Texas Senate Passes School Choice Bill, Funding Concerns Grow

The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 2, which proposes education savings accounts that allow families to use public funds for private school tuition, advancing the bill to the Texas House for further consideration. Supporters, including private school leaders, argue that the bill offers parents choices for their children's education, while opponents, particularly from public schools, express concerns about potential funding loss and the broader impact on public education. The bill offers vouchers of $10,000 for public school students transferring to private schools, increasing to $11,500 for special education students. Additionally, there are significant worries regarding the financial implications for the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS), with analysis indicating that the bill could jeopardize its long-term solvency. Retired educators warn that a decline in contributions could threaten the retirement security for all public education staff, including teachers and support personnel. The debate continues as amendments to the bill are considered, with both sides presenting their arguments on its future impact.