On February 5th, 2025, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), also known as the Texas Education Freedom Act. The bill was introduced by Senator Brandon Creighton, the bill suggests the creation of an education savings account which will allow parents to use state funds to pay for private school education. Although the bill has been passed, it still has to be approved by the Texas House of Representatives and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott before officially becoming a law. SB2 presents opportunities and challenges in regard to Black families and choosing schools for their children.
The bill will help families who feel like their local public schools are not giving their children the best education. Which could mean smaller class sizes, more one on one attention, or access to special programs that public schools may not offer. For some Black students this opens doors to better learning environments and more opportunities for success. On the opposite side, there are also concerns because most public schools have a higher Black student enrollment and public schools get their money based on how many students attend. If too many students leave, schools might shut down and potentially lose funding, which could lead to fewer teachers, larger classes, and fewer resources for students who stay at those private schools. All private schools may not accept the states money.
Studies show that in Texas about 6% of private school students are Black, lower than the national average where about 9% of private school students are Black. The median household income for Black families in Texas is around $55,759 which is below the state’s overall median household income of $76,292. Black students are underrepresented in Texas private schools, which is largely influenced by economic factors. The average cost for private school tuition in Texas is around $11,340 per year. In Houston, private school tuition ranges from $14,000 o $30,000 per year. There are many schools around the state that have tuition rates exceeding $30,000 a year.
In January, Members of the Education K16 Committee met, and Senator Creighton suggested that the state must recognize the need for all students across the state, “We know that a one size fits all education does not work for many of our students in Texas.” Education Savings Account (ESAs) would start at a base of $2,000 and could increase up to $10,000 if the student is enrolled in an accredited private school; if the student has a disability they could receive up to $11,500 in their accounts. The slots will be assigned by lottery. “The most vulnerable Texans will have the opportunities way before anyone else,” Creighton said.
Senator Creighton also emphasized that parents would never physically touch the money, the funds would be disbursed through the Office of the Comptroller to eligible education providers, separating the program from regular state voucher programs. “You can’t go to Rooms-to-Go and buy furniture if you have a thousand bucks left over. This is an education savings account with the strongest anti-fraud provisions in the country” he said.
