AUSTIN, Texas — In the third special session of the year, the Texas Senate voted to approve a school choice bill that would give families taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses.
It's the key reason Gov. Greg Abbott called the third special session but the issue has faced pushback, including among rural Republicans and some Houston Democrats.
"We're not selling our kids out for anything," Rep. Gene Wu said.
Outside of Houston Independent School District headquarters, the state's largest school district, educators held a protest on Thursday.
"Let's call vouchers what they are: a scam," Rep. Alma Allen said.
House Democrats from Houston are against the proposed change to statewide education.
"They call this school choice. The school can choose, not the parents," Rep. Jon Rosenthal said.
In Austin, debate on the issue started Thursday on the floor of the Texas Senate.
The bill has been characterized as an anti-public school bill, but lawmakers in support of it said that's not the case. They call it a pro-student, pro-parent bill.
Sen. Brandon Creighton, of Conroe, said Senate Bill 1 would create an education savings account of up to $8,000 per student. The state would pay for the program using $500 million from its general revenue fund over the next two years. The comptroller's office would oversee preventing fraud and misuse of funds.
"This isn't a voucher. These funds do not go directly to the family. The funds would go directly to an approved provider," Creighton said.
Creighton pointed out that 31 other states have passed school choice measures and have had overwhelming success.
Senate Democrats from Houston challenged that point.
"You’re building a two-tier educational system here. Two-tier, separate but unequal. In the inner cities of Texas, and all over this country, when you start tearing down the public school system, it’s not just about the educational process," Sen. Borris Miles said.
The Senate passed the bill with an 18-13 vote. The House would have to approve the bill before it goes to Abbott's desk. They'll meet again on Monday afternoon.