Over the past two years, school choice legislation in Texas has faced significant challenges, leaving many advocates wondering if the state's long-standing push for parental empowerment in education would ever come to fruition. Despite being a key priority for Governor Greg Abbott, no school choice bill has made it to his desk. However, as the 2025 legislative session approaches, the landscape is shifting. With new pro-school choice members entering the Texas House, there is renewed hope that meaningful school choice reform could finally pass.
Governor Abbott’s crusade for school choice began with a fervor in 2022. At a rally in Kingwood, Abbott made an ambitious promise: "This upcoming session, you’re going to see a stronger, swifter, more powerful movement advocating school choice than you’ve ever seen in the history of the State of Texas." The governor’s efforts took him across the state, addressing crowds and making the case for why Texas should join the ranks of more than 30 other states that offer school choice programs.
Abbott's appeal resonated with many parents who were frustrated with what they saw as restrictions on their educational freedom. At a rally in Fort Stockton, he boldly declared, “Parents should not be forced to send their child to a government-mandated school that teaches critical race theory, or is forcing their child to wear a face mask against their parents’ desire, or is forcing them to attend a school that isn’t safe.”
These remarks were emblematic of the culture wars that fueled Abbott’s school choice campaign. In tandem with his calls for greater parental control over education, he introduced the “Parental Bill of Rights” to enshrine parents’ authority in the Texas Constitution. The measure aimed to solidify parental rights across all aspects of their children’s lives, including education. As the 2023 legislative session loomed, Abbott’s vision seemed clear: create more school choice options for Texas families.
The 88th Legislative Session, which began in January 2023, saw both the Senate and the House take up school choice measures. Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick were vocal in their support, with Patrick proclaiming, “We are going to pass school choice, and I hope, finally, that this is the session that we join over 30 other states in giving parental rights to choose the school of their choice.” Former Governor Rick Perry, a longtime school choice advocate, also weighed in, calling school choice part of Texas’s fundamental belief in freedom and liberty.
Despite this unified front among the state’s top Republican leaders, the House presented a formidable obstacle. House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) expressed doubt early on, acknowledging the difficulty of passing school choice in a chamber that had been resistant to such legislation in the past. He cited a prior vote, in which only 40-45 out of 150 members supported school vouchers, a figure that highlighted the uphill battle ahead.
The Texas House, with its more ideologically diverse membership, has historically blocked school choice bills. The first major hurdle in 2023 came when Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Robstown) introduced an amendment to the state budget that would have prohibited state funds from being used for school vouchers or education savings accounts (ESAs). Although the amendment was eventually removed, it served as a warning sign of the resistance school choice advocates would face in the House.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, with its Republican supermajority, there was more optimism. Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who led the charge for education reform in the upper chamber, remained hopeful that even some hesitant House members could be convinced. However, as the regular session drew to a close, efforts to pass a school choice bill faltered.
Governor Abbott’s commitment to school choice was unwavering. As it became clear that the measure would not pass during the regular session, he called for multiple special sessions to raise the stakes. The goal was clear: keep the pressure on lawmakers to pass school choice legislation. But as the sessions dragged on, pro-school choice advocates were met with stiff resistance, particularly from House Democrats, who rallied against what they called the “voucher scam.”
The debate over the use of public funds for private education became a central flashpoint. Public school activists flooded social media with contrasting reports about school funding, seeking to sway public opinion and lawmakers alike. In response, Abbott endorsed 58 incumbent lawmakers who voted to keep ESAs in the legislative fight, continuing to campaign for pro-school choice candidates through the 2024 primary election.
Despite these efforts, the bill failed to gain enough traction. In the final moments of the fourth special session, an amendment to strip ESAs from the bill surfaced, leading to a contentious debate. While some Republicans tried to block the amendment, the effort to remove ESAs succeeded, further weakening the chances for school choice legislation.
By the time the third special session ended, it was clear: school choice had failed to make it through the legislative process in 2023. The long-running battle seemed all but lost, but Abbott’s resolve remained intact.
In the aftermath of the 2023 legislative debacle, Abbott doubled down on his efforts, and his political strategy began to bear fruit. In the 2024 primaries, Abbott’s endorsement of pro-school choice candidates paid off, with an estimated 80 new, pro-school choice members entering the Texas Legislature in 2025. This influx of support has given many advocates renewed hope that the 2025 session may be different.
The "Texas Parental Empowerment Act of 2025" has already been filed, marking the first universal school choice legislation of the new session. With more proposals expected in various forms, the 89th Legislative Session is being called by many the "school choice session." The combination of a pro-school choice Legislature and Abbott’s continued advocacy has positioned the state to make a serious push toward passing meaningful school choice reform.
With the issue now at the forefront of political discussions and with Abbott and his allies determined to push forward, many believe that Texas is finally on the verge of joining the ranks of states that provide parents with the freedom to choose the best educational options for their children. As the 2025 legislative session unfolds, all eyes will be on Texas to see if this long-sought policy will finally become a reality.
