorses-universal-school-choice-through-education-savings-accounts/
RetBobbyMI:
Why not just stop collecting taxes for education and repeal truancy laws. Let parents be parents.
Elderberry:
--- Quote from: RetBobbyMI on February 06, 2023, 01:13:35 pm ---Why not just stop collecting taxes for education and repeal truancy laws. Let parents be parents.
--- End quote ---
So public schools close up due to lack of funds and parents put their kids to doing manual work.
RetBobbyMI:
--- Quote from: Elderberry on February 06, 2023, 01:40:00 pm ---So public schools close up due to lack of funds and parents put their kids to doing manual work.
--- End quote ---
Is there a problem with that? Kids today don’t value work.
Elderberry:
--- Quote from: RetBobbyMI on February 21, 2023, 01:58:08 pm ---Is there a problem with that? Kids today don’t value work.
--- End quote ---
Must be your kids. There's no problem with my kids' work ethic.
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