Texas Senate passes school voucher bill, heads to House

The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 2, which aims to implement school choice through education savings accounts, allowing families to access up to $10,000 per student for private school expenses. Despite strong support from advocates, who argue it increases educational freedom, critics contend that it would disproportionately affect public schools, particularly in rural areas and for low-income families. The bill has been declared an 'emergency item' by Governor Greg Abbott, who supports its swift progression, and it will soon move to the House for consideration. Meanwhile, South Carolina is pursuing a similar initiative, proposing to fund private school vouchers using revenue from the state lottery, aimed at low-income families, with the potential to serve around 10,000 students initially. This proposal has gained momentum despite opposition from Democrats and could position South Carolina as a unique case for funding private education. Both states reflect a growing trend towards school choice legislation, raising significant debate over the impacts on public education funding.