During last year’s state legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott made education savings accounts (ESAs), also known as school vouchers, a top priority. It seems that the issue will continue to be a focus during the next session in 2025. The proposal aims to provide each student with a set amount of money annually to cover education expenses, including private school tuition. Supporters argue that the program offers parents and students more academic choices and opportunities, while opponents believe it will divert funds from public education and essentially fund private schools.
Arizona already has experience with a similar program, as they passed a bill that entitles each student to receive between $7,000 and $8,000 per school year. Eli Hager, a reporter for ProPublica based in Phoenix, investigated who was actually utilizing the program and shared his findings with Texas Standard.
Hager’s research sought to answer two main questions: whether the program was benefiting lower-income families as intended, and if there was genuine interest among lower-income families, including those in rural areas. The investigation revealed that the program was primarily being utilized by more affluent families. In wealthier zip codes, 25% to 30% of families were using the voucher program, compared to just 1% in lower-income areas. A significant reason for this disparity is that families already sending their children to private schools can simply use the vouchers to subsidize their existing tuition fees. On the other hand, lower-income families may struggle with transportation issues, as private schools are often located in more affluent suburban areas.
Transportation was a major concern cited by lower-income families, especially in rural areas, where accessing private schools may be challenging. Additionally, the subsidy provided by the vouchers may not cover the full cost of private school education, making it difficult for lower-income households to afford tuition, which can exceed $10,000 in many cases. Other costs, such as fees and the lack of meal provisions in private schools, further contribute to the financial burden for lower-income families.
While the potential impact of ESAs or voucher programs on public schools is a concern, the data from Arizona suggests that most families currently utilizing the program already had children enrolled in private schools. Therefore, the majority of families are not pulling their children out of public schools to switch to private schools using vouchers. This trend has helped mitigate the immediate financial strain on public schools due to students leaving for private institutions.
In conclusion, the investigation highlights the challenges faced by lower-income families in accessing and affording private education through voucher programs. Transportation barriers, insufficient subsidy amounts, and additional costs associated with private schools all contribute to the disparities in program utilization. Despite concerns about the impact on public schools, the current data suggests that most families using the vouchers were already enrolled in private schools. This information provides valuable insights into the real-world implications of school voucher programs on different socioeconomic groups and educational access.